An extremely readable memoir of mostly her time on the Watergate prosecutors team. You need to know your Watergate history but she really brings it all to life wonderfully and the other parts of the memoir are equally as interesting.

"An' here I sit so patiently/Waiting to find out what price/You have to pay to get out of/Going through all these things twice" - Bob Dylan
Jill Wine-Banks, Watergate prosecutor, sings that song in her new book, recounting her service as the solitary woman, a young and relatively inexperienced attorney, in the service of her country and to Archibald Cox and Leon Jaworski during those heady times. Wine-Banks' revealing of the strong (and weak) personalities on both sides (Judge Sirica, Barbara Jordan, Elizabeth Holtzman, Richard Ben-Veniste, Jeb Magruder, John Dean), and her admiration of both men who served as special prosecutors is great stuff for history buffs. Especially revealing is her cross-examination of Rose Mary Woods and the 18 1/2 minute tape gap. Initially contemptuous of Woods, who lied to protect Nixon (who left his loyal secretary and confidante without a defense attorney, a la Trump and Michael Cohen), her position shifted when she realized that Woods, who possessed skills and intellect, was treated as a mere typist and transcriber. Although Nixon quit and his henchmen went to jail, the most disheartening development was Jaworski's refusal to indict Nixon, the same excuse used later by Trump's lawyers to thwart his removal by the Senate some forty years later: "the law in this regard had never been tested." So now we live with Jaworski's decision, allowing two presidents to be treated as though they were above the law. Too bad the book wasn’t written closer to the actual events, but Wine-Banks led a life of service after Watergate, breaking a few glass ceilings, and is now a commenter for MSNBC. ( )

Recollections of Watergate prosecutor and current MSNBC commentator, Jill Wine-Banks. ( )

Wonderful memoir by Jill Wine-Banks, former special prosecutor in the Watergate case and current MSNBC legal analyst. Starting with her examination on the stand of Rose Mary Woods and the 18 1/2 minute gap to her personal life and highlights of her professional life since Watergate, the book shines with her voice. She needs to write a second volume though. ( )