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Still known as one of the figures in the Watergate cover up, John Dean is an unlikely hero for this liberal. However, the central thesis of his latest book argues that the GOP has been hijacked by extremists who ingeniously pose as moderates. They've taken the `middle America' strategy pioneered by Nixon himself to dangerous extremes--and are doing much worse than Watergate if not stopped. While parts of the book possibly do come across as self-pity (since he is still trying to salvage his reputation across the political spectrum, of course he would attack an unpopular president) I am also familiar with the `Goldwater conservatism' which is talked about in the book. The late Arizona Republican Senator, once considered Mr. GOP and the standard bearer of the `New Right' actually was a staunch libertarian, something which has gone over the head of his political descendants--rushing to claim the title, but not the accompanying issue positions and duties. Unlike Goldwater, they are rushing to the side of social conservatives, who want to fight for freedom abroad by denying it to Americans at home. Therefore it also is quite possible this book is Dean telling the truth--and desperately hoping the audiences will heed his message before any further damage is inflicted upon the country. Other people could write `exposes' of the Republican Party, but they would not carry Dean's historical weight. Specifically because of who he is--and yes, what role he played in American history, Dean is qualified to write a no-holds barred critique of the current Republican Party's internal problems and the external consequences.