Ken Khachigian
Author of Behind Closed Doors
“A profoundly fascinating insider’s look at the Cold War’s most legendary presidents.”
— HUGH HEWITT, BROADCAST JOURNALIST AND WASHINGTON POST COLUMNIST
Behind Closed Doors
In the Room with Reagan & Nixon
Available Now
In Behind Closed Doors: In the Room with Reagan & Nixon, White House history is revealed like never before by Ken Khachigian as an eyewitness with two unprecedented perspectives: a unique, contemporary hands-on account of Ronald Reagan’s presidency and an exclusive chronicle of Richard Nixon’s emergence and political footprint in the first months and years after his resignation. Behind Closed Doors flows with insights, anecdotes and disclosures that reveal these men and their presidencies as never before.
Ken Khachigian – trusted adviser, counselor and speechwriter to the Cold War’s presidential lions – brings readers behind the scenes as his bosses navigated crises, confronted opponents and staked their legacies. This intimate, riveting book takes you inside the Oval Office, Air Force One, Camp David and the Western White House as Khachigian opens his diaries, secret memos, and contemporaneous notes to share untold history.
Get the insider’s view of the West Wing every moment of the week leading up to the day Richard Nixon resigned, then go to Nixon’s San Clemente home as the former president worked to rebuild his shattered reputation. Witness as Nancy Reagan emerges as critical partner, and even fierce challenger, to her husband. And learn of Nixon’s secret advice to Reagan, of Reagan’s preparation to meet with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, and the first-ever account of the exchange at Reagan and Nixon’s private meeting when both were former presidents. Eavesdrop on the dramatic decisions of the 1980 and ’84 presidential campaigns and be the first to know precisely how Reagan viewed his Revolution’s crusade.
Khachigian provides a fascinating glimpse behind Pennsylvania Avenue’s iron gates and secretive oaken doors as he also exposes self-serving power-grabs, betrayals and intrigues that shrouded the capital’s halls.
Order Now
Meet Ken
Ken Khachigian served as trusted speechwriter, confidant and strategist to political legends and presidential giants Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon. Whether in the Oval Office, on Air Force One, at Camp David or the Western White House, Khachigian was an eyewitness and insider to the 20th century’s greatest historical moments.
Widely regarded as the President’s favorite speechwriter, the remarks Khachigian crafted for Reagan’s delivery in 1985 at Bergen Belsen’s former concentration camp was described as the “best speech of his career.” Khachigian quickly mastered Reagan’s speaking style and gained his confidence after joining the candidate’s struggling 1980 presidential campaign – earning the distinction from political writer Anthony York as “an architect of Ronald Reagan’s 1980 White House victory.”
Appointed Special Consultant to the President and senior White House staff member, they formed a unique personal relationship, beginning with Reagan’s acclaimed First Inaugural Address. Khachigian collaborated to craft language shaping the historic economic recovery plan that marked the fiscal revolution for America’s turnaround and renewed the national spirit. Khachigian teamed up with Reagan to prepare dozens of other prominent public addresses. Among them were Reagan’s re-election announcement and convention acceptance speeches in 1984, critical foreign policy remarks at the UN General Assembly, State of the Union remarks and speeches before Joint Sessions of Congress. Preparing to leave office, the President asked Ken to draft his dramatic 1988 Farewell Address to the Republican National Convention.
Contact
For publicity inquiries:
Mike Hagler
Post Hill Press
ryder@posthillpress.com
For literary inquiries:
Greg Kahwajian
Public Affairs Management
zgk1@mac.com
To contact Ken directly, please use the form below. You can also follow him on X @KenKhachigian.