Nixon Review

Messages: This version of Nixon is certainly a mixed character, but more tragic than an actual villain. Brought up in a strict Christian household on principles of truth and honesty, he becomes known popularly as a liar and a cheat. He tries to do good as a public servant, even succeeds in some ways, yet ruthlessly violates the law to maintain his power, and close friends and advisors are suspected of treachery. There is casual racist talk in high U.S. government circles about African Americans and Jews. An FBI director comes across as more like an evil mob boss -- an evil gay mob boss.

Violence: War and assassination footage in vintage news clips, some of which depict dead and mutilated corpses, fiery explosions.

Sex: Gossip of sexual indiscretions and adventuring by Daniel Ellsberg, Dwight Eisenhower, Martha Mitchell, the Kennedy men, even Martin Luther King Jr. J. Edgar Hoover is depicted flirting with another man and called a "queen," even though his (rumored) homosexuality is never directly confronted.

Language: Numerous racial epithets for Jews and African Americans (including the N-word), the F-word, the S-word -- this all out of a president's mouth (though he regrets the profanity becoming known to the public). Some of Nixon's cabinet similarly swear.

Consumerism: Mention of prominent newspapers, TV networks, automobile companies.

Drinking, drugs and smoking: Social drinking, with the character of Pat Nixon particularly sinking into alcoholism and chainsmoking as a consequence of her unhappy marriage. Richard Nixon at one point has a prominent bottle of pills. As a boy he is severely upbraided for smoking homemade cigarettes of corn-silk.