`` Nixonland '' is Rick Perlstein 's history of the '60s and early '70s . Central character is Richard Nixon , who exploited era 's tensions for his ends . Some of what emerged were films willing to show the grit and ugliness of the cities ( `` the cities '' being a common euphemism for civic decline ) . Book shows how politics and pop culture intertwined -- and created gaps . Comment: We 're still living in Nixonland , author says .
`` Nixonland '' is Rick Perlstein 's history of the '60s and early '70s . Central character is Richard Nixon , who exploited era 's tensions for his ends . Book shows how politics and pop culture intertwined -- and created gaps . Comment: We 're still living in Nixonland , author says .