Book Review – G. Gordon Liddy’s “Will”
Willpower is perhaps the biggest difference between dreamers and doers.
If you have the willpower to do whatever it takes to conquer your fears, overcome your weaknesses, and the drive to make yourself succeed, then you will be unstoppable. It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor, black or white, fat or skinny, or anything else for that matter. The bottom line is your own desire to succeed in your quest.
That quest for ultimate willpower is the basis for much of G. Gordon Liddy’s autobiography, Will. Much of his book should be required reading for middle and high school students. It’s that inspirational with positive examples of pushing yourself to be the best person.
Yes, that’s the same G. Gordon Liddy who was involved with the Democratic National Convention break ins at the Watergate hotel complex, a conspiracy that ultimately led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Take note that Will takes you well beyond the Watergate incident and much more not only in that event, but into the legendary man himself.
Will beings with a brief look at Liddy’s childhood days. From an early age he learns to conquering his fears, from scary Zeppelins that flew over his home to even scarier thunderstorms full of lightning and strong wind.
Liddy’s later schooling involved challenging himself to be a top student in both athletics and his studies. He quickly learned how to outsmart and defeat bullies, making sure none of them challenged him again. He forced his body to overcome pain. In college, Liddy pushed himself, striving to beat his father’s outstanding academic and athletic records.
After college, Liddy was an officer in the Army and close to being sent to Korea. A medical emergency took him off a listing to be eligible for Korea, but even in severe pain and at risk for further injury, Liddy still participated in a gruelling physical challenge to prove his combat readiness. The Army had the final say, and Liddy was kept state side at a few different posts. His smarts kept control of the men under his command, and his seriousness and toughness prevented them from challenging his authority.
When the Korean War ended, and many soldiers were released from their service duties, Liddy studied law at Furham University, completing his degree and passing the bar examination for the state of New York. After passing the bar, Liddy joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and quickly became not just a federal agent, but one of the best on the force.
Some of the FBI stories presented in Will are so entertaining that they could almost be novels upon themselves. Liddy’s skills and achievements earned him high honors, and at age 29, Liddy was the youngest person to achieve the ranking of Bureau Supervisor at FBI national headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Liddy’s service in the FBI only lasted a few years, and in 1962 he left to pursue law with aims of getting into politics. He figured that he could only accomplish so much fighting crime at the level of the FBI. If he really wanted to make changes in the community, then he would have to work his way up in public office.
Liddy became a prosecutor in Dutchess County, New York, and in 1968 he ran in the race for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Although he narrowly lost the primary race, that exposure he gain running his campaign gave him attention to some people in President Nixon’s administration. He accepted a job working for the president, and it didn’t take long before he was with Nixon’s 1972 Committee to Re-elect the President.
And that’s where G. Gordon Liddy would ultimately meet his fate with the Watergate incident.
Part of the duty working for the president’s re-election involved stopping damaging articles that were leaked to the press. Other parts of the duty involved conducting espionage on the opposition and attempting to stop extreme demonstrators from stopping certain events, such as high-level meetings and conventions. The problem is that to conduct the necessary reconnaissance, sometimes you had to break the law.
In the case of G. Gordon Liddy’s behavior conducting black hat operations with the FBI and Committee to Re-elect the President, I certainly don’t condone his actions. As it’s explained in Will, Liddy is merely doing his job to the best of his abilities. Others are pulling the strings and approving of certain operations, and Liddy and his men are performing them and producing results.
It’s Liddy’s willpower and commitment to others that lead to his conviction in the Watergate scandal. He had the evidence and could have easily pointed his finger at others, claiming that he was just following orders. Doing so would have created an even greater rift in the election and would have probably resulted with Nixon not seeking a second term as president. But Liddy was an honorable man, and he kept his silence and held his faith in personal responsibility. Doing so gave him a 20-year prison sentence starting in 1973.
President Jimmy Carter commuted his sentence in September of 1977. Liddy served over four-and-a-half years in prison.
When you read Will, you read the tale of an incredibly powerful and feared man in the world of courtrooms, politics, and even the prison system. He cannot be intimidated. He will not be pushed around by a bully. Nobody messed with G. Gordon Liddy. Nobody.
It’s his willpower and determination that made him into not only a top-quality prosecutor, but also a man with an iron will and the courage to stand up for what’s right. Criminals he caught in the FBI learned that lesson just as well as his fellow inmates in prison.
I remember seeing a celebrity episode of the reality show Fear Factor. When G. Gordon Liddy was introduced, the other contestants looked scared. That TV show is a major test against fears and willpower, and right then and there the contestants knew that they were competing against an iron man with no fear. Despite his older age, Liddy was a very formidable opponent to the other contestants.
As it was stated earlier, much of G. Gordon’s Liddy’s autobiography should be required reading for students in middle and high school. It’s an extremely powerful book when it comes down to achieving personal excellence, conquering your fears, and standing up for what’s right.
