The Canfield Decision

Chicago, IL: Playboy Press, 1976. First Edition [stated], presumed first printing. Hardcover. Good/Fair. [6], 344, [2] pages. DJ is worn and soiled. Some edge soiling. Black mark on bottom edge. Spiro Theodore "Ted" Agnew (November 9, 1918 - September 17, 1996) was the 39th Vice President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1973. He was the second and most recent vice president to resign the office, though unlike John C. Calhoun in 1832, Agnew left office in disgrace. Beginning in early 1973, Agnew was investigated by the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland on suspicion of conspiracy, bribery, extortion and tax fraud. Agnew had accepted payments from contractors during his time as a Maryland official, and the payments had continued into his time as vice president. After denying his guilt for months, Agnew negotiated a plea agreement that would involve his resignation from office. On October 10, 1973, Agnew pled no contest to a single felony charge of tax evasion, resigned his office, and was replaced by House Minority Leader Gerald Ford. Agnew spent the remainder of his life quietly, rarely making public appearances. He wrote a novel, and also a memoir defending his actions. Derived from a Kirkus review: Vice President Porter Canfield, whose pronouncements occupy the most space, is an opportunist bucking for Top Spot. He plans to bring this off by rallying national support for sophisticated arms to Israel while the sensible President is toiling away at detente with the Russians. Others with a stake in the arms deal are an Iranian extremist and a Kahane-like Zionist. Since the media, the ""intellectuals,"" and certain pols are as clay when it comes to Israeli interests, Canfield rides high until the Iranian plot causes three deaths. The V.P., who was in on the basic game plan (but not the killings) and blurted some compromising thoughts onto tape, is snookered at the close.