Posted on 08/21/2023 6:56:53 AM PDT by ChicagoConservative27
n the final morning of his presidency, America’s 37th president spoke to a gathering of young White House staffers. It was the lowest point in his career—and arguably, his life—yet still Richard Nixon sought to impart one final piece of wisdom to those assembled:
It is only a beginning, always. The young must know it; the old must know it. It must always sustain us, because the greatness comes not when things go always good for you, but the greatness comes and you are really tested, when you take some knocks, some disappointments, when sadness comes, because only if you have been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain.
Today, the American people rightfully feel disappointed. Trust in institutions is at an all-time low, the economy seems stacked against the working man, and much of Washington refuses to listen. This has driven some policymakers to look for new paradigms in which to craft domestic and foreign policy. But as they do, it would behoove them to take a second look at the man who told Americans to always keep going.
Forty-nine years ago this month, Richard Nixon resigned. With him went one of the most successful presidencies in American history. But so too did his unique philosophy of government. Contrary to the progressive presidencies that came before him, like the administrations of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson, Nixon did not believe that government was the solution to every problem. But contrary to the Republican presidents—and their philosophies—which would come after him with the advent of Ronald Reagan, Nixon likewise did not believe that government was inherently a problem.
(Excerpt) Read more at theamericanconservative.com ...
Sad day indeed 🙁
You’d think the left would be happy with the one who created the EPA. There’s not pleasing them.
A Coast Guard buddy of mine used to be a cook at the San Clemente Coast Guard Station just down the street from where Nixon lived. He told me that Nixon used to walk the beach quite a bit and every now and then he’d stop into the station for a cup of coffee and a chat, mostly about sports. He said he was a nice guy, kind of regular.
It was sad, I remember crying when he got on the plane as a 7-year old not really knowing what was going on, just that it was sad.
I do however disagree with this line: “With him went one of the most successful presidencies in American history.” The reason is that I still blame him for taking us off the gold standard.
His China approach didn’t sit well with me either.
That speech to staff was very moving. I have watched the video of it numerous times.
Nixon was brought down by what amounted to some underlings breaking into an office and taking some pictures. Traitor Joe took millions in bribes from our country’s enemies and there’s 0 chance anything happens to him.
His approach with China still sticks in my craw. Between him and Bush Sr.
He was anti-Communist. The issue is always the revolution.
“Nixon was brought down by what amounted to some underlings breaking into an office and taking some pictures.”
And wasn’t John Dean’s motive for Watergate to steal files about his then-girlfriend (later wife) and her career as a prostitute?
I understand, but I give Nixon some slack with respect to China.
It was the height of the Cold War, and Nixon was doing it strategically, to set China against the Soviet Union.
Nixon had his issues, no doubt. There is NO excuse for the EPA and Price Controls, both of which are and should be anathema to Conservatives.
Nixon loved his country, and I think he did a fine job in most cases in a very difficult time, which he gets little or no credit for.
And I will always, ALWAYS give him credit for the Linebacker II campaign, the bombing of Hanoi and the mining of Haiphong harbor in December 1972.
We should have done that in 1965.
BTTT
He also deserves credit for the campaign into Cambodia, which captured huge quantities of arms, ammo, and other supplies. (I was there with 1/7 Cav 1st Cavalry Division) It also showed the VC and NVA that they could no longer scamper back and forth across the border unmolested.
When Ford was named as Agnew's replacement, Bella Abzug yelled at the Demwit leadership, "don't let those bastards keep this!" in an attempt to reject Ford and appoint a Demwit VP in an earlier attempt to overthrow democracy in the US.
Me too, which was probably his downfall. Ending the war in Vietnam cost him dearly and Linebacker II was successful. I think Watergate was a setup knowing full well how he would react. Given the results of the '72 election everybody knew it would be a blowout. Why the break in?
Imho ford was rewarded for pushing the single shooter theory in Dallas assassination
Nixon knew that Ford would be acceptable to Congress and the country, and to himself because Ford agreed in advance to pardon him.
Everyone on the Warren Commission knew what their job was, which was to have a long investigation, then publish the definitive report naming Oswald as the lone gunman.
That reminds me of Richard Feynman’s torpedo of the Challenger investigation, where he asked his own questions of the people of his choosing, reached the correct conclusion, and then demo’d his conclusion in a press conference.
Weird that he died a little earlier than might be expected.
Anyway, there’s an anecdote John Ehrlichman, I think it’s cited in Fawn Brodie’s bio of Nixon, “the shortest distance between two points is across four bodies,” a reference to Nixon’s own brother (died of TB I think), JFK, RFK, and I forget who (and may have the number wrong in my recollection of the quote).
Our form of government has become nothing more than a reward system rewarding the criminally corrupt. No wonder the prison populations are jealous. My apology for ranting, Civ. Am seeking to control what I say about our criminal class in dc and the damage they have done. Saying what one knows of our dc criminals is becoming more unhealthy by the minute.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.