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To: qman
... but does anyone disagree that Nixon was a criminal, an anti-semite and a biggot, he should have been prosecuted and imprisoned for crimes against the constitution and the people!!!

I disagree with that, sure. He was no more an anti-semite or bigot that anyone of his time may have been. His views about people were those common to many people a couple of generations ago. I heard my grandfather say some things back in the day, that, were he alive today would probably not say or really even believe anymore. He was a product of his times, and so was Nixon.

I'm not sure that Nixon committed "crimes against the Constitution" (whatever that means... A crime is a crime. The Constitution controls the powers of Congress and the courts). Whether Nixon broke the law is something that will be studied for decades, but anything he did would have been pretty small-potatoes stuff. Most likely obstruction if anything.

I happen to think that Ford's pardon of Nixon was ~exactly~ the right thing to do. So was Nixon's resignation. I think if there had been a prosecution the damage done to the office and to the country would have been horrific, and worse than the original acts of burglary ever were. Nixon respected the office of the Presidency enough that he resigned rather than fight. That was the right thing to do. Clinton should have had so much respect, but he didn't. Then Ford snipped off any further action by granting the pardon. It's just what the country needed.

15 posted on 01/03/2012 10:52:07 AM PST by Ramius (Personally, I'd give us one chance in three. More tea anyone?)
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To: Ramius
Nixon helped save Israel during the Yom Kipper War - he's still well regarded there. He certainly was a friend to Israel.

Nixon's apparent problem with "jews" was related to what he perceived were political demographics. He can certainly be blamed for that crude analysis.

17 posted on 01/03/2012 11:03:33 AM PST by skeeter
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To: Ramius
"He was no more an anti-semite or bigot that anyone of his time may have been." So we should not judge people for their views, because of the prevailing views of the time. So sure he was a biggot and anti-semite but wasn't everyone at that time. So you would have hated jews if it was the prevailing view of the time? I doubt that unless you hate them now. At some point we have to take resposibilty for ourselves, and make choices ourselves, Nixon was an adult he made his!!!
20 posted on 01/04/2012 8:45:41 AM PST by qman
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