We Tend to Think When Terrible Things Happen It's the End, but It's Always a New Beginning

2004 E! Entertainment Television ^ | January 1, 2003 | Ben Stein

[Former Military Chick]

To begin at the beginning, last Thursday, I was standing in a line of mostly Jewish supporters of President Bush, for the second annual White House Hanukkah reception.

The line was in the spectacularly well decorated East Room, on the spectacularly well done, ultra-cheery White House first floor, with its beautiful green trees, garlands and lights. In the entryway was the most impressive menorah I have ever seen, a fierce eagle perched on top of it.

The guests were in a great mood--mostly, I suspect, because we had been invited but also because Mr. and Mrs. Bush were having a White House Hanukkah reception at all.

For we Jews to have such elevated recognition of our holidays in an America that two generations ago would have treated the idea as a setup for an Ike and Mike anti-Semitic joke is a marvel of America's growth in diversity and tolerance.

As I stood in line, I thought of the many times I had been in that room. In the late '60s and early '70s, when my father had been an economic advisor to Mr. Nixon and then I had been a speechwriter for him, I often attended receptions there, with everyone in the room looking over shoulders to see who was more important that the President might talk to, compared with whomever he was talking to.

I had been to a few prayer services there, led, as I recall, by a Reverend Hudnut from Indiana. I might have even gone to a Jewish service there.

And then I had a startling recollection: The last time I was there was August 8, 1974, the blazingly hot, humid day Richard Nixon resigned and gave his heartrending farewell speech to the White House staff.

I cry even now as I think of it, and I was crying that day, standing with my girlfriend, Pat, who was also crying. My parents sat nearby--not crying but sobbing.

Mr. Nixon spoke from the heart in a way few men or women in public life ever do, and one of his remarks came roaring back at me as I stood in that line last week. I am paraphrasing here, but what Mr. Nixon basically said was, "We tend to think when terrible things happen that it's the end of everything. But it's not. No matter what happens, it's always a new beginning. The young must know it, the old must know it--always a new beginning."

How right he was. When I left the East Room that horrible day almost 30 years ago and watched our commander in chief take off in his helicopter, I had little thought that the GOP would be back in the White House in glory, that we would have a GOP President (the fourth since R.N.) who would be loved by a staggering margin of voters, that we would have a GOP Congress...indeed, in many ways, for the first time since the 1920s, a Republican America.

I can recall Fred Dent, the Secretary of Commerce, seeing my tears and putting his arm around my shoulders. What would he think--what does he think?--of the turns America has taken?

How amazing the twists life takes. How little I dreamed I would return to the White House as a Hollywood star, back with my first wife as my second wife (yes, married to each other twice) or that I would be famous for answering hard questions and inquiring about Ferris Bueller on a day when he ditched school. Or that I would be in that room for the first time without my parents nearby.

As the line moved, I thought of the surprises life has in store for us all. We make plans, and God laughs. Sometimes he laughs in a good way, sometimes in a sad way and sometimes even in an angry way.

I thought of Mr. Bush (who greeted me when I got to him by telling me he had just seen Ferris Bueller's Day Off again on Air Force One and that he had loved it) and how I hope he knows how much life can change without any suspicion.

He and all of us saw it on September 11. I hope and pray our President is alert to the possibility that the ground can shift under his feet again--possibly because of war, more likely because of a sluggish economy mired in disappointment after the bursting of the Clinton bubble.

If he is on his toes, getting the right advisors--not just pals but the best men and women for the jobs--he can prepare a bit, but some events are out of even federal government control.

A supple and resilient spirit, a trust in whatever the Almighty sends us, may be the only real preparation while we still live. "It's always a new beginning," said Mr. Nixon. "The young must know it. The old must know it." I hope Mr. Bush knows it. I hope I know it.

Economies wax and wane. Wars and scares of war come and go. The stock market rises and falls. Parents, whom we held so dear, lie in cemeteries under snow. And some old pals from those days are still around and still dear friends.

But around the menorah or Christmas tree, it is always a new beginning.

[Swede Girl]

WOW! This is a great read! Thanks for sharing. Ben Stein should publish a book of his articles and writings. It would be a best seller. He is eloquent, observant, and almost 100% correct on issues, in my opinion.

Also, it is refreshing to read that he recognized Richard Nixon's genius and contribution to this country.

[SweetCaroline]

Please add me to your Ben Stein PING list. Please? Pretty please....?

....me too please, me too!!!

[Former Military Chick]

He has published several books. Will get the names for you. I do agree, his writings should be compiled and offered to his fans, they would love.

[Former Military Chick]

Happy to do so!

[theFIRMbss]

>We Tend to Think When Terrible Things Happen It's the End, but It's Always a New Beginning

Well, yes, but sometimes it's just the beginning of more terrible things . . . I'd just come to grips with Britney getting married, when what happens next? Anna gets married! At some point, philosophy loses its comfort . . .

[MarMema]

It is lovely and thank you so much for posting it.

[Jackknife]

I thought of Mr. Bush (who greeted me when I got to him by telling me he had just seen Ferris Bueller's Day Off again on Air Force One and that he had loved it)

Ben is such a smart man, and a fish out of water in Hollywierd. I've always loved him in F.Bueller's Day Off, especially these few lines....

Economics teacher : In 1930, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, in an effort to alleviate the effects of the... Anyone? Anyone? ...the Great Depression, passed the... Anyone? Anyone? The tariff bill? The Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act? Which, anyone? Raised or lowered? ...raised tariffs, in an effort to collect more revenue for the federal government. Did it work? Anyone? Anyone know the effects? It did not work, and the United States sank deeper into the Great Depression. Today we have a similar debate over this.

Economics teacher : Anyone know what this is? Class? Anyone? Anyone? Anyone seen this before. The Laffer Curve. Anyone know what this says? It says that at this point on the revenue curve, you will get exactly the same amount of revenue as at this point. This is very controversial. Does anyone know what Vice President Bush called this in 1980? Anyone? Something-d-o-o. economics. "Voodoo economics."

[TruthNtegrity]

Thanks for posting this and then pinging me to it.

Ben was on with David Asman this Morning (?) - maybe shortly after Noon, not sure, but he was talking about how people in Malibue and LA were whispering to him that they were glad that Pres. Bush won. Asman asked, "Why were they whispering? Is their a Black list?" And Ben answered that while there's no black list, it is a company town and it is "owned" by the Hollywood Liberals; that only he and Patricia Heaton of the "Everybody Loves Raymond" show are vocally "pro life" and have survived to tell about it.

He was impish in his telling of the stories about how many people were whispering to him that they agreed with Ben's positions and thanked him for saying, out loud and on TV, what they cannot afford to say.

Then Ben shared that he thought more and more Pubbies would take over and "Barbra Striesdand will have to leave the Country". He loved saying that so much, he said it twice.

I never miss "Cavuto on Business" on Saturday Morning and am always disappointed if Ben isn't on with Neil. He is the voice of reason to Greg Hymowitz's and Jimmy Roger's negativitiy about anything conservative, and anything Republican. Remember - Hymowitz was sKerry's fundraiser and he's as biased and nutty as a loon. And Jimmy Rogers learned investing at George Soro's knee, so when he says he's in commodoties, I'm always praying he is manipulating some country's currency somewhere like his former mentor.
If Ben weren't around, I couldn't tolerate these two crazies and the stuff they spew.

Thanks again.

[TruthNtegrity]

Just in case you might not know, Ben has published some 12 books (according to Neil Cavuto and I don't think he was kidding him!) - so I'm sure you can buy some of his readings. He writes just as fluently as he talks. It's a joy to read him.

[Swede Girl]

Thanks for the info about Ben Stein's books. I will do research on this when the holidays are over and I have more time. I am looking forward to reading a few of his books. Thanks again!