Tag Archives: Richard Nixon

Running Against Hooverville–The Presidential Blame Game

Posted on February 26, 2010 by admin

In the immediate aftermath of the Bay of Pigs fiasco in 1961, President John F. Kennedy stood before the nation accepting the total blame for what had happened. He referred to an old saying about victory having a thousand fathers, … Continue reading →

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The Little Church In The East Room

Posted on December 18, 2009 by admin

As the first streaks of dawn quietly announced the arrival of morning on Sunday, November 16, 1969, a 35-year old preacher from Ohio named Harold Rawlings had already been awake for a while after a fitful night of what-could-barely-be-called sleep … Continue reading →

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President Obama’s Vocal Minority Speech

Posted on December 2, 2009 by admin

1 December 2009 and 3 November 1969: the desire to contain a vocal minority and the determination to mobilize a silent majority. I’ve looked at a lot of the coverage of the President’s speech at West Point last night, and, … Continue reading →

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What does “Nixonian” mean?

Posted on November 11, 2009 by admin

It seems to me that we are hearing the term “Nixonian” used more often these days. Most recently when TV pundits were talking about the Obama Administrations criticism of Fox News. They talked a great deal about the Obama folks … Continue reading →

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Healthcare Reform, Then And Now

Posted on September 17, 2009 by admin

Jason Schafrin, a young economist trained at UCSD, breaks down RN’s 1974 message to Congress and proposal for a comprehensive health insurance plan, and compares it to President Obama’s current plan: “Today the need [for reform] is even more pressing … Continue reading →

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Mass Appeal

Posted on August 17, 2009 by admin

Unguided Missal? Mass composer Leonard Bernstein in 1971. Last week on The New Yorker’s website, music critic Alex Ross wrote three articles based on newly released Freedom of Information Act-obtained government documents regarding inquiries into composer-conductor-polymath Leonard Bernstein’s politics. They … Continue reading →

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Palin, Nixon, And The “Secret Plan”

Posted on July 4, 2009 by admin

At CQ Politics, Jonathan Allen contrasts Sarah Palin and Richard Nixon.  “Palin doesn’t have Nixon’s interest in, or knowledge of, foreign affairs,” he writes. “Imagine the reaction if Palin suggested she had a “secret plan” to win the war in … Continue reading →

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Helen Gahagan Douglas Redux

Posted on October 2, 2008 by admin

I apologize in advance for the shameless bit of name dropping that is about to take place…..but I remember asking Henry Fonda why he so disliked RN — was it because of Vietnam (the conversation took place the spring of … Continue reading →

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Herman Perry’s Letter to Richard Nixon

Posted on September 29, 2008 by admin

Sixty-three years ago today, businessman Herman Perry wrote a letter to Richard Nixon asking him if he was interested in running for a seat in the House of Representatives. At the time, incumbent Democrat Jerry Voorhis was representing the 12th … Continue reading →

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24 July 1969: Home From The Moon

Posted on July 23, 2008 by admin

On 24 July 1969, RN was in mid-Pacific welcoming the Apollo 11 crew home from the moon. Like the rest of the mission, everything had gone almost flawlessly. After traveling 240,000 miles, the capsule —named Columbia— splashed down less than … Continue reading →

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