“Nixon wears the presidency like a comfortable suit of armor. There is every indication that he will burrow even deeper into its splendid solitude during the next four years . . .” —Hugh Sidey, November 17, 1972
Ten days after Richard Nixon won a whopping 60.7% of the popular vote, LIFE magazine asked the question, “What will Nixon do with it?”
Even though Watergate was already public knowledge, and the country was still engaged in the contentious Vietnam war, a president with that kind of popularity could survive anything, right? At a time when the Cabinet Room was the domain of older white males smoking pipes, Nixon’s presidency appeared unimpeachable.
Sidey wrote, “He [Nixon] has been given almost everything by America─security, education, opportunity, wealth and position. Now he has been given an overwhelming trust and vote of renewal. It is once again Nixon’s turn. This is the turn that really counts.”
Less than two years later, Nixon was out of office, and his place in history secured for all the wrong reasons.
What can we learn from this?
We remember, once again, Martin Luther King Jr’s words: “The arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” We remind ourselves that compassion is more powerful in the long run than security, education, opportunity, wealth and position.
We learn that even the most powerful man in the world has to do the right thing.
We must believe that justice will prevail, because if we do not, the chaos will surely engulf us all.
Out of chaos . . . order.
Very well said. The pithiest and most succinct comment I’ve seen on this issue.
Pithy! I strive for that.
Words of wisdom. We must be optimistic and patient that good will prevail. It certainly is difficult to disregard the daily dramas our southern neighbours are experiencing, and which are beginning to spill across our borders. Vigilance! Thanks Arlene.
Certainly it’s spilling into my Facebook feed, much to my chagrin. I yearn for days of cat videos and dinner plates.
Amen to that.
You give me hope, and faith that right will always prevail. xo
We Canadians are watching with interest . . . What is going to happen? Time will tell.