Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Nixonland

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion: Presidential (Through Nov 2009) Donate to DU
 
H2O Man Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-07-08 09:01 PM
Original message
Nixonland


"Adlai Stevenson and his learned speechwriter had coined a useful word, Nixonland. They just did not grasp its full resonance. …. Thus a more inclusive definition of Nixonland: it is the America where two separate and irreconcilable sets of apocalyptic fears coexist in the minds of two separate and irreconcilable groups of Americans. The first group, enemies of Richard Nixon, are the spiritual heirs of Stevenson and Galbraith. They take it as an axiom that if Richard Nixon and the values associated with him triumph, America itself might end. The second group are the people who wrote those telegrams begging Dwight D. Eisenhower to keep their hero on the 1952 Republican ticket. They believe, as Nixon did, that if the enemies of Richard Nixon triumph – the Alger Hisses and Helen Gahagan Douglases, the Herblocks and hippies, the George McGoverns and all the rest – America might end. The DNC was right: an amazingly large segment of the population disliked and mistrusted Richard Nixon instinctively. What they did not acknowledge was that an amazingly large segment of the population also trusted him as their savior. ‘Nixonland’ is what happens when these two groups try to occupy a country together. By the end of the 1960s, Nixonland came to encompass the entire political culture of the United States. It would define it, in fact, for the next fifty years."
--Rick Perlstein; Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America; Scribner; 2008; pages 46-47.

Why would anyone write another book on Nixon? And why the heck would anyone read another book, especially one that is more than 800 pages long, about Richard Nixon? Is it not better to forget the man who was forced to resign from the presidency in utter disgrace?

Two weeks ago, I watched Rick Perlstein debating Patrick Buchanan on the MSNBC morning show. Buchanan’s attacks on Perlstein’s book, and the authors humorous responses – which indicated he was fully aware of Buchanan’s activities in the Nixon White House – caught my attention. Surely, Buchanan would not have reacted as he did, if he was not sensitive to this new book. More, Perlstein came across as a gifted communicator. I decided to purchase the book on my next trip to a book store.

There have been numerous important and highly readable books on Richard Nixon. Among these are a few very important ones which tend to fall into one of two groups: the first focuses on the criminal nature of Nixon the politician; the second, smaller group, provide a psychological profile of this strangest of America’s Presidents.

I bought a dozen books on my weekend trip to Barnes & Noble, and admittedly have not finished Perlstein’s book. I am, however, concentrating on it more so than the others. Thus far, it has not introduced any new information on Richard Nixon. What the author does is to present the previously known information in a unique way: rather than a psychological study of the president, "Nixonland" is a sociological study of how a politician who had so many repulsive traits was able to get elected in 1968, and re-elected in ’72.

He also includes information that documents something that is far too often overlooked: that Nixon was the first vice president to really change the nature of that office. It is often remembered that during the 1960 election, when a reporter asked Ike to list some of VP Nixon’s accomplishments, that he said he might need a week to make such a list. The press took this as the President’s disrespecting his vice president, and in truth, he likely did. But he also knew that most of VP Nixon’s main responsibilities had been in the areas of secret, international programs which were classified.

Like all tyrants, Richard Nixon appreciated that if a ruler/ politician could get a large group of people to hate a common enemy, those people would willing forget their own low level of being. From 1963 to 1968, Nixon was able to manipulate and exploit the darkest passions in "main stream" American society.

Perlstein notes that Nixon was "a serial collector of resentments." In a five-year period that included the civil rights movement and riots in ghettos, the anti-war movement and a divisive war in Vietnam, and plans for a "Great Society" and economic hardships, Richard Nixon was able to make full use of his collection of resentments. He understood the power of the fear and anxiety that many Americans – including Democrats as well as Republicans – were experiencing.

For many of us, looking back in 2008, there is a memory of believing that the USA could never have a worse criminal than Nixon for President. Then came Reagan, Bush the Elder, and now Bush2. This has resulted in many people recalling Nixon as something of a moderate in comparison. And, in fact, his administration did a few good things. But it is important to recognize that Nixonland made Reagan and the Bushes possible. In fact, the book covers the curious relationship between Nixon and Reagan, which is too often overlooked by history books.

The tactics that Richard Nixon and others, including Patrick Buchanan, used in those years are the same tactics that the republican party is using today. There was a time, after his loses in the early 1960s, when the public and the "experts" wrote Nixon off. They did not think there was any serious chance of his ever being elected to an important office (especially the presidency) in the future.

Today, many people assume that there is no way that McCain can beat Obama, or that the republicans can keep from losing seats in the US House of Representatives or the Senate. But democrats must be aware of the fact that the republicans will certainly try. We must also be able to recognize their tactics when we see them – and we are seeing them these days, in the media and on the internet.

I strongly recommend reading Perlstein’s book, "Nixonland."
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
stevedeshazer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-07-08 09:12 PM
Response to Original message
1. You're wearing me out
I'm working full time and trying to keep up on your reading.

:)

On the other hand, I don't think there could possibly be enough stuff written about Nixon. He's endlessly fascinating.

Thanks for recommending et another book I probably won't find the time to read, but I certainly appreciate it.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
JohnnyLib2 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-07-08 09:42 PM
Response to Original message
2. Thanks for the heads-up on the book.

Your last two paragraphs sure got my attention. I have to think there are plenty of Republicans who never thought McCain would be in this position--but he is. Shades of Nixon, for sure. Seems to me that we Democrats are totally foolish when underestimating the old survivor elephant in the race. :thumbsup:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Hamlette Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-07-08 09:56 PM
Response to Original message
3. thanks, I've been wanting to read this, glad for the review n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Cha Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-07-08 09:59 PM
Response to Original message
4. Sure the republicans will "try" but they
do it in the same old tired, lying smearing, "not on the issues" way that results in people dying and the money is kaput.

Only now thanks to Dean, who pioneered, and Obama, who perfected, we are trying too!

Thanks H20 Man for your insightful political analysis.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
hfojvt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-08-08 01:50 AM
Response to Original message
5. they are still writing books about John Brown
not that he has as many as Nixon. I am starting to read "Fire from the Midst of You" (a religious life of John Brown) from the library. Kinda silly maybe since I have not even read all of the book I bought at the museum in Osawatomie "John Brown: the thundering voice of Jehovah". Nor have I read the book "When Presidents lie" which, I believe, is where your picture comes from - the excerpt in "The Nation" which I did read, many moons ago.

I probably do not read enough any more. I am working through some websites with rich data on the Loomis family. I just calculated that I have 205,126 people in my largest database. If I spent one minute researching and entering the data for each name that works out to 3,418 hours or 85 weeks of full time work. Where does the time go?

Of course, if you figure 5 minutes per post on DU, then ...
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
H2O Man Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-08-08 05:50 AM
Response to Reply #5
6. The Loomis Gang .....
in my area, the local historical societies are still researching the infamous "Loomis Gang." Almost every year, there is a canoe trip through the 9 Mile Swamp, where they avoided the law. Fascinating part of regional history.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Lochloosa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-08-08 09:08 AM
Response to Reply #6
10. Here is a link to an AOL movie about the Loomis Gang
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
hfojvt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-08-08 03:44 PM
Response to Reply #10
17. isn't it wonderful
How thieves get a movie made of their exploits? Much more recognition than the average PhD candidate gets.

The Loomis family history has 3 pages of college graduates, starting with George Loomis who graduated from Yale in 1730 through to Florence Loomis, and Doctors Melville, Phillip, Ray, Ross, and Warren. Since they did not steal or kill though, there's apparently no interest in making movies of their lives. Even Daniel Bissell, who was a spy in the Revolutionary War, is not so remembered.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
hfojvt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-08-08 03:35 PM
Response to Reply #6
16. augh, not the Loomis Gang
The local historical society might want to research better examples of humanity instead of having such a fascination with thugs. I recently ranted to somebody who asked if they were related to the Loomis Gang.

Of course there is a connection. Grandison is #10217 in the Loomis family history, son of Augustus, who was son of Aaron who was son of Aaron and Ann Armira Drake. My database shows 12 connections between Angie Loomis and the scumbag who founded the Loomis gang and put a blot on our family name. Ironically enough the two closest connections between Angie Loomis and George Washington Loomis are 4th cousin 3 times removed through John Drake and Hannah Moore and the same relationship through Thomas Barber and Jane Coggins. They are 5th cousins 3 times removed through Joseph Loomis and Mary White.

However your ancestry and relationships include scholars, revolutionary war veterans, civil war veterans, Old John Brown, state legislators, congressmen and governors. So I am highly annoyed that you would ask about a gang of murderous thieves.

For example, Angie Loomis is an 8th cousin to Nina Osborne (through the Holcombe family). She was the first wife of Thornton Waldo Burgess who wrote the Mother West Wind children's books for their son.

Angie is a 9th cousin to President Gerald R. Ford (through the Pinney family) and a 7th cousin once removed to President Grover Cleveland. Also a 7th cousin once removed to the Wright Brothers. She's a 10th cousin 3 times removed to William Clay Ford, current chairman of Ford Motor Company. She's an 8th cousin once removed to the actor Anthony Perkins. She's a 3rd cousin 5 times removed (once again through the Holcombe family) to Oliver Ellsworth who was a US Senator and also Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and whose sons included an Army Major, a judge and a Governor of Connecticut.

Sorry to rant so much, but it burns me up that there is such a fascination with people whose only accomplishments were theft, murder, arson, and terrorizing their more decent neighbors. I think the Loomis gang is a disgrace not only to their ancestors but to their other distant relatives who were more honest, hard-working, and decent. They don't deserve to be remembered much less honored.

You should be able to find more information on Aaron's ancestry in OneWorldTree. He was born on 25 may 1766.

PS - you are also distantly related to the current President of the United States, which is arguably even more shameful than the Loomis Gang connection.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
H2O Man Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-08-08 04:25 PM
Response to Reply #16
18. Some of the nicest people
that I know are related to the Loomis Gang. I don't view that relationship as negative.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
hfojvt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-09-08 02:49 AM
Response to Reply #18
19. Why not?
I am related to the Loomis gang as well, unless by 'related' you mean 'descended from'. But unless there was something noble about the Loomis gang, I'd rather not talk about my connection to a family of thugs. I'd rather talk about the doctors and professors and researchers and artists in my family tree rather than glorifying the thugs.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
nc4bo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-08-08 07:55 AM
Response to Original message
7. K&R! n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Skidmore Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-08-08 08:28 AM
Response to Original message
8. ...."a serial collector of resentments." ....A pretty good descriptor
of the entire Republican Party for the past 30 years. A collection of people with the same paranoia and self-aggrandizing qualities held by the master himself. To this day, Nixon's influence is felt--long past his death. It galls me to no end to see Pat Buchanan given any degree of respect anywhere. It's time to truly bury Nixon and his party.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Time for change Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-08-08 08:55 AM
Response to Original message
9. "a sociological study of how a politician who had so many repulsive traits was able to get elected
in 1968, and re-elected in ’72."

I think that understanding that alone would be good enough reason to read the book. That is one of the paramount questions of our day, and if we don't understand it and do something about it, our country will continue on its journey to hell. Thank you for telling us about this.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
starroute Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-08-08 09:34 AM
Response to Original message
11. Nixon was certainly in touch with the dark side of America
That line about how "most of VP Nixon’s main responsibilities had been in the areas of secret, international programs which were classified" certainly resonated with something I've been realizing just lately.

In the 50's, Nixon was the person in the Eisenhower administration who was most in contact with the CIA and all their abuses of that period. He had connections with Allen Dulles going back to the 40's. He also had Mob ties from the same period.

After the 1960 election, Nixon remained tied in with the same elements -- which now included not only old OSS/CIA figures like E. Howard Hunt but also the Cuban exiles who would be so prominent in Watergate. Add in people like the CIA-connected Howard Hughes and Nixon's continuing Mob ties and you get an image very different from the standard one of Nixon as merely a sleazy politician.

The conclusion I've been reaching is that Nixon was someone far more like the way we think of George H.W. Bush -- a politician with close ties to the more criminal end of intelligence and the more connected end of organized crime -- and that that was his true strength and his true legacy.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
H2O Man Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-08-08 09:47 AM
Response to Reply #11
12. Right.
There are numerous Nixon biographies that mention that as a young man, Nixon applied to the FBI for a job, but was turned down. It's easy to think "that was the end of that." But, of course, it wasn't. In the mid-1960s, when Nixon was the author of a newspaper column, he was considered a "reliable source" for J. Edgar Hoover to pass ugly rumors to. The FBI Director was confident that Nixon would at very least drop "hints" in his columns, and also spread the rumors to a network of other powerful people across the nation. This is a great example of how the corporate media came to be the exact opposite of what a "free press" is intended to be: rather than a journalist having reliable sources that allow him/her to report on the world of politics to benefit the public, Nixon and Hoover had joined forces to abuse true journalism, and to misinform the public in a manner that would benefit the most corrupt of government officials.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mopinko Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-08-08 09:50 AM
Response to Original message
13. completely unrelated comment
i meant to post about the stevie wonder concert in the park here last week. i thought of you. jesse jackson and john conyers were there, hanging around at the edge of the stage and grinning like a couple of teenage girls.
it was a really amazing event. he had his incredibly beautiful daughter there to sing 'isn't she lovely' with him. what a joy something like that must be.
it was free, and the park was packed to the gills. many people had camped out early, and had huge picnics. he played for 2 and 1/2 hours. 2 and 1/2 hours. the audience sang along with most of the songs, and somehow found room to dance in a crushing crowd. like woodstock without the mud i have been telling people. folks around us were chatting, offering us food. i finally relented and accepted the offer of some tequilla. the guy handed me a plastic water bottle, and i took a swig and handed it back to this grinning guy. some crazy blond suburban slightly drunken white girls danced and laughed with a pair of twin adorable little black girls.
i think it was just about the most amazing thing i have ever seen. i love that man. i love my city. i just can't figure out this whole war thing. everyone comes together in chicago. everyone can live side by side. so, wtf.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
bleever Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-08-08 01:28 PM
Response to Original message
14. We were discussing the enduring power of
the use of "socialism" to scare people in Time for change's thread the other day, and your post makes me aware that it isn't so much the fact that Americans have any innate aversion to state-promoted public welfare as it is that "anti-socialism" and "anti-communism" are in fact a valuable franchise for the denizens of that side of Nixonland.

E.V. Debs is long gone, the USSR is defunct, but the ability to stoke and channel the fears once related to such entities remains valuable, even essential, to Nixon's political heirs.


I look forward to further posts on this book. Thank you.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
SidneyCarton Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-08-08 03:25 PM
Response to Original message
15. K & R
I now want to read the book, it fascinates me how pervasive and how lingering the dark side of America remains, and how the twisted and poisonous legacy of the Nixon Administration continues to haunt us.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Tue Apr 30th 2024, 06:59 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion: Presidential (Through Nov 2009) Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC