"Divine right went out with the American Revolution and doesn't belong to White House aides..."

"Divine right went out with the American Revolution and doesn't belong to White House aides. What meat do they eat that makes them grow so great? I am not willing to elevate them to a position above the great mass of the American people. I don't think we have any such thing as royalty or nobility that exempts them. I'm not going to let anybody come down at night like Nicodemus and whisper something in my ear that no one else can hear. That is not Executive privilege. It is Executive poppycock." - Senator Sam J. Ervin Jr., April 1973



Defying Nixon's Reach for Power
Monday, Apr. 16, 1973

THE jowls jiggled. The eyebrows rolled up and down in waves. The forehead seemed seized by spasms. Yet the lips continuously courted a smile, suggesting an inner bemusement. The words tumbled out disarmingly, softened by the gentle Southern tones and the folksy idiom. But they conveyed a sense of moral outrage.

"Divine right went out with the American Revolution and doesn't belong to White House aides," the speaker said. "What meat do they eat that makes them grow so great? I am not willing to elevate them to a position above the great mass of the American people. I don't think we have any such thing as royalty or nobility that exempts them. I'm not going to let anybody come down at night like Nicodemus* and whisper something in my ear that no one else can hear. That is not Executive privilege. It is Executive poppycock."

(cut)

MORE: http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,878518,00.html

K & R. Brings back many good memories for me...

What a man. What a loss to this nation when he went.

I'm nervous, frankly

I have high hopes but tempered expectations...

Well said, sir. A prudent course indeed. I haven't yet fully decided on optimism or pessimism, but I lean toward the former. Your hesitancy is well advised.

We certainly do live in interesting times, no?

MLF

Looks like we'll have to replay a bit of history for him. If only the news media today weren't so servile and credulous.

This thread needs more recs. :thumbsup:

Recommended.


Peace.

I say as soon as the White House starts with the "Executive Privilage" crap, we start mailing tons of Executive Poppycock to the White House....

about 80 years before the colonies declared their independence!

Rec'd and :kick:

:kick: