Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dayuhan who wrote (79367)	5/4/2000 8:10:00 PM
From: Michael M	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 108807

Steven, I concede, at the very end Nixon was emotionally unfit at least part of the time. It seems certain to me that he must have been profoundly depressed. However, I would argue against lunacy and defend to some degree, his possible feelings of paranoia. He was less than a lovable figure by nature and, IMO, this was ruthlessly exploited by the press. He promised Vietnamization of the war and he delivered. He/K gave peace a chance (on very shaky terms -- later, fatally compromised by Congress) and he brought home those POWs who were accounted for. On the domestic front, his administration also laid the foundation for a great many civil rights, equality and environmental protections. Unfortunately, none of the above happened at a pace to satisfy home front opponents of the war and "the establishment." Strife on campus and in the streets and a media that loves the very conflict and disaster it laments caused the president, IMO, to wonder, "Who are all these people and why are they picking on me?" Good question. There is hardly any question that the domestic environment re the war led to an "us against them" mentality in the White House. Nixon was ill-served by many who were close to him, who also exploited, IMO, the reviled image of the president presented by his loudest and most visible critics. I think the president did not understand what he viewed as "disloyalty" to the country and its institutions and I think he took it personally. His actions that led to complicity in a "cover-up," were perhaps prompted by his own personal sense of loyalty. "When at first we practice to deceive....." Although this was Really bad judgement -- I don't think it qualifies as lunacy. In fact, even in the area of judgement, we now have a president who looked us straight in the eye, wagged his finger at us and told a whopper. Other presidents survived similar missteps. I think Nixon legitimately believed himself and the country under attack from within -- I'm not sure this constitutes paranoid imaginings. In time, Nixon may become our "most interesting" president. FWIW, I do believe Nixon did a bunch of dumb things but I'm not sure I would agree with all here re which things deserve to be in that category. Mike