The dark prince of American history was smarter than any Republican to hold office after him, and not nearly as far-right on social issues as his party today. For personal resentment distilled to poison, however, he has no American rival.
From his papers, a new portion of which was released Monday: (Story via)
In a Jan. 26, 1970, memo to Haldeman and secretary Rose Mary Woods, the president demanded that the administration ”turn away from the policy of forcing our embassies abroad or those who receive assistance from the United States at home to move in the direction of off-beat art, music and literature.”
He called the Lincoln Center in New York a ”horrible monstrosity” that shows ”how decadent the modern art and architecture have become,” and declared modern art in embassies ”incredibly atrocious.”
”This is what the Kennedy-Shriver crowd believed in and they had every right to encourage this kind of stuff when they were in,” he wrote. ”But I have no intention whatever of continuing to encourage it now. If this forces a show-down and even some resignations it’s all right with me.”More than Nixon’s artistic sensibilities were at play here. He made the political calculation that ”those who are on the modern art and music kick are 95 percent against us anyway.”
If Macbeth and his wife were one person, Nixon would be him. Reagan was an empty suit, and Bush is too stupid for tragedy. He caused tragedies but could not embody them. The last Republican who was worthy of his part in the play is long dead, but his papers will continue to tantalize.
Philip Guston, via
Would you buy a used country from this man?
Yes yes there is tragic dimension. When I think of Richard Milhous Nixon, I wonder who he might have been if the worm of hatred were not wound around his heart.
You’re misunderestimating Republicans.