Document:LP News Number 21 (July-August 1974): Difference between revisions

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Document:LP News Number 21 (July-August 1974) (view source)

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→‎Political Perspectives: Post-Nixon Politics by David F. Nolan
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=Political Perspectives:  Post-Nixon Politics by David F. Nolan=
=Political Perspectives:  Post-Nixon Politics by David F. Nolan=


And so, after two years of breast-beating and public recrimination on all sides, the impossible happened. An American President was forced out of office-not merely discouraged from seeking re-election, a la LBJ, but actually forced to step down., And not just any President, either; the man expelled from power had pursued that power with an intensity and single-mindedness rarely if ever before witnessed in American history. There is an ironic justice of sorts that the first man ever to become an un-President (as opposed to simply an ex-President) is the man for whom being President was the major reason for living. It couldn't have happened, as they say, to a nicer guy.
And so, after two years of breast-beating and public recrimination on all sides, the impossible happened. An American President was forced out of office not merely discouraged from seeking re-election, ala LBJ, but actually forced to step down., And not just any President, either; the man expelled from power had pursued that power with an intensity and single-mindedness rarely if ever before witnessed in American history. There is an ironic justice of sorts that the first man ever to become an un-President (as opposed to simply an ex-President) is the man for whom being President was the major reason for living. It couldn't have happened, as they say, to a nicer guy.


In all fairness, however, it should be observed that while Richard Nixon richly deserved his unique fate, he was by no means the only President who deserved that fate. His immediate predecessor was almost certainly equally impeachable, and might well have had to face that eventuality, had he been confronted with an opposition-party-dominated Congress. Too bad he wasn't; it would have been fun watching old welfare-warfare Lyndon go down in flames.
In all fairness, however, it should be observed that while Richard Nixon richly deserved his unique fate, he was by no means the only President who deserved that fate. His immediate predecessor was almost certainly equally impeachable, and might well have had to face that eventuality, had he been confronted with an opposition-party-dominated Congress. Too bad he wasn't; it would have been fun watching old welfare-warfare Lyndon go down in flames.


==Fall From Grace==
==Fall From Grace==
But to tum to the present, the facts are that Milhous was the first (hopefully, there will be others), and his fall from grace has many ramifications. Some will" become known only with the passage of time; others can be guessed at even now. And herewith are some guesses.
But to turn to the present, the facts are that Milhous was the first (hopefully, there will be others), and his fall from grace has many ramifications. Some will become known only with the passage of time; others can be guessed at even now. And herewith are some guesses.


The most immediate result of Nixon's departure, of course, is the Presidency of Gerald Ford. And, while the two men are almost diametric opposites stylistically (Nixon was a megalomaniac, while Ford verges on humble), there is little if any ideological difference between the two. Ford, after all, was Nixon's hand-picked successor.
The most immediate result of Nixon's departure, of course, is the Presidency of Gerald Ford. And, while the two men are almost diametric opposites stylistically (Nixon was a megalomaniac, while Ford verges on humble), there is little if any ideological difference between the two. Ford, after all, was Nixon's hand-picked successor.
Ford’s Royce Rating for the first half of 1973 was an average (i.e., bad) 36; his
 
second-half score, had he finished out the year, would probably have been lower, judging from his performance through November. From a libertarian viewpoint he will not be a lot better than Nixon; he gains a few points for his relatively greater opposition to welfare spending, but loses them back because of his militarism. In sum, Ford is perhaps a half-notch to the right of Nixon, but in the same plane.
Ford’s Royce Rating for the first half of 1973 was an average (i.e., bad) 36; his second-half score, had he finished out the year, would probably have been lower, judging from his performance through November. From a libertarian viewpoint he will not be a lot better than Nixon; he gains a few points for his relatively greater opposition to welfare spending, but loses them back because of his militarism. In sum, Ford is perhaps a half-notch to the right of Nixon, but in the same plane.


==Improvements==
==Improvements==
Nonetheless , having Ford as President will probably bring some slight improvements over the Nixon regime. By virtue of his situation, Ford will be too weak to embark on any grandiose schemes of his own, as Nixon would have loved to do, following his "mandate" in 1972. On the other hand, Ford will probably be able to use the veto power, and have his vetoes stick, if the Congress gets too carried away (and it may well, next year). Nixon, in contrast, had effectively lost his veto power.
 
Nonetheless, having Ford as President will probably bring some slight improvements over the Nixon regime. By virtue of his situation, Ford will be too weak to embark on any grandiose schemes of his own, as Nixon would have loved to do, following his "mandate" in 1972. On the other hand, Ford will probably be able to use the veto power, and have his vetoes stick, if the Congress gets too carried away (and it may well, next year). Nixon, in contrast, had effectively lost his veto power.


In sum, with a non-elected President in the White House, we are likely to see a more balanced relationship between Executive and Legislative power than we have seen in decades. The march toward Executive despotism has been temporarily halted-perhaps even set back a step or two.  Indeed, the power of The State as a whole been dealt somewhat of a blow-although we should not disillusion ourselves that this is more than a temporary respite.
In sum, with a non-elected President in the White House, we are likely to see a more balanced relationship between Executive and Legislative power than we have seen in decades. The march toward Executive despotism has been temporarily halted-perhaps even set back a step or two.  Indeed, the power of The State as a whole been dealt somewhat of a blow-although we should not disillusion ourselves that this is more than a temporary respite.
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Still another benefit of Tricky Dick's fall from grace is that there is now some hope that the reign of Dread Ted may well be postponed for four years. If Ford does a fairly good job of pleasing the public between now and November of 1976, he has a good chance of being elected to a term of his own. This puts Teddy Bear on ice until 1980, and, given the unpredictability of the world these days, perhaps forever.
Still another benefit of Tricky Dick's fall from grace is that there is now some hope that the reign of Dread Ted may well be postponed for four years. If Ford does a fairly good job of pleasing the public between now and November of 1976, he has a good chance of being elected to a term of his own. This puts Teddy Bear on ice until 1980, and, given the unpredictability of the world these days, perhaps forever.


There are other politicai implications to this thing, however. One is that the Republican Party has been given at least a temporary "new lease on life." The GOP was in very, very deep trouble prior to Nixon's resignation; now, there is a measurable chance that the GOP may not fare too badly in this year's elections.
There are other political implications to this thing, however. One is that the Republican Party has been given at least a temporary "new lease on life." The GOP was in very, very deep trouble prior to Nixon's resignation; now, there is a measurable chance that the GOP may not fare too badly in this year's elections.


Undoubtedly, the Republicans are still far worse off than they were before the beginning of the whole Nixon-Agnew (remember him?) scandal of 1973-74, but they're not nearly as badly off as they would have been with Nixon still in office and going through impeachment this Fall.
Undoubtedly, the Republicans are still far worse off than they were before the beginning of the whole Nixon-Agnew (remember him?) scandal of 1973-74, but they're not nearly as badly off as they would have been with Nixon still in office and going through impeachment this Fall.
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The GOP's gain is not necessarily our loss, however. For one thing, there was a very real danger that a too-early demise of the.GOP would have left us with a one-party system, rather than the multi-party system we aspire to.
The GOP's gain is not necessarily our loss, however. For one thing, there was a very real danger that a too-early demise of the.GOP would have left us with a one-party system, rather than the multi-party system we aspire to.


In addition, I think this whole debacle has caused a lot of people to become dissatisfied with both major parties to a previously unprecedented degree, and I honestly believe we're going to see increasing numbers of third-party and independent candidates elected to office in the next few years. In fact, I now think there's a slim chance that one or more of our  Congressional candidates might actually win, this November.
In addition, I think this whole debacle has caused a lot of people to become dissatisfied with both major parties to a previously unprecedented degree, and I honestly believe we're going to see increasing numbers of third-party and independent candidates elected to office in the next few years. In fact, I now think there's a slim chance that one or more of our  Congressional candidates might actually win, this November.


Perhaps most importantly, however, I think the events of the past year or two have made the American people much more receptive to proposals for limiting the power of government, and changing the way in which we choose our political representatives.
Perhaps most importantly, however, I think the events of the past year or two have made the American people much more receptive to proposals for limiting the power of government, and changing the way in which we choose our political representatives.
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