Johnson’s “Watergate” (LBJ vs. Goldwater.)

National Review ^ | June 07, 2005 | Lee Edwards

[MJY1288]

The economic situation in the 70's were a accumulative effect of Johnson's Socialist Agenda and Nixon's expansion of Government agencies, as well as the total feeling that our Government was failing us.

After Johnson's disgraceful years in office, then Nixon's Watergate scandal, most Americans (including myself) felt nothing but shame for our leaders. Ford and Carter did nothing to change that feeling for me, but my personal hero Ronald Wilson Reagan changed everything. His optimism was contagious and his love of country was totally inspiring for me.

IMHO Ronald Wilson Reagan was not only a Life Guard on the Rock River, he was also America's Life Guard. There is no doubt in my mind that he saved me from drowning

[Betaille]

"The economic situation in the 70's were a accumulative effect of Johnson's Socialist Agenda and Nixon's expansion of Government agencies"

Johnson, Nixon, Ford, and Carter... you guys picked some real winners back then, lol. That's probably 4 of our worst presidents back to back to back to back.

[AzaleaCity5691]

Abe Lincoln's abuse of power while President paved the way for men such as FDR and LBJ

Lincoln was the first President to have truly powerful central government, and ever since them, other Presidents have wanted it for themselves.

[packrat35]

No Jimmy Carter

[CyberAnt]

Carter GUTTED THE CIA .. I think that had a lot to do with "policy".

[iopscusa]

I give you Carter and Johnson as 2 of the worst recent Prez. Nixon was one of the worst Repubs, a step above all the Dems and Ford was probably the least damaging of this foursome. However, the list of the Worst 20th Century Presidents includes all the Demo Presidents; from the top; Clinton, LBJ, Carter, Roosevelt, Wilson, Kennedy, followed by other Demo Prez except maybe Truman, the only "semi-respectable" Demo of the Century!
I just hope we have no more Demo or Rhino Presidents, it is time for the true Conservatives to rule!

[TheMole]

That was Attorney General Ramsey Clark. Sometime when you're frustrated with the slow pace of progress today, or maybe with the shortcomings of Alberto Gonzales, just reflect that there were times during your life when Ramsey Clark and Janet Reno held America's top law enforcement job.

BTW, I agree with you that Johnson was the worst modern president -- and I really really don't like the Peanut Farmer. One difference is that toward the end of Jimmuh's term some good things were actually beginning to happen, such as airline deregulation. With LBJ OTOH, every single move he made was a step in the wrong direction.

[Schwaeky]

Yeah, don't forget it was also under Jimmuh that the MX missile program was started, the B1 bomber was first unveiled. Reagan simply took the ball and ran it to the endzone. However much of what Jimmuh did was because we simply had no choice at that point...

The Civil Rights Act of 64 wasn't exactly a step in the wrong direction..

Don't forget, Nixon went to China, started the EPA etc. .So there's enough blame to spread around...

[AFPhys]

I had never seen all this information all put together like this.

I won't say LBJ was the worst president, but his place on my corruption scale just drastically changed.

[AFPhys]

Dittos. I could have written that post.

Mo1: thanks for the ping.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for the ping.

Isn't it amazing how the rats have operated in the past?

Now, they can't get by with this blatant stuff anymore.

[prairiebreeze]

I was a teeny bopper during Watergate, but what I most recall is my dad's reaction of disgust and adamancy that nothing had been done by Nixon that hadn't been done by others before him.

[Howlin]

Katharine Graham, in a 1988 speech given to senior CIA employees at Agency headquarters said, "We live in a dirty and dangerous world. There are some things the general public does not need to know and shouldn't. I believe democracy flourishes when the government can take legitimate steps to keep its secrets and when the press can decide whether to print what it knows."