[I. M. Trenchant]

You have given your opinion, but the 'fact' about Dr. Kissinger that you cite in support of what you say is incorrect in it's every aspect. Nixon's greatest achievement was his introduction of a triangulated diplomacy that included the opening to China and detente with the USSR. Nixon conceived this approach five years before he became president. When he first told Kissinger that this would be the central task of his Administration, Kissinger characterized Nixon as being crazy to think this would be possible and he said so openly to his entire staff, including Alexander Haig. The definitive biography of Nixon, which discusses every aspect of his career, was written by Jonathan Aitken. It is titled Nixon: A Life and was published in 1993. By Aitken's assessment, Kissinger was an able functionary, nothing more. Nixon was the visionary and architect of U.S. foreign policy. Nixon was also guilty of inspiring much of the skullduggery that took place on 'his watch', but was rarely ever aware of the actions taken by the Plumbers etc. until years after the events occurred and almost never ordered any of the undertakings that are attributed to him -- such as Watergate. For example, when Nixon's minions dreamed up the Watergate burglary, Nixon was in the USSR, and on the evening of the event itself, he was addressing the public of the USSR on TV. Just as Nixon had been the first U.S. president or vice president to visit the USSR and to address the public of the USSR, when he was Ike's VP, he was also, about 15 years later, the first U.S. president to visit the USSR, and to address the public of the USSR. A strong argument can be made, and is made by the Russians themselves, that Nixon's addresses to the public of the USSR were the germinal seeds of glassnost, long before Gorbachev appeared on the scene. Indeed, it was these talks that led to the opening up of the USSR system and to the ascendancy of people like Gorbachev. Nixon's transgressions were sins of omission, in direct contrast to Clinton, who lied, under oath, in the U.S. courts, something Nixon never did -- or would have done. The reckless abandon with which Freepers are prepared to downgrade Nixon, the architect of the electoral shift that has given the GOP a virtual lock on the Oval Office since 1968, is disappointing. Aitken's book should be read by every American, including especially members of this forum. Aitken's assessments are devoid of sentiment, do not skirt Nixon's 'warts', but leave no doubt that he was among the most gifted and successful of all U.S. presidents, and will be so-judged by history when the current crop of dewy-eyed JFK worshipers are 'amolderin in their graves. My recommendation to Godfearing Texan is to read Aitken's book and to ask the Nixon critic he was speaking with to do likewise.

[geopyg]

Thanks for the post. Don't think that book is on my shelf with all the other Nixon books.

I think Vietnam would have worked out much differently if Nixon hadn't messed up with Watergate.

Plus, perhaps it's in the book, but I look at Vietnam as an important chess-piece in taking on the USSR which lead to detente, etc. Rather than the "Domino Theory" that got us into the war, it turned out to not be just a domino piece, but a pawn that Nixon used to back the king into a corner.

It's too bad that after Nixon was gone, America decided the pawn was expendable.

[middie]

The initial question did not concern Nixon's foreign policy initiatives led by Dr. Kissinger. The issue concerns the corrupt state of mind of the group around him and the hubris that infected their belief that they were the modern untouchables. Their CREP organization is the outstanding example of their sinister mode of operation.

[wardaddy]

Post of the week...well done!

amazing how ignorant some here are.

[higgmeister]

...he was among the most gifted and successful of all U.S. presidents, and will be so-judged by history...

I am still proud that the first President I voted for was Nixon.

I am also proud that my 87 year old Grandmother attempted
to attend his funeral.
[She had to settle for visiting his grave site the next day.]