I agree with both of you, but most of what you are referring to took place before Hitchens was born, or when he as a very small boy. Without much TV or any internet. He had little first-hand experience with Nixon. Certainly not enough to loath him. I know FDR was a terrible president, because of what my grandparents told me, and because of what I have read in the history books. But will never have enough personal familiariaty with the man to loath him unless he rises from the grave and starts chasing me down the block as a wheelchair zombie.
Exactly. No, he was too young to have anything to base his "loathing" on, he inhaled it. Nixon was widely loathed by the left because of his role in chasing communists in his early days. The left never admitted that Hiss was guilty, that the Rosenbergs were guilty, that McCarthy was telling the truth, and that the people in Hollywood who were blacklisted were blacklisted by their Hollywood friends, and not by McCarthy, who wasn't even around then.
Bush Derangement Syndrome didn't start with Bush, or Bork, or Thomas. Its how the left reacts to anyone who crosses their path. At least, thats how I see it. Hence, Nixon, Chambers, McCarthy.