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I NEVER THOUGHT I'D MISS TRICKY DICK. [1]

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Date: 2023-09-06  

It’s that time of year again, when I think back on the night when I almost missed seeing history, because I was studying history.

I was taking summer classes at the University of Pittsburgh that year, including a women’s history course.

Unlike most of my fellow students, I could write a decent essay, so I was acing said course. But the final was the next day, and I felt I should study, just in case.

My dad was watching TV in the living room. I heard Nixon interrupting whatever was on. I didn’t think much of it. Tricky Dick grabbed airtime whenever he felt like it, to say whatever was on his mind. He was something of a nuisance, interrupting the ball game, or The Andy Williams Show to address the nation.

I don’t know why I went in to watch. Nixon and I didn’t see eye to eye on much of anything. But, I did, and I watched a president resign.

It was the only time in my life I ever respected him. He did a fair imitation of humility, and was nearly apologetic, as he explained that he would be stepping down, and Gerald Ford would be our new president.

The next day, celebrating the last of my exams with a hot fudge sundae, I watched a young man in a Nixon mask outside the ice cream store, soliciting with a tin cup.

The transition was peaceful. Nixon and his wife boarded a helicopter for San Clemente, and left Washington, for good.

There were no angry mobs. No one was threatened.

Howard Baker, who had lead the Watergate probe was a national hero.

I rejoiced that week, for I had, indeed aced the women’s history class I was taking, and Richard Nixon was no longer president.

I didn’t think I’d miss him.

I was wrong.

Nixon had his supporters. They wrote angry letters to the newspapers, and made a few indignant speeches.

They did not threaten anyone. They did not storm the capitol. No one was killed.

Compare Tricky Dick to Dirty Donald.

I never thought I’d miss Nixon.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/9/6/2188748/-I-NEVER-THOUGHT-I-D-MISS-TRICKY-DICK

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