Word: agnew
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...Vice President who had piously proclaimed the need for stiff morality and stern judges was revealed as a grafter; he abruptly resigned in deserved disgrace, copping a plea to stay out of jail. Within 56 hours the President nominated House Republican Leader Gerald Ford to replace Spiro T. Agnew. In choosing the amiable House workhorse, Nixon for once did the easy and popular thing...
Inevitably, the ignominious demise of Agnew, a politician whose career had thrived on the generation of divisive emotion, commanded the most immediate attention. He had defiantly proclaimed his innocence and assailed his Justice Department prosecutors as conspirators out to get him. Then he turned about with astounding suddenness to concede his guilt in one crime and to bargain for leniency. Pleading nolo contendere to a charge of income tax evasion in return for his freedom, he also avoided the ordeal of standing trial for a sordid series of more odious acts. As detailed in a rare disclosure of evidence...
Wild Assertions. Among Agnew's few consolations were President Nixon's appeal "for compassion" for the man he had twice personally selected to be his running mate and some grudging praise by editorialists for his placing the national interest above his own by resigning rather than waging a protracted legal battle (see THE PRESS...
...graft -obviously and unfortunately-is by no means rare in American politics. But rare indeed was the betrayal of the public trust by one who had so harshly judged others-a betrayal carried, moreover, into the very precincts of the White House, according to the evidence presented against Agnew, with cash deliveries in the Vice President's Executive Office. All this made sympathy for Agnew a little difficult. Holding out for a Government pledge of no prison term was, in addition, hardly a selfless act. If his nation's interest had been Agnew's main concern...
...truth, Reston does not write puff pieces for the Veep. Rather, in most cases he seems inclined to give Agnew the benefit of the doubt. When asked if he could recall writing a single column strongly critical of Agnew, Reston said that he could not. He notes, however, that he and Agnew have "entirely a professional relationship. I've never had a meal with him. He's never been in my house, nor I in his." Press Secretary Thompson says that the Vice President admires Reston's "fairness" and adds: "They're friends...