Word: nixon
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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THERE was no doubt, once the tapes were obtained, that Richard Nixon had acted wrongfully. There will never be any way of knowing the full truth because he will never tell us. Nixon is a man who wants to vindicate his place in history. Escaping prosecution, however, has allowed him to be in the improved position he is now. If Nixon is accepted as an elder statesman, the lessons on the corruption of power that Watergate supposedly taught us will be lost...
Granting Richard Nixon the freedom to act as an expert voice on any issue such as foreign affairs, national campaigns or domestic policy--expert though he may be--completely dismisses the damage he did this country and ignores his complete betrayal of the public trust. The President of the United States had not only broken many laws, but he had intentionally lied to the American public in an attempt to retain his power...
...time when, more than ever, the ethical behavior of public figures is being called into question, Nixon's reacceptance into public life shows that we are coming to the wrong conclusions about the place of ethics in society. It shows that one need not act responsible to succeed...
Unless moral positions are held firm, they mean nothing. The time for punishing Nixon is past--he resigned in order to spare a reeling nation the torment of prosecuting their chosen leader, but to restore to him public respect cheapens the ideal of our nation's highest office...
Significantly, the main factor contributing to the rise of Nixon has been the Reagan Presidency. Newsweek, which two years ago noted that attitudes towards Nixon were changing, quoted a senior aide to President Reagan as saying, "As far as the White House is concerned, [Nixon's] rehabilitation is complete--there's tremendous respect for him around here." Reagan is known to consult often with Nixon about certain policies, such as the bombing of Libya, and even called for advice on how to handle the Iran-Contra scandal...