He began seeing 1972 in apocalyptic terms: if he lost the presidency, America might end. Any imaginable Democratic nominee was "irresponsible domestically" and "extremely dangerous internationally." He had come to understand something profound in his two years as president, in all those lonely afternoons brooding alone in his hideaway office in the Executive office Building--the kind of profundity too deep to share with the mere public: "America has only two more years as the number one power." America had either to "make the best deals we can between now and 1975 or increase our conventional strength. No Democrat can sell this to the country."
So it was that the Old and New Nixon, serpent and sage, collided in a single astonishing insight: in order to responsibly steward the American people through the coming crisis, he first had to bluff America into believing in its own invincibility.
I can't wait to find out what happens. ; )
When people over-think their situation, when they have such high self esteem, convince themselves what they have dreamed of is for the greater good no matter what it will take to achieve, from these infested minds we get the Nixon's and Timothy McVeigh's. We really need more effort on mental illness identification and treatment.
ReplyDeletenotacynic:
ReplyDeleteAmerican exceptionalism and invincibility - they go together.
NAC,
ReplyDeleteFar be it from me to ruin the suspense.
Don't forget Dick Cheney, Darrell. The main thing he took away from serving in the Nixon administration was that absolute secrecy is essential.
ReplyDeleteI believe you are right, Whit.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mr. O. I hate having the ending ruined. ; )
ReplyDelete