As much as Trump wants to compare himself with Andrew Jackson, he cannot help but force himself into Richard Nixon’s image. His impulsive actions, ham-fisted policy decisions, paranoia, and need to exact revenge on his political opponents, real or perceived, is as stark a comparison to the 37th President of the United States as there ever was. As with Nixon, his combination of vanity and insecurity will be his downfall. In the meantime, Trump’s lack of ability and interest to “know what he doesn’t know” is the open door to his political opponents.
There is a difference, however, between Donald Trump and Richard Nixon. For all the destruction that the Watergate scandal heaved on our democracy, Nixon, it’s debatable, did some good things. He created the EPA, proposed a national healthcare plan, expanded food stamps, gave extra security to the disabled and veterans, created price controls (which also led to inflation, but provided cursory regulations), created the Council on Environmental Quality, created OSHA, signed the Clean Air Act, and many more. Trump, conversely, has tried to systematically dismantle all of these things in his first 100 days.
Another glaring difference between Trump and Nixon is the fact that, for all his flaws, Nixon new government and how the system works. He understood who to talk to, how to compromise, and how to negotiate in government, not as a business man who runs a family business. He was respected for his beliefs, if not his actions. Just like Lyndon Johnson and Vietnam, Nixon may have gone on to be one of the great presidents in history if not for his one major downfall in Watergate.
Trump is in no danger of ever being great. He has no altruistic tendencies, or an ability to choose the greater good over self gratification. His constant poor decisions follow a pattern of follies of vanity and self preservation, as evidenced by his firing of James Comey. This action is the pinnacle of his self-centered decisions and absolute deafness and ignorance to what the Presidency is about and how severe the consequences can be for these to himself, but more importantly the nation. If someone with a track record of good decisions and altruistic policies like the that of Richard Nixon can have a catastrophic fall from power; Trump’s crash will be on a scale of a the Tsar Bomba 50 megaton nuclear blast.
Unfortunately, in the meantime, the destruction to our government could be irreparable. If his determined deconstruction of our democratic ideals and standards is allowed to continue much longer, the indelible mark will be even darker than the one left by Watergate. It will not be merely a history of mistrust for the government and hyper-partisanship that remains. It may fracture the foundation of our republic and change the American identity forever.
Speaking of Trump’s decisions…
“The morning after FBI Director James Comey was fired, the White House announced that President Donald Trump would meet with Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov.”
It’s reality TV!
And they were joking and laughing about Comey.
“He[Nixon] created the EPA, proposed a national healthcare plan, expanded food stamps, gave extra security to the disabled and veterans,….created the Council on Environmental Quality, created OSHA,…. – pandora
There was Democratic party that controlled Congress, willing and able to override any Nixon veto. That party no longer exists.
Also, his own AG and DAG stood up to him. There is no one with a spine or sense of public service in that administration.
He’s fired AG Yates, US Attorney Bharara and now Comey. He is just working through eliminating anyone who is getting close to real info on the Russian connection. He’s firing the people who are committed to their jobs.
If this doesn’t end in a special prosecutor, it will end in a Democratic sweep in 2018. But, can we wait that long?
I remember Nixon well, he knew what he was doing as president, and compared to today’s ultra far right Republicans he was a true moderate. In addition he was surrounded by people who knew their jobs and were good at it, but like Trump he was an arch liar and devious to a fault. But he was sincere in his desire to be a good president, Trump could give a damn. Right now the Republicans hold all the cards, that never lasts in American politics. Traditionally the presidents party faces big losses in the midterm elections, all indicators point to a well deserved slaughter for the Republicans in 2018, gerrymandering and voter suppression or not. Suspect when Trump falls he will fall hard and perhaps take other with him. Good, we as a nation need a lesson and we’re about to get it.
Nixon was sincere about looking like, as well as being a good person. He just didn’t know how to do it naturally. He thought he had to force people to like him, or lie, cheat, and steal to get recognized. His good deeds weren’t enough, he needed to be beloved. I don’t think Trump wants, or cares, to be loved. He wants to be respected and acknowledged as superior. Hell will fall far and hard, but who will fall with him and what will be left in his place. All scenarios are terrifying, as well as the prospect of Rudy Giuliani as the new FBI Director.