Archive for the ‘Nixonland’ Category
NIXONLAND, Final Week (15): “Celebrities”, “In Which Playboy Bunnies…” & “Not Half Enough”
The Gallup poll showed it 59-36 for the president. One of the people who didn’t believe it was one of the nation’s most respected political columnists, Scotty Reston of the New York Times, the Sunday before Election Day. Nixon would win, “but the thought that the American people are going to give Mr. Nixon and [...]
May 15, 2011
· 
Anne Laurie · 
89 Comments
Posted in: Books, Nixonland
NIXONLAND, Week 14: “The Coven”, “Party of… George Wallace”, and “Spring Offensive”
And when [Liddy] considered the 1972 Presidential election… he realized that for Nixon to fight according to the normal procedures of democratic politics would have been just such a surrender. It was like one of the agents in a novel by Howard Hunt said: “We become lawless in a struggle for the rule of law—semi-outlaws [...]
May 8, 2011
· Anne Laurie · 92 Comments
Posted in: Books, Nixonland
No NIXONLAND Discssion Today
Dictating this to the Spousal Unit; they’re holding me in the hospital after twelve hours in the emergency room and subsequent minor hand surgery (more irritating than dangerous). Since I don’t have Cole’s stamina, there will be no NIXONLAND discussion this Sunday. Also, expect light posting for a couple of days.
May 1, 2011
· Anne Laurie · 36 Comments
Posted in: Books, Nixonland
NIXONLAND, Week 13: “How to Survive the Debacle”, “Cruelest Month” & “Ping Pong”
Obviously, the world was ending: By 1971, the conclusion was unmistakable. Steve Roberts of the NYT wrote about the enveloping apocalypticism in California, where every trend began… [W]hen it came to existential terrors, Americans could choose from a banquet. I would like to point out that apocalypticism comes naturally when your Serious Leaders of the [...]
April 24, 2011
· Anne Laurie · 80 Comments
Posted in: Books, Nixonland
NIXONLAND, Week 12: “Purity” & “Agnew’s Election”
“Let me try to bring some clarity to this deliberate confusion,” [Muskie] said. Democrats wanted security against lawlessness too, but Democrats also thought you deserved economic security. The Republicans? “They oppose your interests” and “really believe that if they can make you afraid enough or angry enough, you can be tricked into voting against yourself.”[...] [...]
April 17, 2011
· Anne Laurie · 83 Comments
Posted in: Books, Nixonland
NIXONLAND, Week 11: “The Polarization”, “Tourniquet”, “Mayday”
In 1969, the average factory worker earned 82 cents less a week in real terms than he did in 1965. ... In NY, some letter carriers were eligible for welfare. Across the economy, long-term labor contracts that had failed to keep pace with prices were expiring… Where union leaders weren’t able to settle to their [...]
April 10, 2011
· Anne Laurie · 78 Comments
Posted in: Books, Nixonland
NIXONLAND, Week 10: “Trust”, “If Gold Rust”, “Presidential Offensive”
Ratcheting up the machinery: Ronald Reagan’s administration prepared for the 1969/70 school year by asking the FBI to help in its “psychological warfare campaign” about student radicals. J. Edgar Hoover responded enthusiastically—“this has been done in the past and has worked quite successfully”—and dispatched his number two man, Clyde Tolson, to help… Senator Sam Irvine, [...]
April 3, 2011
· Anne Laurie · 111 Comments
Posted in: Books, Nixonland
Open Thread: NIXONLAND Update
(Ben Sargent cartoon via Gocomics.com) Speaking of Republican shenanigans, this week’s NIXONLAND discussion will take place Sunday evening at 7pm EDT, so people have a chance to take advantage of the later sunsets.* Chapters under discussion will be “Trust”, “If Gold Rust”, and “The Presidential Offensive”—closing with the unmasking of a murderous sociopath who ensnared [...]
March 31, 2011
· Anne Laurie · 27 Comments
Posted in: Nixonland, Open Thread
NIXONLAND, Week 9: “Winning”, “The First 100 Days”
Labor poured unprecedented resources into the Democratic campaign going into the home stretch, registering 4.6 million voters, sending out 115 million pamphlets, establishing 638 phone banks, fielding 72,000 house-to-house canvassers and 94,000 Election Day volunteers. Humphrey nabbed 15 last-minute points from Wallace among unionists. He also ran a lachrymose print ad: “Don’t let him buy [...]
March 27, 2011
· Anne Laurie · 135 Comments
Posted in: Books, Nixonland
NIXONLAND, Week 8: “Violence”, “From Miami… “, “Wed. 8/28/68″
When Nelson Rockefeller arrived, he claimed he had almost twice as many firm delegates as Reagan. The standing ovation John Wayne had just received put that notion rather in doubt. Over and over again, delegate Ronald Reagan had visited on his recent Southern tour told him they might switch their votes to him if he [...]
March 20, 2011
· Anne Laurie · 96 Comments
Posted in: Books, Nixonland
Friday Evening Open Thread
(Ohman via gocomics.com) Anybody got plans for the weekend that don’t involve watching college basketball? Reminder: This week’s NIXONLAND book discussion, Sunday afternoon 4pm EDT, chapters 13-15 (“Violence”, “From Miami to the Siege of Chicago”, and “Wednesday, Aug. 28, 1968”). Bring your bad memories…
March 18, 2011
· Anne Laurie · 83 Comments
Posted in: Nixonland, Open Thread, Republican Stupidity
NIXONLAND, Week 7: “The Sky’s the Limit”
He wondered why he had to go into all this. “I assumed any superintendent would issue instructions to shoot arsonists on sight and to maim the looters, but I found out this morning this wasn’t so and therefore gave him specific instructions.” [Mayor Daley] added, “If anyone doesn’t think this is a conspiracy, I can’t [...]
March 14, 2011
· Anne Laurie · 73 Comments
Posted in: Books, Nixonland
Late Night Open Thread: March Madness
From commentor Bootlegger: March Madness is upon us (at the very least if you have 8 and 9 year old boys who are chased indoors by the rain you are going mad). Register now for the Balloon Juice NCAA tournament pool, brackets will be ready for pickin’ on Sunday. I also created a pool for [...]
March 13, 2011
· Anne Laurie · 73 Comments
Posted in: Assholes, Nixonland, Open Thread, Readership Capture, Sports
NIXONLAND Reschedule
Turns out I have another commitment this Sunday afternoon, so I’m gonna have to reschedule this week’s book discussion (“The Sky’s the Limit”) to Monday evening, March 14, at 8pm EDT (Eastern Daylight-Savings Time). The other alternative, since I know we’ll all be sleep-deprived and extra-cranky Monday, would be to set up a “placeholder” post [...]
March 11, 2011
· Anne Laurie · 13 Comments
Posted in: Books, Nixonland
NIXONLAND, Week 6: “Cruise Ship” & “Fed-Up-Niks”
And yet more evidence (as if it were necessary) that nothing in today’s news is new: In October [1967] the formation of an anti-antiwar group was announced by WWII hero General Omar Bradley and former senator Paul Douglas.[...] [Members of the new Citizens’ Committee for Peace with Freedom in Vietnam] included Harry Truman and Dwight [...]
March 6, 2011
· Anne Laurie · 142 Comments
Posted in: Books, Nixonland
