We’re right at 3 months from a pivotal vote for president that means everything for our country’s future. Those who will be voting for the former president have had their minds made up since he unwillingly, shamefully left office. Nothing will sway them – no amount of his lawbreaking, immorality, hypocrisy, power-hungry disrespect for the office of the president, racism, ignorance about the critical issues facing impoverished and middle-class Americans he doesn’t give a whit about, or callous treatment of others.
I was shaving while getting ready for church this morning when an intriguing hypothetical struck me.
Let’s say you’re voting for president. You have two choices: Richard Nixon and Donald Trump, two lawbreaking candidates. Yes, I know they’re both Republicans. Please just go with me on this and list in the comments which candidate you’d choose in this hypothetical showdown.
My vote would go to Nixon – and it’s not even close.
Before any of you accuse me of being a far-left liberal who only votes for Democrats – you’re wrong. I never voted straight ticket when it was allowed in Texas. My first vote for president, when I was 19 in 1980, was for Ronald Reagan. And I voted for him twice, as well as for George H.W. Bush. I always try to do my homework before voting and select the candidate I feel would do the best job in a given office, whether it’s a Republican or a Democrat. I believe that’s how we all should vote.
My argument in favor of Nixon over Trump hinges on the fact that, despite his failings including the Watergate scandal that led to his resignation 50 years ago this week, Nixon was a good president and a generally decent man, although a dishonest one. But the magnitude of his dishonesty pales in comparison to Trump’s penchant for lying and disregard for ethics.
If not for Watergate, Nixon might be considered one of our better presidents. He cherished democracy and achieved a number of significant accomplishments while in office from 1969 to 1974.
– Nixon ended our involvement in the Vietnam War and scrapped the military draft.
– With steps taken even before he became president, Nixon normalized U.S. relations with China. His visit to Beijing in February 1972 was a historic step toward strengthening those critical ties.
– Nixon oversaw reorganization of the Bureau of the Budget into the more powerful Office of Management and Budget, helping concentrate executive power in the White House. He also created the Domestic Council, tasked with creating domestic policy.
– He signed the first nuclear weapons limitation treaty with the Soviet Union, the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT 1), which put limits on both countries’ stockpiles.
– In a momentous move, Nixon formed the Environmental Protection Agency. He also supported the Clean Air Act and creation of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration.
– Although it was never signed into law, Nixon supported the Equal Rights Amendment while running for president in 1968. He also gave women more roles in his administration than any previous president.
– Nixon signed the Education Amendments Act of 1972, which included Title IX, prohibiting sexual discrimination in any institution receiving federal funding.
– Not that he had much to do with it, but we did make it to the moon under Nixon’s watch. He also diverted funds for development of the space shuttle program.
There’s more, but those are some of the highlights. It’s simply no contest. Nixon would be an easy choice for president over Trump. And he actually knew what the hell he was doing.
Just so you know, I’m not going to comment on your takes about whom you’d vote for in this fictional election. This isn’t meant to start any arguments. I’m just curious to see how these 2 candidates who broke laws would fare against each other in a mock ballot, and I’ll watch from the sidelines. If you want to make a case for one or the other with your vote, please feel free. If you’d like to discuss among yourselves, that’s fine too. But I insist that you keep it civil and R-E-S-P-E-C-T what others have to say.
Thanks for indulging me in this political experiment. Have fun casting your ballots! 
A Life of Words 