News
William Safire RIP
The New York Times website is reporting that William Safire, longtime columnist for the newspaper, one of Richard Nixon's two leading speechwriters (with Ray Price) during the President's first term, and, in 1959, an eyewitness to the Kitchen Debate in Moscow, has...
Alger And Priscilla Hiss, 2009 Model
In early June of this year readers of Washington's two dailies woke up to the news of the arrest of a much-liked, sophisticated, rather affluent local couple. W[alter] Kendall Myers, when FBI agents put the cuffs on him, was 72 years old; a great-grandson of Alexander...
9.26.60
Forty-nine years ago tonight ---on Monday 26 September 1960--- the first televised debate ever held between presidential candidates was broadcast coast-to-coast. Vice President Richard M. Nixon and Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy faced off in the studios of...
A Career That Just Keeps Rollin’ Along
Three months ago I wrote a post about a Philadelphia newspaper's profile of Jennie Eisenhower, President Nixon's granddaughter whose stage career has taken her to theaters around the country. Starting on Wednesday, and continuing until November 1, she can be seen in...
A Community Organizer Takes On The World
President Barack Obama’s visit to the United Nations this past week, complete with a major address and some quality time with a gavel, was yet another step in the process of seizing a much sought after role. For decades, U.S. presidents have routinely been referred to...
The Blast From The Past
Ben Smith recycled Alexander Burns' reporting, but Wonkette said it best: So Barack Obama wanted to get rid of Joe Biden for the day and settled on sending him to Georgia, to say “hi” to the flood victims down there. Immediately after arriving, Joe Biden addressed the...
9.25.69
Forty years ago today, on 25 September 1969, RN welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir to the White House. It was the beginning of what became a warm and close relationship. A relationship that would be tested, refined, and perfected during the Yom Kippur War in...
What’s Wrong With This Picture?
A face in the crowd: the "above the fold" photo from the UN Security Council meeting on The New York Times' website this morning. First and foremost, there can be no prestige without mystery, for familiarity breeds contempt. All religions have their tabernacles, and...
9.23.52
Taking matters into his own hands: On 23 September 1952, RN went on radio and TV to answer charges of financial impropriety. The phenomenal success of his speech assured Ike's victory and put RN's bench mark on the emerging medium of television. Today is the...
The Checkers Effect
Beginning of Fund Speech I come before you tonight as a candidate for the Vice Presidency and as a man whose honesty and -- and integrity has been questioned. ---Richard Nixon September 23, 1952 We all know that Richard Nixon is one of the most complex and important...