MODERN TIMES

    What factors led to the revolution in morality and ideas in the 1960's? Have the youth led revolts before or is this a new phenomena? Was John F. Kennedy a megalomaniac or man who was always looking to prove his manhood as some would say or was he a realist that learned and grew and inspired others? Are words or actions what a man should be judged by?

    Richard Nixon had based his career in politics on negative campaigns and anticommunism. He was the cold war warrior personified and yet as President he and Henry Kissinger decided to view the Cold War as a traditional superpower rivalry. The Soviet Empire was not to be viewed as the great evil empire as it would be under President Reagan. The conflict was to be managed instead of won. Nixon visited China, the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty was signed with the Soviet Union and we managed to exit Vietnam through a combination of increased bombing, turning more of the war over to the South Vietnamese army and diplomacy. It was not a withdraw with honor but it ended the war.

    The President is supposed to defend and execute the law. He chose to subvert the law. Richard Nixon as a result of his fear of losing the 1972 presidential campaign and his general paranoia became involved in a variety of nonconstitutional affairs. He used executive privilege, the world situation and the needs of the country as he saw them to justify his subversion of the Constitution. The smoking gun and the hand in the cookie jar were all used in his defense. What did these refer to? Henry II had problems with Thomas a Becket and four barons killed Thomas a Becket? How could this be related to the Watergate case? If others have committed such crimes or been involved in such cover ups does that justify not punishing the individual that is caught? Does the end justify the means? Can our nation remain free if the President becomes the ruler and the Congress and Courts no longer balance his power?

     Copyright © 2005 Gary Brady