Richard Nixon's encyclopedic knowledge of U.S.-China relations existed alongside the personal insecurities that ended his presidency.
Years ago, I was surfing TV late at night and stumbled on Nixon being introduced to an audience at a private club in New York. This was many years after he’d left office in disgrace, and his subject was U.S.-China relations.
He proceeded to give an hour-and-a-half talk that was absolutely brilliant, giving a history of China as well as our interactions with it, with cogent analyses and insightful predictions of potential problems. His answers to questions were of equal depth and insight.I was stunned, and all I could think of was the sad, sad waste of a mind and experience because of his emotional and psychological failings.
First, under Nixon’s watch, more than 21,000 Americans lost their lives, and many more were wounded in Vietnam. I witnessed some of these people die. This happened after he claimed before the 1968 election that he had a secret plan to end the war. Second, he never publicly and clearly admitted guilt in the Watergate scandal, which tells us everything we need to know about his credibility.Too bad Goldberg did not mention Title IX, which Nixon signed into law in 1972. That law prohibited sex discrimination in any education programs receiving federal funds, most notably giving women an equal chance at athletic competition in schools.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Letters to the Editor: Jan. 18Letters to the Editor for Jan. 18
Read more »
Letters to the Editor — Parkland Hospital, Jerry LeVias, Dade Phelan, IRS delaysRe: “Parkland Hospital nurses have a lot of healing to do,” by Sharon Grigsby, Sunday Metro column. Thank you, Sharon Grigsby, for the positive article on...
Read more »
Letters to the Editor: Crushing student loan debt is a problem for seniors tooIn discussing the issues that aging brings in California, we cannot forget the problems foisted on seniors by predatory lenders.
Read more »
Letters to the Editor: Jan. 19Letters to the Editor for Jan. 19
Read more »
Letters to the Editor - Trusting teachers, childhood, retirees, happiest jobsRe: “Trust teachers and the magic they create — They know kids, books and the difference between vulgarity, literature,” by Christopher DeVinck, Sunday...
Read more »
Letters, Jan. 18: A proud evening for S.A.Read the Express-News letters to the editor for Jan. 18.
Read more »