Stew Bolno: Trump and Nixon — unlikely parallels
No person following politics during the past 70 years would say Presidents Richard Nixon and Donald Trump are like “two peas in a pod”. They were initially elected forty-eight years apart. Their appearances, temperaments, personalities, and human interactions can be described as diametrically opposed. But one thing they share is the ability to release vitriolic hate from Democratic party leaders and their liberal loyalists. It’s targeted, it’s emotional, it’s primal.
In my lifetime, the Democrats have rarely been kind to Republican presidential aspirants. Those who developed a reputation of amiability were mocked as weak, stupid, or insensitive during their campaign runs. This list includes candidates Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George Bush Sr., Bob Dole, George Bush Jr., and Mitt Romney. Only John McCain seemed to avoid the predictable cattiness and hostility from liberal politicians combined with the national press of his time. I suspect he was spared because, in 2008, Barack Obama was glorified upon his announcement as a candidate and was never pressured in the polls.
The question under consideration: why are Nixon and Trump so uniquely on the receiving end of hatred so strong and unrelenting? I have deduced the reason; there is no reason. They’re so different from each other, it’s difficult to make any comparison of significance even though there are some similarities.
Like Trump, Democrats found something to dislike about Nixon from the get-go. He positioned himself as an anti-communist candidate in his initial and victorious 1946 run for Congress and repeated the pattern in his senatorial race in 1950. He was an aggressive, outspoken, and young campaigner. He was a perfect ticket balance to likable Ike who could have chosen either party to nominate him.
Neither Nixon nor Trump was/is an unshakable ideologue conservative, but they share many things in common. Both were raised within an intact family structure with a few siblings and were known to be the sons of demanding fathers. Both are assertive, willing to be pugnacious in challenging situations, and possess the loyalty of their wife and children. Oddly, and perhaps to soften their image, both appeared on nationally ranked well-known comedy shows of their time. Presidential candidate Nixon, in September of 1968, appeared on Laugh In; if you watched it at that time, you’ll never forget his renditions of “sock it to me.” Donald Trump guest-hosted Saturday Night Live on November 7, 2015, after announcing his candidacy in June of that year; both won their election. Within the political world, each experienced historical comeback victories.
However, as it relates to pre-Presidential experience and personality, they couldn’t be more different. Nixon was raised in a rural community, served in the Navy during WWII, went to law school, and can be listed within the category of lifetime politician. Trump was reared in the Queens borough of New York City, was deferred from military service, educated at Wharton (U of Penn), and well known as a businessman and TV celebrity before his entry into politics.
Even haters of Donald Trump, from his past or his presidency, would define him as an energetic, interactive, and a socially expressive man who often acts a bit too familiar in the company of others. Those who observed Richard Nixon would apply antonyms of Trump to describe him. Trump, like Barack Obama, has the rare ability to be adored by a foundation of fans. No one ever described Nixon in that manner.
As a “dealmaker”, it was essential that Trump earn the reputation as someone who respected contracts and honored the boundaries of agreements. He wouldn’t be able to borrow money or make deals if he was unreliable or untruthful. Nixon was often referred to as “Tricky Dick”; a quote from long term Republican Senator Barry Goldwater, and candidate for president in 1964, is “I wouldn’t trust Nixon from here to that phone”.
As president, Nixon signed expanded Civil Rights Laws and affirmative action policies. He adopted price-wage controls. Immediately after inauguration in January of 1973 he opened the door to China and visited Mao Tse Dung and then announced he was removing soldiers from Viet Nam; all Liberal preferences of that time. It didn’t matter a whit; once the Watergate break-in was discovered and his “cover-up” ensued, the Democrats were unrelenting in their goal to drive him out of office.
In his first campaign, Trump haters tarred him with epithets such as racist, misogynist, and warmonger. Each has been disproven in a highly visible manner; candidate Trump increased his minority vote percentage in each of his two re-runs for office and no one in presidential history has appointed more women in high visible positions (Chief of Staff, Attorney General, Press Secretary, etc.). Based on their visible and active response, world leaders value his efforts as a peace seeker. Anyone who is still certain Donald Trump is an antisemite should ask any Israeli, his religiously converted daughter, or his Jewish son-in-law. Ironically, the Democratic protesters in the streets proudly display Palestinian flags while marginalizing and intimidating Jewish students on college campuses; generally, with the tacit, and sometimes active, support of administrators and professors.
The bottom line for future Republican candidates; if you dare to be outspoken about your belief system and upset the “Leftist Leaders” and scribes, they’ll be coming after you regardless of what you do as President.
Stew Bolno is a chronological peer of Donald Trump. He’s been a student, college professor, and consultant on leadership during his 50-year career. He’s followed politics longer than that time. His recent book is “Leadership Lessons And You: From A to Z – featuring Donald Trump” and he’s written scores of essays about him since he descended the Trump Tower staircase. Read more at LeadershipLessonsAndYou.com.
