So let's review this once again. In light of the recent Mayberry Machiavelli controversy stemming from the Esquire article, it's a bit enlightening to look to the past for other Oval Office misdeeds. With the advent of Tipsy McStagger and the Reign of Secrecy that is in vogue in the current White House, it's instructive to fire up the Way-Back machine and listen in...
I found this at Daniel Ellsbergs website. I have excerpted bits and pieces which are sort of interesting, if you want to read the whole thing, hit the link and enjoy yourself.
This little snippet is pretty much prescient:
October 8, 1971: Nixon, Ehrlichman, and Richard Helms, 10:58 A.M-12:12 P.M., Oval Office
Conversation #587-7; cassette #1251 Ehrlichman: Now, Helms pressed me very hard for some kind of guarantee that the CIA would always have a veto on declassification. I don't think any president can be in the position of delegating that decision to the director of the CIA. Otherwise, the CIA becomes a sort of self-perpetuating power in the government and nobody can ever get at anything it ever did in ancient history.
Even then, there was Ehrlichman (Alberto Gonzalez forebear?) worried about controlling the CIA, except now the last part of the last sentence has, I think come to pass.
Then there was Nixon's obsession with the Jews, and Kissinger (crime pays!)
July 5, 1971: Nixon, Haldeman, and Ziegler, 4:03 P.M., Oval Office
Conversation #537-4; cassette #876Nixon: Jewish families are close, but there's this strange malignancy that seems to creep among them - radicalism. I can imagine how the fact that Ellsberg is in this must really tear a fella like Henry to pieces - or Garment. Just like the Rosenbergs and all that. It just has to kill them. I feel horrible about it.
Ziegler: Could make up an English name.
Haldeman: . . . Rosenstein could change his name. . . .
[general laughter]
Ziegler: It is right. It's always an Ellsberg.
Nixon: Every one's a Jew. Ellsberg's a Jew. Halperin's a Jew.
Haldeman: Gelb's a Jew.
Nixon: But there are [unclear] - Hiss was not a Jew. Very interesting thing. So few of those who engage in espionage - are Negroes. . . . In fact, very few of them become Communists. If they do, they like, they get into Angela Davis - they're more the capitalist type. And they throw bombs and this and that. But the Negroes. - have you ever noticed? . . . . Any Negro spies?
Haldeman: Not intellectual enough, not smart enough. . . not smart enough to be spies.
Nixon: The Jews - the Jews are, are born spies. You notice how many of them are just in up to their necks?
Haldeman: A basic deviousness.
Theres is so much just plain hatred and contempt in this that it almost makes you sick to read it. Not only are Nixxon and his buddies trashing Jews with gleeful abandon, they get in a few shots at Blacks as well, I guess that's all part of the "Big Tent" philosphy of the Republicans-at-the-Top. I know that while I was in the service, that an attitude like that would not have been tolerated. I can't speak for any branch other than the Navy in this, but intolerance of this type would have been reason for quick and harsh discipline. And yet here is conversation that took place in the Oval Office.
These are folks that today's Republicans cannonize as freaking saints of the Party...is this what the WASP's at the top (and they are) still believe in their heart of hearts? Is the adminstrations "policy" towards Israel just a cynical attempt to further weaken the Democratic Base?
And then there's this little gem...check out the "journalist" named at the end...
Nixon: I want to look at any sensitive areas around, where Jews are involved, Bob. See, the Jews are all through the government. And we have got to get in those areas, we've got to get the man in charge, who is not Jewish, to patrol the Jewish -
Haldeman: [unclear]
Nixon: . . . full of Jews. Second, most Jews are [unclear]. You know what I mean? You have Garment and Kissinger.
Haldeman: And thankfully Safire.
