All the Presidents Men

A few names have been floating around in my head for the last day or so. It is probably because of seeing the people on television and on the internet. These names are David Frost, Richard Nixon, and Karl Rove. I know - it is a odd grouping. I think what initiated this combo entering my brain, was seeing David Frost interviewed recently by Jon Stewart. My first thought was, "boy, David Frost got old." I couldn't help it. My permanent image of David Frost will always be how he looked during his well-known interview with Former President Richard Nixon in 1977. I was a kid when this was on television, but I remember it clearly. I did not realize that the interview was the subject of a 2006 play by Peter Morgan, Frost/Nixon, which ran in both London and New York. Most recently, the play has been adapted into a movie, which was directed by Ron Howard (see photo above).

There was a special screening of Frost/Nixon last night in Washington, DC. Of course, due to the timing of when the film has been released, there is the inevitable tendency to compare the presidency of Richard Nixon with that of George W. Bush. Chris Wallace, host of Fox News Sunday, was in the audience during the screening last evening, and offered his thoughts to counter this proposal:

“To compare George W. Bush to Richard Nixon is to trivialize Nixon’s crimes and is a disservice to Bush,” Wallace said. Recalling that 3,000 people were killed on 9/11, and noting that there hadn’t been any attacks on U.S. soil since. That’s why, he said, “we are all sitting here tonight so comfortably”—and not afraid of another terrorist attack. Moreover, Wallace said, “Richard Nixon’s crimes were committed solely for his own political gain, whereas George W. Bush was trying to protect the American people.” To suggest otherwise, Wallace insisted, “was a grave misrepresentation of history, then and now.” (James Pinkerton, The Fox Forum)

I am including the movie trailer for Frost/Nixon, which will be released this week (see video below):

I know that many have said things like, "I think Bush should be impeached," or, "once he is out of office all will be known." I don't think that either of those two things will happen. Well, the impeachment part is kind of obvious - but in terms of further processes - I think that there is too much money and power behind him for any ramifications to occur. Look, Karl Rove was on the Today Show this morning being interviewed by Matt Lauer. Here is a guy who has avoided being called before the House Judiciary Committee regarding the Valerie Plame situation, and is instead, seen as an "architect" and prophet of all things political.

Lastly, I wanted to include a clip that I found on You Tube the other day. I was looking for video about Walter Cronkite, when I saw footage of a very young Karl Rove being interviewed by Dan Rather. Rove was the GOP College Director of the Republican National Committee in 1972 and was "getting out the young person vote" for Richard Nixon. It is ironic to me that although the technology has greatly changed, that many of the grassroots strategies seem similar to sound bytes during a not that long ago tour of Obama's campaign headquarters.