Nixon commits suicide-LIVE

Realpolitik

Banned
Drudging up an old scenario that wasn't truly answered and adding a twist of my own.

Nixon is impassive at first like OTL, but then breaks down.

"It's over. For once, I'm going to be open and honest with my feelings, something I've seldom done. You reporters and activists have seen what every politician has been doing for the last one hundred years. I'm sure some of our most beloved presidents did far worse. *Gives some examples*. I had such great, great plans... *Gives some examples*. But it doesn't matter. You decided that "What did he know, and when he know it?" was more important. I am a criminal in your eyes. I'm so sorry. I let you down. I let the nation down. I gave them a sword... Now, I'm going to make all of what you people truly wanted come true. Because this is what you wanted, isn't it? *Lists some names, and comments on them*...

Before the end of my presidency, I seek to rectify one more lie. *Holding back tears*. Only twelve years ago I said something that ended up not being true... Well now it is true....and I will state it again...you don't have Nixon to kick around any more, because, gentlemen, this is my last press conference." *Boom*

-Last words of President Richard Nixon, August 9th, 1974

What's the reaction?


OOC:

Yes, I know Nixon was an introvert, and it's far more likely he'd go for something private, or truthfully, forego it altogether. But he also did like his theatrics and being in the center of history. This isn't completely ASB.

And this will change it. Blood on the screen, a screaming Pat Nixon... and for added fun, before he left, he dropped the nuclear bomb on Capitol Hill, so to speak, listing some examples of political misdeeds. He pulls no punches-he shows just how nasty politicians can be. Cynically, he might think that this might help him more than anything else can. If he gets really vengeful and decides to wreck America... (He might also go for a lot of other people. He's got nothing left to lose in terms of image.)
 
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jahenders

Banned
Interesting.

It definitely has some ripples for Democrats, perhaps slowing down the types of rhetoric that got us to where we are today.

It also effectively protects some of his subordinates, though to varying degrees. In this sense, it'd be even more effective if he blew himself (and some records) up or lit himself on fire.

With great luck it might, just perhaps, establish a "gold standard" for politicians responding to disgrace -- kind of like Japanese Seppoku. If that's the case, does Bill Clinton follow suit when it becomes abundantly clear that he's been lying under oath and blatantly to the American people? Other cases? If generally done, it might make impeachment moot.
 
Interesting.

It definitely has some ripples for Democrats, perhaps slowing down the types of rhetoric that got us to where we are today.

It also effectively protects some of his subordinates, though to varying degrees. In this sense, it'd be even more effective if he blew himself (and some records) up or lit himself on fire.

With great luck it might, just perhaps, establish a "gold standard" for politicians responding to disgrace -- kind of like Japanese Seppoku. If that's the case, does Bill Clinton follow suit when it becomes abundantly clear that he's been lying under oath and blatantly to the American people? Other cases? If generally done, it might make impeachment moot.

Clinton was lying about something stupid and insignificant ("That woman didn't give me a BJ, I swear!"). I doubt that he's ever lost sleep over it. I also doubt that anyone would follow Nixon's example. Culturally, we're not very into the whole suicide thing.
 

Realpolitik

Banned
Interesting.

It definitely has some ripples for Democrats, perhaps slowing down the types of rhetoric that got us to where we are today.

It also effectively protects some of his subordinates, though to varying degrees. In this sense, it'd be even more effective if he blew himself (and some records) up or lit himself on fire.

With great luck it might, just perhaps, establish a "gold standard" for politicians responding to disgrace -- kind of like Japanese Seppoku. If that's the case, does Bill Clinton follow suit when it becomes abundantly clear that he's been lying under oath and blatantly to the American people? Other cases? If generally done, it might make impeachment moot.

Rather unlikely. Clinton had a chance of surviving office and committed perjury over something grossly inappropriate and flat out sleazy, but also just stupid. Not malicious or a serious power abuse or a threat to our national life like Watergate was. Watergate was simply on a different level of crime.


Nixon was facing a trial, and was physically on the verge of death, with people who actually are seemingly clamoring for his death. (Norman Mailer).

Clinton also doesn't have the same demons that Nixon does.
 
Hunter S. Thompson shrieks with laughter?

Seriously though. I see this as an incredibly damaging event all round to American society. American journalism would perhaps either become more aware of the power and its consequences or the right and left of it would tear the institution itself to pieces.

The Republican party could actually either benefit in one of its presidents making himself a martyr to its cause or it would perhaps fatally damage itself as its more conservative christian sections react to what they would see as a mortal sin by their president.
 
Hunter S. Thompson shrieks with laughter?

Seriously though. I see this as an incredibly damaging event all round to American society. American journalism would perhaps either become more aware of the power and its consequences or the right and left of it would tear the institution itself to pieces.

The Republican party could actually either benefit in one of its presidents making himself a martyr to its cause or it would perhaps fatally damage itself as its more conservative christian sections react to what they would see as a mortal sin by their president.

On that last point, highly unlikely - conservative Christians didn't become really influential in the GOP until later in the decade (remember, they actually broke in Carter's direction in 1976). However, I think there's going to be at least a brief backlash against those individuals and organizations who were seen - and perhaps named by Nixon in his last speech - as "hounding" him to his death. This could have the potential to get really ugly to the extent of attempts to exact revenge for Nixon by trying to kill some of those people.
 

Sabot Cat

Banned
The USSR and the PRC would likely take this as evidence of a political coup by a shadowy faction in American politics that opposes detente, the Paris Peace Conference, the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, trade relations with China, et. al. Hounding political rivals to suicide is not unknown there, after all. I'd expect them to be very paranoid of the new President.
 

Mr.Stookey

Banned
I think Nixon would be a hero to the GOP today, and much more highly rated. Maybe top ten. He will be seen as a man who tried to do good but the media would never let him.

Ford wins in 1976, just like how Johnson won in 1964 largely over sadness from the death of Kennedy.

One good thing out of this is the media will have more control and restraint, and maybe not end up destroying peoples life's for profit .

Maybe Princess Diana lives?
 

Realpolitik

Banned
On that last point, highly unlikely - conservative Christians didn't become really influential in the GOP until later in the decade (remember, they actually broke in Carter's direction in 1976). However, I think there's going to be at least a brief backlash against those individuals and organizations who were seen - and perhaps named by Nixon in his last speech - as "hounding" him to his death. This could have the potential to get really ugly to the extent of attempts to exact revenge for Nixon by trying to kill some of those people.

You sure about that? Post Watergate, they did their best to disassociate themselves with Nixon with a man that was temperamentally the opposite. And in this darker America-given that the fallout from this won't be good-I can see Reagan as even more appealing. Especially given his morality and clear lack of demons.

I do predict a brief backlash against certain people. The treatment of Nixon in public discourse is going to have to be rather... cautious.

The USSR and the PRC would likely take this as evidence of a political coup by a shadowy faction in American politics that opposes detente, the Paris Peace Conference, SALT, the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, trade relations with China, et. al. Hounding political rivals to suicide is not unknown there, after all. I'd expect them to be very paranoid of the new President.

Yeah. One reason I was passionate about a Nixon pardon being one of the best decisions in American political history was the fallout a trial and the resultant chaos would have internationally, particularly with countries that have a less than perfect understanding of American democracy. Guys like Brezhnev genuinely respected/empathized with Nixon, don't forget.

The Arab world is also going to be very suspicious-they thought that Nixon was being taken down by Zionists and their "lackeys in the media". And this is right after the oil crisis.
 

Realpolitik

Banned
I think Nixon would be a hero to the GOP today, and much more highly rated. Maybe top ten. He will be seen as a man who tried to do good but the media would never let him.

Ford wins in 1976, just like how Johnson won in 1964 largely over sadness from the death of Kennedy.

One good thing out of this is the media will have more control and restraint, and maybe not end up destroying peoples life's for profit .

Maybe Princess Diana lives?

No, his reputation was too muddied by then for any true rehabilitation.

1976 is going to be a MESS. Between Ford and Reagan on one hand, and the Democratic clusterfuck...

I honestly don't about that one.
 
Nixon was many things, but he wasn't a quitter. The man engineered his own rehabilitation. The POD for this would probably have to be his '68 misdeeds being exposed. Colloquial (if not strictly constitutional) treason is a lot harder to make a comeback from than suppressing a burglary.
 

Realpolitik

Banned
Nixon was many things, but he wasn't a quitter. The man engineered his own rehabilitation. The POD for this would probably have to be his '68 misdeeds being exposed. Colloquial (if not strictly constitutional) treason is a lot harder to make a comeback from than suppressing a burglary.

How? The only two men who can do that are dead by this point. Without them, the X-file is as close as it gets. And Nixon was alive when that was revealed, and he didn't kill himself.

And Nixon didn't keep himself alive to make a comeback, persay-it was a lot more deeper and animal than that. It was what he knew how to do. But in 1974, he came very close to the abyss.

I don't think it was even colloquial sabotage, let alone treason, really. Not because he wouldn't, but because he couldn't. Thieu was flat out not interested in sacrificing his chances of survival for the Democrats, and he was far more aware of US culture and politics than we were aware of Vietnamese culture and politics.
 
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