‘A Fundamental Dignity to the Man’: Morning Joe’s Sudden Respect For Richard Nixon

Some people may not be able to recall the Nixon era or haven’t read it. Others might think that Donald Trump’s hatred of the left is an unprecedented phenomenon. It is true that the hatred of Nixon by the left was immense back then. There was much joy and celebration in liberal land when he finally had to step down over Watergate.

This one can be filed under NewsBusters’ “Sudden Respect” rubric. Friday’s Morning JoePeggy Noonan columns aside, the column actually celebrated Richard Nixon. Because it was in direct contrast to Donald Trump’s 2020 election campaign. Nixon gave up the 1960 election for president to JFKDespite evidence in Illinois and Texas that had clearly been stolen by the Democrat for his benefit, Kennedy was able to win the election.

 

 

The spectacle even included the Washington Post‘s David Ignatius describes Nixon as speaking about “the fundamental dignity and man”Imagine a shining light in the future. PostWoodward and Bernstein were the reporters who led the effort to bring down Nixon. Ignatius spoke of Nixon in admiring terms. Ignatius made a joke about Nixon and said thatGiven “what happened after”, it was difficult to “agree” Nixon’s basic dignity.—an allusion to Watergate.

Mike Barnicle, an older liberal, joined the celebration of Nixon. Although he acknowledged that Nixon could have won the election in Texas and Illinois, he said that the country had moved on because Nixon did not.Nixon’s refusal to run for the election was “a striking example of democracy at its best.”Barnicle.

Willie Geist concluded the segment by praising Al Gore for his concession of the 200-person presidential election. After dragging the nation through 35 days filled with hanging-chad uncertainty, Gore finally conceded. After exhausting all avenues of possible contests, Bush v. Gore by the Supreme Court effectively ended any possibility for him to fight. 

Morning Joe’s sudden respect for Richard Nixon was sponsored in part by Jackson Hewitt.

You can find the transcription here.

MSNBC
Morning Joe
4/1/22
6:44 am ET

Willie Geist: Peggy Noonan.Peggy Noonan? I’m with you. The Wall Street Journal published her most recent column, entitled “Nixon’s example of goodness in Washington.”It is interesting that she recalls how a stop the-steal movement in 1961 might have been justifiable. Richard Nixon was right to do the right thing and conceded. 

This is Nixon’s part in the official certification of Nixon’s opponent’s electoral victory. Next, Peggy will share some of her writings this morning.

RICHARD NIZON: It is the first time that a presidential candidate has announced the outcome of an election where he lost, then announced his opponent’s victory. There is no better illustration of the stability and strength of our Constitution than this. 
. . . 

GEIST – That’s Richard Nixon who, on January 6, 1961, presided over John F. Kennedy’s win certification. Peggy Noonan shares a part of her thoughts about the moment. It is important to remember this man. He may have had the election for president stolen from him. But he stopped any attempt at stealing it. 
. . . 

MIKE BARNICLEThat is the clip we have just shownWillie and Peggy, the section of Peggy’s column published in the Wall Street Journal this weekend is unfortunately missing. A vivid example of democracy at playRichard Nixon would have had the opportunity to run for that office in Texas or Illinois. He didn’t. The country continued to move forward.

. . . 

DAVID IGNATUS: I watched the Nixon clip and I thought, just like you, that it was a very powerful piece of work. There was an inherent dignity in the man. It is hard to give up.Given what transpired later with Nixon, it’s obvious there. Because of our global standing, he felt it important that the United States remain united and not sow divisions. . . A Republican must stand up to defend our country’s interests and state his opinion. As a Republican but also as an American citizen. It’s at this moment that you’ll see the direction we are headed. It seems so far away to me.

GEIST: You canIn 2000, add Al Gore You can also find them here.

About Post Author

Follow Us