Twenty Reasons Why Nixon Was a Better President than Trump

Note: an idea like this was not formed in a vacuum. I once read a piece by the late P.J. O'Rourke about how Nixon was a better president than Clinton and thought it was a valid list. And now it is my turn with the former quitter and the one who cannot remain silent. Please enjoy the ride. It is not about playing fair; it is about telling some painful truths with laughter.

1) Nixon came a poor family of Quakers in California and became one of the most powerful men in the world; Trump’s father made a fortune in real estate, was sued for violating the Fair Housing Act (they were not renting to black families), and illegally diverted money to his children.

2) Nixon played college football and was a lifelong fan of the game; Trump has never played any sport that matters and does not seem to be a fan of exercise.

3) Nixon served in the Naval Reserve during World War Two; Trump received four student draft deferments during the Vietnam War after being declared fit to serve (he was classified 4-F in 1972 due to “bone spurs”).

4) Nixon served as a senator and vice-president, and was a public servant for most of his life; Trump was the star of The Apprentice and only served himself while in office.

5) Nixon supported activities to root out communists in the American government; Trump has expressed open admiration for a dictatorial Russian leader.

6) Nixon proposed to his wife on their first date and remained loyal to her throughout their marriage; Trump cheated on one of his wives with a porn star and attempted to cover it up with a payoff.

7) Nixon won an election without Fox News; Trump won an election with Fox News.

8) Nixon won the biggest landslide in American political history in 1972 (his second term); Trump lost after one term and kept telling people he won despite the evidence.

9) Nixon held press conferences; Trump is only interested in rallies.

10) Nixon gave us the Environmental Protection Agency, opened up trade with China and negotiated an end to the Vietnam War; Trump gave us “grab them by the pussy”, MAGA hats, and Mike Pence.

11) Roe vs. Wade was passed under Nixon’s tenure; it was made null and void through the efforts of certain justices who were appointed under Trump.

12) Henry Kissinger (Nixon’s Secretary of State) won the Nobel Peace Prize (shared) in 1973 over negotiations to end the Vietnam War; Mike Pompeo (Trump’s Secretary of State) fired the man who was investigating Pompeo’s behaviour in office (including multiple ethics violations) and continued to claim that Trump was cheated and used his office to obstruct the transition of power.

13) One of Nixon’s daughters – Patricia – was married in the White House Rose Garden in 1971 and another daughter - Julie - became a respected magazine editor for the Saturday Evening Post; Trump suggested that he would have dated his daughter Ivanka if she wasn’t related to him.

14) Elvis Presley offered his assistance to Nixon during the start of the Drug War; Kanye West and Kid Rock hung out at Trump’s White House for no reason except the optics (for them? Him???).

15) Nixon tried to keep his “Enemies List” private; Trump makes his clear at almost every opportunity.

16) Nixon said, “I am not a crook”; Trump said, “Covfefe”.

17) Nixon resigned; Trump remains.

18) Nixon did not call out the army to protect him when Watergate broke; Trump involved himself in an insurrection that led to at least five deaths and destruction during an invasion of his nation’s capitol (something that has not happened since 1814).

19) People thought that the Nixon years were the lowest the Republicans could or would stoop; Trump.

20) People are still often embarrassed to mention Nixon; I am writing this about Trump.