Nixon rehabilitated his image. Could Trump?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Presidents Donald Trump and Richard Nixon both left Washington in helicopters and ignominy, awash in financial problems and their customary self-pity. Both were above-average paranoiacs who felt (with some justification) that the elites looked down on them and that enemies everywhere sought to undermine them; they despised the press, exploited racism for political purposes and used inept outside agents (the “plumbers,” Rudy Giuliani) to carry out their more nefarious plots. Neither was inclined to let aides rein them in. Both faced impeachment for trying to manipulate the opposition party’s nomination contest. Both degraded the presidency. Both came unglued at the end.

But then, astonishingly, Nixon rehabilitated himself. He methodically worked his way into the rarefied circles where he coveted approval, and he won over a large if far-from-universal segment of the public. Nixon’s post-presidency was a quest to make himself respectable again — and it worked. He landed in 1974 at his Spanish-style San Clemente, Calif., home essentially friendless, deeply depressed, unwell (a bad case of phlebitis), and beset by huge legal fees and back taxes. Through wit, grit, wiliness and determination he wrought one of the greatest resurrections in American politics.

If he could do it, can Trump?

For all their similarities, Nixon and Trump clearly are very different men. For one thing, Nixon was smart, and he was interested in the substance of governing; he studied white papers and was conversant in most topics the government touched. The only policies that seemed to interest Trump were those that served his (and his friends’) concerns — lowering taxes on the wealthy and rolling back regulations — and those (like the border wall and other anti-immigration measures) that signaled to his base that he’d maintain white supremacy. Having served as a congressman, senator and vice president, Nixon essentially understood the Constitution and limits, even if he overreached at times. When he lost a painfully close election in 1960, Nixon accepted defeat (after having allies check out the possibility of victory by recount in a few states).

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/nixon-trump-rebranding-rehabilitation/2021/01/22/603ecca4-5c29-11eb-b8bd-ee36b1cd18bf_story.html

In a word, no.

[Mme. Defarge]

1. Non.

C’est tout.

[Kali]

2. wow

I was young but I have no perception that Nixon redeemed or rehabilitated his rep, who ever gave him the time of day again?

[Ferrets are Cool]

4. +1

[Sanity Claws]

15. Exactly

The premise of the article is wrong.

[lagomorph777]

20. Nixon did try. He failed. Trump would never even try; he has no capacity even to fake decency.

[soothsayer]

3. Sure, Drumpf could rehabilitate Nixon's image

In fact, he has. Nixon’s crimes were child’s play

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. I was not aware that Nixon had rehabilitated his reputation.

Some politicians and pundits in the more elite circles eventually would speak to him and consult him, but his reputation among the general public never really recovered, that I noticed. When he died his funeral was a relatively low-key affair; it was attended by the current and former presidents and many heads of state but it wasn't the big deal they usually have in DC for such occasions. I don't think it's accurate to say he was able to repair his reputation except among a few in the political/commentariat classes. And Trump, who has been much worse than Nixon, will never be able to do it. Nixon at least had the common sense to lie low for awhile and not stir shit or try to form another party.

[Jarqui]

6. I wasn't either

He was always a crook who shouldn't have been pardoned to me and I'll die with that feeling.

[dchill]

9. Not. He fooled some of the people all of the time...

...but never all of the people some of the time.

[Karadeniz]

7. But then we found out he'd sabotaged the peace talks between N. and S. Vietnam while we were

At war there...so, treason. He wanted the war as an albatross from LBJ's neck. Thousands died from the time the talks broke down until we left. LBJ heard of Nixon's betrayal, but the physical evidence was not discovered until years later. For some reason, the exposure of Nixon's perfidy was never shouted from the highest rooftops. We don't like it to be known that we elected a traitor...not a positive image of American politics. Well, that doesn't work in the long run. We can't let Trump escape the consequences and we can't let him put lipstick on his piggy self.

[Arne]

10. Your lipstick comment reminded me how close we came to

Sarah Palin.

[Karadeniz]

12. AAAAGGGHHHH! Whoever came up with that brilliant idea... Is probably now part of the Lincoln

Project!!!! So, sometimes redemption possible!

[OhNo-Really]

8. You mean back to "pussy grabber". No he's worse

[Drunken Irishman]

11. Did Nixon really rehabilitate his image?

Maybe a little but he's still regarded as one of the most corrupt presidents in American history. He also was still ostracized from mainstream politics, even if he built relationships in private (I believe he and Bill Clinton became pretty friendly up until Nixon's death in 1994).

Still, Nixon was not brought to any Republican convention after his last in 1972. Not '76 or '80, '84 or '92.

Take the most recent Gallup Poll from last week:

59% still consider Nixon either a below average or poor president. That's higher than any president in the poll (since WWII, excluding LBJ & Ford for whatever reason) except for Trump.

The Below Average/Poor by worst numbers:

Trump, 61%
Nixon, 59%
Clinton, 27%
W. Bush, 26%
Carter, 24%
Obama, 23%
H.W Bush, 17%
Reagan, 16%
JFK, 3%

Now recent bias hits this poll pretty hard as Obama is more unpopular than H.W Bush and Clinton more unpopular than Carter. But Nixon stands out as only Kennedy served earlier of those listed.

FWIW, 56% said Obama was either an outstanding or above average president. So, definitely polarizing numbers. Only 28% said the same of H.W. Bush. So, Obama has higher dislike numbers but is much more liked.

Only 10% considered Nixon outstanding or above average.

Even Trump has better numbers there as 29% consider him so.

Ultimately, Nixon might have been able to work his way back into some political circles but I would never say he rehabilitated his image.

The only two presidents who seem much more popular today than the moment they left office are Carter and Bush. They did a better job rehabilitating their image than Nixon but they also didn't have shameful corrupt scandals that brought their presidency down or dominated it like with Trump. Ultimately, they might not be seen as good presidents but as good people. Trump will have neither.

In that same poll, Carter was thought of as an outstanding or above average president by 27%, Bush 24%.

[niyad]

13. Rehabilitated??? When tricky dick died, and the tributes started flowing in, a friend and I kept

looking at each other, shaking our heads in confusion, saying, "Who in the hell are they talking abou To?"

[Thekaspervote]

14. NO!! Leopards don't change their spots

[rickyhall]

16. He did what? When?

[Rebl2]

17. NO!

[LeftInTX]

18. No..Trump will just get worse

Nixon didn't "run a show" after he was gone

[Paladin]

19. Not a chance. (nt)