I am mystified by the idea that events of 30 years ago are so "ancient" that they can be dismissed as irrelevant.

The unfolding of events from the Watergate era forward -- the "ancient history" of my adolescence -- brings us to where we are today.

The first world war, depression, second world war, post war, Vietnam era -- all that "ancient history" -- is the arc that brought us to Nixon. And knowledge of the arc of events and political dynamics gave us perspective and context. What we learned in classes was brought alive by memories of our parents and grandparents. History predating living memory has a very different character.

The "players" that were around during that ancient Iran Contra scandal are still around. And they have brought with them a set of beliefs that shaped decisions 20 years ago, 10 years ago, and last year. For example, during Iran Contra, Barney Frank expressed fears that Democrats would look "too prosecutorial" if they went after Reagan. Knowing that helps me understand how deeply entrenched the Party's fear of "backlash" is. And that knowledge gives me perspective. I keep banging away at the brick wall of beltway group think because I know it is a wall that will not come down easily.

I can't imagine what things look like from a point of view that has no interest in events that occurred prior to ones own adolescence.