George Putnam
Friday, June 28, 2002

In my association with him, I found President Nixon to be physically awkward, self-conscious, paranoid, with a constant struggle for money; but with it all, I found him to be the best prepared and the best qualified to serve as president – certainly in my lifetime.

But why did they hate him so?

His was a Horatio Alger story. Born poor, he excelled in school, worked in his dad's grocery, served his country as a Navy officer in WW II and came home to run for Congress. He gained national attention when, as a member of the House Committee on Un-American Activities, he exposed as a traitor, spy and agent of Stalin's Communism a fellow named Alger Hiss. Hiss had spied for the Soviet Union before and during World War II; they got him on perjury, but he should have been convicted as a traitor.

That's when the hatred began. That's when the Left in America determined to get Nixon. Nonetheless, Nixon provided the evidence and exposed the Left for what it was.

I remember his landslide victory over Helen Gahagan Douglas. Her cohorts exposed her as a fellow traveler in her own Democratic primary. When Eisenhower chose Nixon as his running mate, the left wing of the media determined to destroy him, charging that he had a secret slush fund.

Here we were with a fellow who couldn't rub two dimes together, competing against millionaires on the Left. Nixon, who was always best under attack, delivered his famous Checkers speech. He solidified his position and developed broad appeal across Middle America.

What a contrast between Richard Nixon and John Kennedy – Nixon, always striving for enough money to survive, having been born of a humble Quaker family; Kennedy with a name, fortune, connections and liberal backing. Nixon under constant attack from the Left miraculously survived and went on to win the presidency after setbacks as presidential candidate in 1960, followed by defeat in his run for governor of California. Then came victory in 1968, the end of the war in Vietnam, and his downfall in Watergate.

Nixon knew absolutely nothing of the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters; but instead of placing the blame on his aides, he chose to assist them in their attempt to contain the scandal. The Left had not forgotten the Helen Gahagan Douglas story or the alleged slush fund – or, most of all, his exposure of Alger Hiss as a traitor and a spy. After 18 months of relentless attack, Nixon was forced to resign.

Nixon may have suffered dreadfully, but it was the American people who have suffered the most.

Following Nixon came an attack on our investigative and security bodies across the nation: the FBI, the CIA, congressional committees, the Church committee attack, the House Committee on Un-American Activities and the Senate Internal Security Committee.

The Left was encouraged, with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, to destroy every investigative body and police authority across the country. The Left has gained strength to the point where they now attack even the Pledge of Allegiance as unconstitutional.

Richard Nixon, you knew what you were talking about. Tragically, caught up in a frenzy of hatred, we failed to listen.

When next we meet, may I share the moments I spent with President Nixon and discuss his trip to China, the Cambodian incursion, his defeat in California, and my walk with him through the Rose Garden when I discovered that everything in the Oval Office was taped – just a few of dozens of moments spent with Richard Nixon.

The legendary George Putnam is 88 years young and a veteran of 68 years as a reporter, broadcaster and commentator ... and is still going strong. George is part of the all-star line-up of Southern California's KPLS Radio – Hot Talk AM 830.

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