30 years ago today, Nixon resigned

[Gman]

as we smoked a big fat joint, and other friends celebrated in similar ways.

Hopefully, this year we'll rid this country of another cancer.

Were you around then? If so, what did you do or how did you celebrate while Nixon made his televised speech?

[murielm99]

1. I was at work...

I worked as a library cataloger for a school district then.

All my coworkers were the kind of people who kept up with the news and the politics of the day. It was in very Republican Du Page County in Illinois, so I was one of the few Democrats in the place.

Our boss, one of the few Democrats, rolled out a big TV from one of the classrooms upstairs. We watched it live.

Many of the republicans there were stunned. The more honest ones thought he had it coming.

Surprisingly enough, even the die hards were disgusted with Ford when he pardoned Nixon. I was amazed. I know some of them voted for Carter the next time around.

I don't live in Du Page County any more, but my son does. There are still some thinking republicans there. Many of them have come out for Obama this year. We can bitch all we want on DU, but they are the ones we need to reach out to.

[gauguin57]

2. My mother loathed Richard Nixon from the first time she ever

heard of him. It caused much tension in our home (because until Watergate, my dad thought he was an OK guy). My mother was obsessed with Nixon, and wanted him gone -- especially when he became president.

So I thought his resignation would be the best day of Mom's life. I have an audiotape of our family gathered around the TV, watching his resignation speech. My Mom had a new grandchild in her lap, and was playing with him throughout the whole speech. I keep yelling, "Mom! He's resigning! Why aren't you WATCHING?" ... and she keeps cootchie cootchie cooing to her grandbaby.

As evil as Nixon was, my mother's obsession with his political demise and personal shame couldn't compete with her love for a cute little baby.

And as evil as Nixon was, he can't hold a candle to Bush, Cheney, Ashcroft, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Condi et al. If my mom were alive, these people would be making her life a living hell. But she's not, so they're making MY life a living hell.

[Gman]

4. In a different way that reminds me

of the fist fight I had with my dad over my "Impeach Nixon" bumper stickers. And the plural "stickers" is used as he kept taking them off my truck which led to the fight.

[Gregorian]

3. Well there's a thought that brightens my morning

I feel so hopeless. I went for a forest bike ride to a very special magical place where even the old growth redwood stumps from years ago, are a thing to see. It's grown over now, and like a jungle. Or was, until I saw that it's now just dirt with the hot sun glaring down on it. It's a sin. Since this moron got in office, our forests have been in a continuous war. It's really a war. It even sounds like one.

I was in high school when Nixon resigned. My friend had all of the Oliphant cartoons plastered all over his room. I had no idea what politics was. I just wanted a girlfriend. Then came the drug war, and I began to hate human beings for being so incredibly stupid and shortsighted. Then came Clinton and I voted, but that was about it. I still hated politics. I should say that all along I've been a Democrat. It's a way of thinking, not a label. BUT, when Fratboy stole office I started paying very close attention to politics. I hated his dad so much, that to have a sequel was just unstomachable. So today I am hopeful that not only will we not have Bush to kick around anymore, but perhaps even a few others, all in orange jumpsuits. I just hope.