A Midwestern Woman's Perspective

“When the President does it, that means it’s not illegal.”

—President Richard Nixon, in a 1977 interview with David Frost

Spooky parallels, America’s memory is short, Trump is plain scary

As I scratch my head wondering what has happened to our sanctimonious democracy, it is horrifying to witness our government unravel and begin the descent into authoritarianism, dictatorship, nepotism, autocracy and mobster rulings. This is NOT what our country stands for.

Watergate and Nixon come to mind and I see parallels in today’s Trump dealings. Nixon was behind the burglary of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters at the Watergate Complex. During this scandal Nixon lied and denied about any knowledge of the burglary or intent to criminally interfere with the democratic process during election year. Nixon deployed the FBI, CIA and IRS to investigate political activists and groups who opposed him. Yet when under public scrutiny himself he attempted to thwart investigations of those same offices into his own activities related to Watergate. Sound familiar?

Trump has engaged in far more unscrupulous behavior. Trump had a conflict of interest throughout his tenure by overcharging guests at his establishments who were on official business, profiting from the U.S. government. Examples being $2,600/night for a stay at Mar-a-Lago, $7,700 for catered food for a party of 30. Numerous Secret Service officials also were housed on Uncle Sam’s dime or in other words at taxpayer’s expense. After Trump’s term he has cost taxpayers $1.3 M for hotel and transport and $40,000 in rooms since leaving office. Nixon was dubbed a crook but Trump far surpasses that description.

Nixon cried that investigations were a “witch hunt” by political adversaries. He played off haters for political gain during his campaign. Sound familiar? Any investigation pertaining to Trump is called a witch hunt. Haters include those who call him out and attempt to hold him accountable.

When Nixon was cornered to produce incriminating tapes he refused. Nixon ordered his subordinates to cover-up stating, “I don’t give a s**t what happens. I want you all to stonewall—plead the Fifth Amendment, cover-up, or anything else. If that will save it, save the plan.” This eerily echoes in Trump invoking the Fifth Amendment 440 times during his depositions. Roger Stone, Michael Cohen, John Eastman, Jeffery Clark, Eric Trump all plead the Fifth. Trump left the White House and took numerous boxes of Classified documents with him. He refused to cooperate and return them to the National Archives. What was he hiding or covering up? Remember “When the President does it, that means it’s not illegal.” When it comes to accountability then I suppose that the witch hunt is on.

When all was said and done Nixon was impeached however, he resigned prior to that process coming to fruition. Nixon left a trail of destruction. Five individuals directly connected to the burglary, including two campaign aides were indicted and convicted. Seven men, mostly employed by the CIA or FBI were convicted. Another seven were convicted and had worked in the capacity of aides, counsel for the Committee to Re-elect the President and former United States Attorney General. At least no one died because of it.

Trump also left a path of destruction as his advisors and chairs of committees were convicted and jailed. Hey, remember Roger Stone worked for Nixon’s campaign and here he is connected with Donald Trump. Eight individuals have been convicted and sentenced directly related to Trump’s involvement with the Russian interference investigation and his withholding aid to Ukraine. After the January 6th riot there have been 1,230 people charged and 336 sentenced so far relating to insurrection incited by Trump. One woman was shot at the Capital and seven people lost their lives in connection with the Insurrection.

“Attack, attack, attack-never defend. Admit nothing, deny everything, launch counterattack.”

Roger Stone

Trump’s re-election campaign has induced sentiments from Hitler. The immigration crisis is “poisoning the blood of this country” then Trump denied that was his intent. He claims ignorance about Hitler’s writings, Mein Kampf. A friend recalled giving him the book and his first wife , Ivanka stated in 1990 that it was at his nightstand. However, Trump claims to know nothing about Mein Kampf or of the Proud Boys, a white supremacist group, whom he called upon to “Stand back and stand by” on January 6th. Remember the Unite the Right rally, a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, VA? Trump’s response was that there were fine people on both sides. The riots in Minneapolis after George Floyd was murdered by police officers and Trump’s response was shocking as well. Interesting. “Admit nothing, deny everything, launch counterattack.”

With Trump rising again for re-election why isn’t the general public more on edge? Ideal qualities of leadership include integrity, decorum, respect, collaboration and vision. Why isn’t the public feeling more catastrophic doom and fear of this man in leadership again?