Great Moments in Stupidity II

Richard Nixon was one of the greatest paradoxes on the latter half of the 20th century American political scene. Here we have a man who:

1) Declared himself to be a social and political conservative while at the same time introducing legislation that led to the creation of both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the final abolition of the “Gold Standard,” indexed Social Security benefits to inflation, and created the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program.

2) Actively supported Gun Control legislation

3) Ordered wage and price controls in a futile effort to combat inflation

4) Whose subordinates issued new governmental rules and regulations at such a rate that they caused the number of pages in the Federal Register to double each year of his Presidency.

5) Made the initial moves toward a reconciliation with Communist China while ordering a general escalation of the bombing of North Viet Nam and Cambodia

6) Promised “Peace with Honor” in Southeast Asia.

7) Was the first President to nominate a woman as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (Harriet Lilly, who withdrew her nomination after the American Bar Association declared her to be “unqualified.” The job eventually went to a man named William Rehnquist.)

While Nixon, when viewed in the light of the above-listed accomplishments, would appear to be a liberal’s idea of the ideal US President, Nixon was hounded by the left-of-center wings of both the Democratic and Republican Parties for being “too conservative!”