Nixon versus Kennedy: Redux

[Geoffrey S]

It's also interesting to see how the Russians completely misunderstood the relevance of Watergate whilst dealing with the USA, and in the end mainly with Kissinger, during the Yom Kippur war.

[Spino]

Let's not forget Kennedy's contribution to the Space Program and our mission to put a man on the moon. If nothing else I respect and admire the man for keeping us competitive in the space race.

A lesser known fact about Nixon is that he also has the unenviable position of being the first Republican to dramatically contribute to the increase in the size of the Federal Government and Federal spending on social programs (someone correct me on this). I know Pat Buchanan has raked Tricky Dick over the coals for that on more than one occasion.

Panzer, I feel you're also overlooking the simple fact that Kennedy was considered an attractive man and Nixon a rather unattractive man. Sure, these are factors that people scorn when attempting to intelligently discuss heady matters but our primal, evolutionary cultivated instincts are hard to overlook. The fact of the matter is it has been proven that attractive people are more likely to be looked up to, deferred to, promoted, lauded and, in the event of a missteps or wrong doing, excused for 'bad' behavior.

Honestly now, if the lives and positions of both Presidents were reversed would people still be mourning over the loss of Nixon? Would Tricky Dick and his administration be likened to King Arthur presiding over an American Camelot? No way Jose.