URL: https://digitalcollections.hoover.org/objects/526
Collection Structure Commonwealth Club of California records >  Sound recordings of club programs >  Political Climate in the U.S. Today
Item Title Political Climate in the U.S. Today
Collection Title Commonwealth Club of California records
Speaker McLaughlin, John
Date Created January 18, 1974
Description In a passionate defense of the president, McLaughlin examines the Watergate affair and the state of the nation, economically and socially. He begins by pointing out that all former United States presidents endured criticism that was often cruel. He believes that Nixon's accomplishments show that he is fit to govern the U.S., contrary to the popular opinion of the media. He further criticizes the press by offering varying statistics about public opinion and Congress. The speaker emphasizes the role of taxes as enforced exactions rather than voluntary contributions, and dismisses Nixon's use of deductions as a legitimate and popular occurrence in society. The actions of the Ervin Committee against Nixon are excessive; they call for the president's personal daily diary and the phone records of the Oval Office. McLaughlin suggests that the current stirrings of impeachment are solely political and carry no real threat.
Subject(s) Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994 Watergate Affair, 1972-1974 United States Politics and government
Language(s) English
Country of Origin United States
Place Recorded San Francisco, California, United States
Format Sound Recording
Medium speeches (documents)
Hoover ID Program 19740118; 2003c87_a_0009677
Record Number 2003C87.625
Collection Guide https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt3g5032c1
Rights Used with permission of the Commonwealth Club of California.This copy is provided for educational and research purposes only. No publication, further reproduction, or reuse of copies, beyond fair use, may be made without the express written permission of the copyright owner.