Once They Were Patriots

I turned 70 this month. I was 20 years old when Richard Nixon won reelection in a landslide in 1972. Not only did the incumbent president receive 61 percent of the popular vote, he won the Electoral College 520-17. That is not a misprint—he won 520-17! Needless to say, he was extremely popular with his own Republican Party and Republican congressmen and senators loved him.

Less than two years later, in the summer of 1974, President Nixon resigned in disgrace—to avoid impeachment for his role in the break-in of the Democratic National Committee Headquarters at the Watergate Hotel. History refers to the incident simply as Watergate.

Why do I bring up these painful memories from 50 years ago? Because the courage displayed by the Republicans of 50 years ago seems to have been completely forgotten by today’s Republican Party, the party of Donald Trump, Marjorie Taylor-Green, Kevin McCarthy, Jim Jordan, Mitch McConnell, and other despicable characters.

For these men and women, patriotism clearly means party over country. These men and women were willing to permit Russian interference into our election, excuse an insurrection, congressional and presidential incitement to conduct an insurrection. People died during these federal crimes—the men and women who participated or covered up involvement may be guilty of felony murder.

This is a far cry from how the Grand Ole Party behaved 50 years ago. John McCain might have been a holdout, had he survived. Mitt Romney shows flashes of defiance and courage. But today’s GOP party leaders, McCarthy and McConnell, continue to worship at the altar of Trump, fearful that any defiance might affect re-election chances.

McCarthy, who professes fealty to Trump, is caught on tape criticizing him for his behavior on January 6 and suggests he resign. What does he do next? As a true 21st Century Republican, he now tells us, as Trump does, not to believe our own eyes and ears. He didn’t mean what he said.

Let’s contrast 2022 Republicans with 1972 Republicans.

Prior to Nixon’s disgraceful resignation, a January 6th style congressional investigation took place. This investigation was known famously as the Watergate Hearings. American democracy almost failed—the cover-up almost worked. How was the truth revealed? Republicans in Congress had the courage to put country ahead of party.

Maryland Congressman Lawrence Hogan (the father of Maryland’s current governor) voted for all three counts of impeachment in the House Judiciary Committee. Virginia Congressman M. Caldwell Butler was an outspoken advocate for impeachment. Senator Howard Baker of Tennessee famously posed the question: “what did the president know and when did he know it?”

Republican Attorney General Elliot Richardson appointed a special prosecutor, Archibald Cox, to investigate Watergate. Cox discovered that Nixon recorded many, if not all, White House meetings and issued a subpoena for the tapes. Nixon ordered Richardson to fire Cox. Richardson refused and resigned in protest. The so-called “Saturday Night Massacre” backfired on Nixon and turned public opinion against him.

The Watergate Committee unanimously voted to subpoena the tapes and the United States Supreme Court ordered Nixon to turn them over. The tapes proved Nixon directed the FBI and CIA to cover up the break-in. At that point, the 10 Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee who originally voted against impeachment all announced their support for impeachment. Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater, perhaps to most conservative member of the Senate at the time, met with Nixon at the White House and told him that he had no support in the Senate. Nixon resigned the next day.

None of these Republicans were anti-Nixon people. In fact, none of them initially believed the Watergate allegations were true. They were solidly partisan Republicans loyal to the president. But they supported an investigation and the appointment of a special prosecutor. They participated in hearings over the controversy and asked questions at those hearings. In the end, they encouraged the president’s decision to resign.

One year prior to Nixon’s resignation, the general consensus in Washington was that Nixon was virtually bulletproof and could withstand the scandal. Had he done so, he would have eluded the consequences of multiple crimes, including breaking and entering, mail tampering, illegal wiretapping, multiple counts of burglary, espionage, sabotage, illegal use of campaign funds, and, most importantly, trying to cover all of these up.

After he resigned, he was pardoned by incoming President Gerald Ford. 40 + people close to the outgoing president were found guilty of crimes relating to the Watergate, thanks in large part to patriotic Republicans.

In 2022 Republicans, despite horrendous behavior, seem bulletproof once again. Most political pundits suggest that the GOP will do very well in the mid-term elections.

It is predicted that Republicans will assume control of both houses of congress and McCarthy, yes, lying, unpatriotic, party before country McCarthy, will become Speaker of the House. McConnell, yes, lying, unpatriotic, party before country McConnell will become Senate Majority Leader again.

Our country has lost its way. Hogan, Baker, Richardson, and Butler are rolling over in their graves. And the Republican Party could care less—victory is all that matters—party over country. Shame on them all.

Mark M. Bello is an attorney and award-winning author of the Zachary Blake Legal Thriller Series, ripped-from-the headlines, realistic fiction that speak truth to power and champion the rights of citizens in our justice system. These novels, dedicated to the social justice movement, are not only enjoyable, they educate, spark discussion and inspire readers to action. For more information, please visit www.markmbello.com. Mark also hosts the Justice Counts podcast with Lean to the Left editor & publisher Bob Gatty, presenting bi-weekly interviews focused on social justice.