They purposefully targeted Nixon for being an isolationist. One of the worst propaganda tricks ever pulled off by the United States was tying fascism to isolationism, forever turning generations of children onto the idea that the US is right for intervening in foreign matters.
Nixon shut out much of the joints chiefs and ran foreign policy through Kissinger and the NSC. Nixon also wanted to thaw relations with the USSR and saw himself as a kind of global statesman capable of negotiating peace. The blood sucking reactionaries definitely had plenty of reason to oppose Nixon.
It's the second of four books by Rick Perlstein tracing the beginnings of the modern day US conservative movement. Starts with Barry Goldwater, then a bit on JFK/LBJ, then Nixon, a bit on Carter, and stops at Reagan.
The main takeaway is the reactionary forces in the US have always been there and will always be there, and are directly linked to the absurdly wealthy. Perlstein adds a lot of color by using quotes from the NYT/WaPo and popular culture to make the era breathe. It's well done.
They purposefully targeted Nixon for being an isolationist. One of the worst propaganda tricks ever pulled off by the United States was tying fascism to isolationism, forever turning generations of children onto the idea that the US is right for intervening in foreign matters.
Nixon shut out much of the joints chiefs and ran foreign policy through Kissinger and the NSC. Nixon also wanted to thaw relations with the USSR and saw himself as a kind of global statesman capable of negotiating peace. The blood sucking reactionaries definitely had plenty of reason to oppose Nixon.
Nixon was a really weird guy because he was trying to warm relations with China while at the same time bombing the shit out of people
What no theory does to a MFer. I'm in the middle of Nixonland right now, great read.
What’s it about
It's the second of four books by Rick Perlstein tracing the beginnings of the modern day US conservative movement. Starts with Barry Goldwater, then a bit on JFK/LBJ, then Nixon, a bit on Carter, and stops at Reagan.
The main takeaway is the reactionary forces in the US have always been there and will always be there, and are directly linked to the absurdly wealthy. Perlstein adds a lot of color by using quotes from the NYT/WaPo and popular culture to make the era breathe. It's well done.