Lessons of Watergate

by | Quotes

“Watergate teaches us, too, the virtues of having politicians, rather than mere managers and technicians, operating the levers of ultimate power. Men such as Mitchell, Haldeman, and Ehrlichman were not intrinsically evil, whatever their critics may say; but neither were they “politicians” in the best sense of that word. A municipal bond lawyer, an advertising account executive, and a real estate lawyer, they brought to the service of Richard Nixon impressive administrative skills as well as total personal loyalty; but they never understood the necessity for compromise that lies at the heart of politics, or grasped the great truth that not even the best intentions can justify wronging one’s fellow citizens.”

Source: The Making of the New Majority Party (1975)

Keywords: law,governance,political-strategy

Author

  • William A. Rusher (1923–2011), publisher of National Review (1957–1988), was a leading conservative spokesman, columnist, and author. He helped draft Barry Goldwater for the 1964 GOP nomination, shaping the party’s future. A Princeton and Harvard Law graduate, he served in WWII, worked in law, and advised the U.S. Senate. In 1989, he became a Distinguished Fellow at the Claremont Institute and remained active in conservative circles until his passing in 2011.

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