Dear Reader >> A few of you who were patient enough to read my series, entitled “Meet Private Beetle Bailey’s Protege” that started in March 2015, may remember that because of the friendship I established with Beetle, as my mentor, I hired him to sift through the “tremendous amount” of correspondence the series generated. His hiring saved me time and is allowing me to answer the best correspondence personally. Following is a sample of the letters I received and cherish.
Dear Jeff >> Let me first say: I’m sorry for the delay in your receiving this letter. My father, the visionary he was, sent the below letter to you in early 1971. It was addressed improperly and returned by the post office with: “Addressee Unknown.” My father never figured out your address and the letter ended up in my house after we cleared out his house several years ago. I just came across it while packing up our house in getting ready to move to a retirement village. Following is the letter.
“Although the following certainly has political overtones, I hope you will be able to print this letter in your paper. I have gone to great lengths to neither castigate nor celebrate one major party or the other in examples I cite. It has come to my attention that the morals, honesty and acceptance of responsibility of politicians are on a slippery slope and I predict this will not only increase with future politicians but with the public at large. Instead of mudslinging, let me cite two very positive examples of past approaches by Presidents and I’ll let your mind ponder how things have changed.”
“As you are aware, Harry Truman was our Democratic President from 1945 to 1953. He is known for the famous saying: ‘The Buck Stops Here.’ Although President Truman did not originate that saying, he had a plaque on his presidential desk that reminded all that came into his office who was ultimately responsible. He also used the phrase in some speeches he gave.”
“Likewise, Republican President Dwight Eisenhower was ready to take the blame/responsibility. In preparing to invade Normandy in 1944 during World War II, he handwrote a letter that he carried in his wallet in case the Allies were defeated. The President didn’t try to camouflage failure in phrases like: ‘Mistakes were made’, ‘Our projections were not met’ or ‘I will say nothing pending investigation.’ He wrote, ‘Any blame or fault is mine alone'” (http://www.npr.org/2013/06/08/189535104/the-speech-eisenhower-never-gave-on-the-normandy-invasion).
The letter from 1971 went on to say: “What superb examples of leadership Presidents Truman and Eisenhower displayed. I daresay these were not perfect men but it is my feeling that they probably displayed many other positive characteristics that you will find lacking in the twenty-first century.”
Jeff, thank you so much for sharing with your readers these thoughts from my father from many years ago!
Best Wishes,Tricia Nixon CoxDear TNC >> Thanks so much for forwarding your dad’s letter from so many years ago. He had much insight into things that would happen in the distant future. Unfortunately, he had little insight into what would happen between the years of 1972-1974, especially in the political world. However, much of his prediction lives on with so many tawdry experiences, crimes affecting other people’s lives and enriching people unjustly have gotten even worse with, in many cases, no repercussions.
JeffDisclaimer to Readers >> I must admit, while writing the above, I amused myself. However, I took a survey of 12 people after writing it and only two people knew who Tricia Nixon Cox was. Without knowing she was one of President Richard M. Nixon’s daughters, you will miss the main point of the letter (the pot calling the kettle black).
Jeff Hall, of Honey Brook, contributes columns to Berks-Mont Newspapers. Questions/comments may be directed to jeffreyhall77@comcast.net.