Richard Nixon, Hubert Humphrey, and a Historical Grace Note
This year marks the fortieth anniversary of the Watergate break-in. From a Ricochet member in Minnesota, the home state of one of Richard Nixon's most implacable opponents, Hubert Humphrey, a lovely historical footnote:
As Humphrey was dying of terminal cancer in the fall of 1977, his family purchased an "800" number (then the cutting edge of technology, incidentally) for him so that the famously loquacious "Happy Warrior" could call all his friends. One of the calls Humphrey placed was to his old opponent, Richard Nixon, then deep in post Watergate disgrace, to invite Nixon to attend the Humphrey funeral....
It's hard, even for those of us who lived through those days, to understand how significant this gesture was, given the long record of hostility between Humphrey and Nixon, the Watergate events, and the still-fresh anger of many at the Ford pardon of Nixon.
And yet, Humphrey makes this phone call anyway. It's quite remarkable and, I think, little known outside of Minnesota....
When you get to writing your cold war book, it might be worthwhile to note Humphrey's role as part of pro defense wing of the democratic party; even more significantly, Humphrey made the Democratic Farmer Labor Party the dominant political party in Minnesota party by leading the charge to excise communist influence....
I sound like an apologist for Humphrey and I'm not. But....[t]here are worse things to be remembered for than kindness.
There are indeed.
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Comments:
Feb '12
Re: Richard Nixon, Hubert Humphrey, and a Historical Grace Note
A beautiful story, especially because his gesture required not only kindness but bravery.
Jun '12
Re: Richard Nixon, Hubert Humphrey, and a Historical Grace Note
What a wonderful footnote of history. How sad that the days of chivalry seem to have eclipsed. May we happy few gathered here, by our efforts, be a catalyst for their return.
Nov '11
Re: Richard Nixon, Hubert Humphrey, and a Historical Grace Note
Thank you, Peter, for this reminder of what civilized behavior can be, even between former enemies.
Re: Richard Nixon, Hubert Humphrey, and a Historical Grace Note
Can anyone imagine Barack Obama being so gracious?
Oct '11
Re: Richard Nixon, Hubert Humphrey, and a Historical Grace Note
Did Nixon attend? What a tragic man.
Dec '11
Re: Richard Nixon, Hubert Humphrey, and a Historical Grace Note
No, but I could imagine W. placing a call like that to Obama - even after everything Barack's said about him.