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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 27, 1981)
opinion End the agony and bury Nixon Former President Richard Nixon is once again back in the public eye and apparently has gained some measure of respect. Will the American people ever see the end of Nixon in the media? He really ought to be buried in the back of the newspaper, among the obituaries. But, Nixon, who resigned his presidency after disgracing that office, can still make headlines. When Nixon goes abroad — settles a suit — moves to New York — comments on issues — sells his apartment — attends Sadat’s funeral — he’s in the papers Nixon can be considered, in the most perverse sense, to be a 'media darling.” Even the Emerald is not immune from using Nixon to attract reader attention The Oliphant editorial cartoon Monday was a satirization of Nixon in the guise of Lawrence of Arabia — only Pat Oliphant captioned the picture 'Nixon of Arabia.” Oliphant, like columnist Art Buchwald, consider themselves fortunate to have had Nixon “to kick around ” The latest Nixon headlines, prior to his attending of Sadat's funeral, concern Duke University’s move to set up a repository on its campus for Nixon’s presidential papers — and a startling revelation that Nixon, while president, dis cussed using Teamster ‘‘thugs’’ to assault anti-war demonstrators Duke University, directed by its President Terry Sanford, deemed to establish a Richard Nixon Library “primarily as a research facility ” But the possibility that Nixon will negotiate to have Duke University build a memorial (which is what more honorable ex-presidents libraries have become) is likely. What could be more insulting than a memorial — library or otherwise — for Nixon? Certainly much of the material would have “gaps.” Nixon would surely demand to edit specific Watergate items. Nor would he include the cir cumstances surrounding his resignation Nixon continues to gloss over the truth of his presidency. Nixon believes history will vindicate his presidency He points to his precedent-setting SALT II and detente Nixon also points with pride to ending the Vietnam war and opening of relations with China These events Nixon believes will be enough to reserve him an honored place in history. Yet, opening relations with China was long overdue — and quite a strategic ploy in relations with the Soviet Union. As for Nixon claiming credit for ending the Vietnam War, anyone who saw the scenes of the fall of Saigon on television will agree that was not an end — that was a retreat SALT II and detente have been the conservative’s nightmare for years And there s Watergate Nixon, according to published reports, doesn’t perceive Watergate in the same way most Americans do He says he agonized over it, admitting only to have made a ‘ mistake .” Not once has Nixon said he commited criminal acts and disgraced the presidency worldwide Has Nixon ever apologized7 Had he apologized he might have gained some respect and eventual forgiveness from the American people The other Watergate figures have served time in prison, in effect, paid their debt to society But Nixon’s pardon from former President Ford was absolute and unconditional. The other horrendous event in the never-ending Nixon saga is a New York Times transcript of a tape that has Nixon enthusiastically endorstng an H R Haldeman suggestion to recruit Teamster Union ’’thugs” to physically assault anti war demonstrators The conversation took place May 5, 1971, and shows Nixon angry over demonstrators in Washington D C.. He discusses the idea to, as he phrases it, "go in and knock their (the demonstrators) heads off.” "Sure,” Haldeman replies “Murderers the regular strikebuster-types and all that and then they’re gonna beat the (deleted) out of some of these people And, uh, and hope they really hurt 'em You know smash some noses ” The tape, recently used as evidence in the trial of 1,200 demonstrators arrested on the steps of the Capitol May 5, 1971, is no longer revelant in terms of criminal prosecution, though it clearly shows Haldeman and Nixon authorizing criminal acts. The statute of limitations has expired on Haldeman, and Nixon was pardoned For Duke University to construct a Nixon Library (i.e memorial) is ludicrous Nixon was doubtless one of the worst presidents this country has ever had He was totally bereft of ethics, morality, and integrity The "achievements” on which he believes history will absolve him are questionable at best It’s time to push Nixon into obscurity — to bury him That can be taken figuratively or otherwise tAAOGW 'WRL.rtWDYOU LIKE IMIS’ 'FWSWUtt TOSIPENT OF THE UNITED STWES, GREETINGS.'. letters Wonder I wonder how it would be if the principles espoused now by Pres Olum and others regarding removal of Pacific Northwest Resource Center were applied to the ROTC program? Andy Thompson University counseling center Cooperation Campus Security's recent announcement to confiscate (steal) unregistered bicycles has caused a bit of a stir for campus bike commuters The method Campus Security has chosen to force bikers to com ply with registration rules might cause a few unexpected ramifications First of all, the relationship between students and Campus Security should be a partnership with both sides working to keep the campus a safe place Cutting students' bicycle cables (and in this way destroying students’ personal property) is going to make Campus Security an ogre to be watched out for, not a partner to be cooperated with Secondly, cutting someone's five dollar cable, (in addition to charging a two-dollar impound fee, and forcing bikers to put a two-dollar sticker on their bike) could initiate some pretty hos tile feelings Is Campus Security ready to deal with irate students with nine dollars less in their pockets? Rules are rules and Campus Security's intentions may be good, but the “cutting spree" they have chosen to undertake to enforce these rules is ridiculous and intolerable The method proposed in an Emerald editorial — locking bikes where they stand — is a much more feasible and intelligent method of enforcing bike registration rules without the problems which could occur as a result of destroying an individual’s personal property By locking unregistered bikes instead of confiscating them, we bikers may be assured that Campus Security and local bike thieves are not in cahoots We can also be assured of the whereabouts of our bicycles, thus eliminating the possibility of Campus Security mistaken ly selling a confiscated bike for $4 A final note bikers may have their personal identification number or driver's license number engraved in their bicycle This engraving (unlike little green stickers) is not easily scraped off or painted over Tim Schmidt Junior, pre-health Weaseling The fascinating issue of dis crimination by security agencies against gay people has slithered forth again This is a classic example of catch-22 If you are gay, and everyone knows it, you obviously are not a security risk because you can't be blackmailed using your life style as the lever Yet, if you are known to be gay, the FBI and other agencies won't hire you, for you are assumed to be subject to blackmail based on your lifestyle! The University should either apply its rules honestly, by keeping all discriminating agencies from recruiting on campus, or toss that rule completely and allow agencies with all sorts of policies to recruit After all. isn’t the free exchange of ideas — even reprehensible ones — part of the function of a university? The University should not set a policy, then waffle and weasel around when the policy seems temporarily inconvenient Either enforce the rules honestly, or toss them. In this case, I recommend the latter Alan Contreras Senior, political science PTA beat I was pleased to see the Emerald show an interest in fraternal matters by sending a reporter to the Interfraternal Council tribunal hearing last Tuesday Until I saw the story the next day by Dane Claussen At no time did I ever contend the wording was ambiguous on an invitation sent to a rush guest by my fraternity I did comment on the wording for a certain Interfraternal Council Constitutional provision, and an invitation was a piece of evidence in the hearing, but these are worlds apart from what was quoted in the story Not really even close Claussen never personally interviewed me, and all the quotes in the story were taken from a dialogue between the tribunal members and myself To be sure, better discretion was needed on what quotes to include in the article, and I feel the quotations that were used were put in a context attempting to damage my own and the Interfraternal's credibility Altogether it was a very poor effort at reporting, lacking professionalism and indicating a very lazy journalistic effort Just the type of writing that could earn a writer a lifetime PTA or School board beat Todd Ruberg Senior, consulting psychology Registered? Why does Campus Security say, " the action (cutting chains of unregistered bikes, impounding them and fining owners) is necessary to get all bikes registered???" In my experience all I got for $2 was an ugly sticker that I was glad to be rid of when my bike was stolen — never to be found If Campus Security offered specific data on the effectiveness of the registration system and/or abolished the $2 fee, I would be more compelled to comply Until then, I’ll do more than "get upset," if I find someone from Campus Security with my new bike I admit this seems hostile, but in the Old West they hung horse thieves Chris Bollweg Junior, art letters policy The Emerald will accept and attempt to print all letters containing fair comment on issues, ideas and topics of interest to the University community The Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length, style or con tent Publication is dependent upon the space available
