Relevant History: Nixon's Checkers Speech

[cthulu2016]

This remains the quintessential self-pitying, passive aggressive, sanctimonious , non-sequitur riddled, non-substantive scandal management speech... because it worked.

Needless to say, nobody on Earth was asking Nixon's kids to give up their little dog Checkers. They were asking why he was sitting on a big cash campaign slush fund.

Nixon's defense was that he, personally, did not have a lot of money (which was never the question) because Republicans are by nature poor, simple people. The bizarre mention of his wife's "good cloth republican coat" was a cheap, partisan attempt to drag in a Truman administration scandal about Sherman Adams' (I think it was) wife wearing an alpaca coat that was a gift.

But the Nixon thing was not about accepting gifts, like a coat or a cute little dog named Checkers. It was about a cash campaign slush fund... accepting gifts like bundles of cash wrapped in brown paper.

But Nixon stood his ground! Those rich Democrats would never make his kids give up their little dog Checkers. And it worked. Ike did not dump him as running mate in 1952. And the rest is history.

Incredible, and worth revisiting.

Responding to allegations that he operated an illegal “slush” fund, Senator Nixon talked about his finances and denied any wrongdoing. He also outlined the case for electing Dwight Eisenhower and himself in the coming elections. The address is often referred to as the “Checkers speech” because he referred to his dog Checkers as the type of gift he received from supporters. Mrs. Nixon sat in a chair near her husband.

[monmouth3]

1. He was one creepy, slimy and disgusting person. Couldn't watch the whole thing..sorry..n/t

[Springslips]

2. Good post. But you missed something subtle.

The underlining gist of the speech was directed at Ike. Before Tricky-Dick went into the studio, he told Ike's people, who were pressuring him to resign, that he Nixon " knew something about politics too."

When viewing Nixon say in the speech, "and now I am going to suggest courses if conduct...you have read in the papers about other funds; Mr. Stevenson apparently had some...and both Mr Sparkman and Mr Stevenson should come before ( and do what I have just done)," Eisenhower broke the pencil he had in his fingers. See Nixon knew that Ike had slush funds too, and the inference was that ALL candidates should come clean. Nixon then finishes with leaving his candidacy up to the RNC--Ike basically--meaning 'if you drop me then I come out with YOUR secrets.'

As soon as the broadcast was complete Ike welcomed Nixon back with open arms.

[cthulu2016]

3. Good post. Thanks.