What could go wrong for Trump on the Fourth of July? In 1970, protests and tear gas marred the day.

[Eugene]

Source: Washington Post

What could go wrong for Trump on the Fourth of July? In 1970, protests and tear gas marred the day.

And Nixon didn’t even speak in person.

By Ronald G. Shafer July 2 at 7:00 AM

The plan was to celebrate the Fourth of July with a televised extravaganza on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. One unstated goal was to show support for the president at a time of bitter division in the nation.

The president was Richard M. Nixon, and the year was 1970. Nixon was facing rising opposition to the Vietnam War after expanding the conflict into Cambodia. Wealthy friends of the president began organizing an Honor America Day co-hosted by evangelist Billy Graham and comedian Bob Hope. Capping the day would be a star-studded, “Salute to America” show at the Lincoln Memorial. The goal: to draw a record 500,000 people to Washington’s Mall to celebrate America’s birthday.

The 1970 event is the only parallel to President Trump’s takeover of July 4. Trump’s elaborate “Salute to America” will feature a speech by the president himself at the Lincoln Memorial, reserved seating for hundreds of VIPs, two fireworks displays and flyovers by the Blue Angels and Air Force One. Trump has also requested military tanks — Abrams tanks or Bradley Fighting Vehicles — on the Mall for the event.

By contrast, Nixon did not appear at the 1970 celebration; he was at his summer White House in San Clemente, Calif. But he did record a video that was played at the event.

The 1970 celebration was the brainchild of Reader’s Digest publisher Hobart Lewis. He recruited J. Willard Marriott, head of the Marriott hotel chain, to raise funds. Marriott insisted the event “will be absolutely free of politics. It’s not to promote anybody’s pet ideas.”

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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/07/02/what-could-go-wrong-trump-july-fourth-protests-tear-gas-marred-day/

[50 Shades Of Blue]

1. I was there. Got teargassed. Still pissed about it.

Sitting there minding my own business (on the mall, not Lincoln Memorial steps) with my parents and sister. We were in proximity to a group that started acting up and when the cops teargassed them, everybody got it.

I was about to turn 18 and hated Nixon with a passion then as now but my parents had wanted to see the fireworks so we all went.

[redstatebluegirl]

2. I was there as well, it was an ugly day for sure.

Didn't get teargassed, I was in high school and with my parents. On the way home I asked my Mom about the demonstrations and the tear gas and she said , "democracy is not pretty sometimes".

[50 Shades Of Blue]

3. And now it's all but nonexistent...

[redstatebluegirl]

4. I am really kind of glad she isn't around to see this.

She was a huge supporter of civil rights. She marched in a ton of civil rights demonstrations. Came back into Illinois once covered up in the back seat of a car because it was being driven by her Black friends who feared for her safety in the south. This time in history would break her heart.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

5. She sounds amazing! My parents weren't very political...

They voted for Humphrey in '68 but then they voted for Nixon in '72. Ugh.

[redstatebluegirl]

6. She was, she was my hero for sure. I was 20 when I lost her to cancer.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

7. That was young for you both. :( But she left a great legacy!

[redstatebluegirl]

8. That she did...