Vanity Fair article: Nixon trashed Reagan

[wyldwolf]

Vanity Fair runs excerpts from The Rebellion of Ronald Reagan by James Mann, which reports on a secret White House meeting in 1987 -- in the midst of his historic summits with Mikhail Gorbachev -- where Reagan sought Richard Nixon's help for his conciliatory diplomacy with the Soviet Union, and Nixon refused to give it.

The meeting marked Nixon's first time back in the White House residence since his resignation. Mann reports that Nixon concluded that "there is no way (Reagan) can ever be allowed to participate in a private meeting with Gorbachev." Nixon also felt that Reagan looked "far older, more tired, and less vigorous in person than in public," and that he "did not seem to be on top of the issues." He was "certainly in no way as knowledgeable as Gorbachev, for example, which of course would not be surprising."

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2009/02/12/nixon_refused_to_help_reagan.html

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2009/02/reagan-excerpt200902

"A cry for help from an exasperated Gorbachev: “He’s blathering on again!” "

on edit: Somewhat favorable to Reagan if the accounts are to be believed. It may just be another attempt at propping up the Reagan myth. A fascinating read just the same.

[NewJeffCT]

1. But, St. Ronnie single-handedly

brought down the Soviet Union/Evil Empire with one hand tied behind his back, while blindfolded and hopping on one leg???

I hope a few Freeper heads explode over this article, but they'll see that Nixon resigned in disgrace while Reagan was popular... grrr to Tip O'Neill not wanting to impeach him. That brought us W and the recycling of all the Reagan criminals.

[AlCzervik]

2. i'm going with Nixon in this one, sure he was paranoid and secretive but he's spot

on concerning St. Ronnie in my book.

You go Dicky.

[SidneyCarton]

3. Tricky Dick was a paranoid, manaical crook...

But he wasn't stupid, indeed comparing his presidency with that of Bush 43, he looks extremely competent. Being a California pol, he knew Reagan, and probably had his number from early on. It doesn't make me like Nixon any better, but when a bastard like that thinks you're an incompetent nincompoop, it says something.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. Reagan was a stooge.

And had the same puppet masters as the more recent stooge, George W.

[BeyondGeography]

5. Nixon always feared and loathed Reagan

Ronnie's hold on the conservatives was always stronger than Nixon's, and it started in 1964, when Nixon was just getting his self-rehabilitation project off the ground. As governor of California, he was also a potential threat, even if he only became governor in 1966. Also, as an attractive and socially secure man, he was naturally despised by Dick the Miserable.

In short, whatever the merits on content, more than probably meets the eye here.

[Captain Hilts]

7. They were completely different people in every way. nt

[Captain Hilts]

6. Nixon actually believed in government. Reagan did not. And Reagan did NOT do in the USSR. nt