Absurd Texts in American History (V, c): Paul Harvey

Time for another selection from Paul Harvey's classic text, You Said It, Paul Harvey. Complied by Mrs. Paul Harvey.

Liberals Trying to "Capture" Nixon

"When Conservatives lose an election they rush to congratulate the victor, retreat to lick their wounds, and wait until next time.

When Liberals lose an election, they "offer every assistance" and try to stake out for themselves at least one corner of the White House desk from where they exert continuing influence on the incumbent.

As they moved in on Eisenhower, they are now seeking to "assist" President Nixon in his appointments and decisions.

Traveling, it is difficult for me to pass a news stand without perusing the editorial pages to see what issues are of most local concern.

Inevitably I peek at my own column to see my name in print. Recently, characteristically, these columns have subscribed to the President's suggestion that we "pull our country together."

But elsewhere on the editorial pages and in prominent national periodicals I read so many liberal pundits who are already hard at work trying to pull Mr. Nixon over into their corner.

This is not intended as criticism of colleagues; I am criticizing me. So starting now I'm going to be a little less pull-together and a little more pull-away from those sore losers.

Mr. Nixon owes the Rockefeller-eastern-liberal-establishment nothing! They fought him at the Convention and they helped him not at all during the election. Nixon lost New York, and New England this election by a greater margin than when he lost it to John Kennedy.

On the other hand, those Conservatives who did deliver Ohio and Illinois and all those southern border states to Mr. Nixon--those to whom he truly owes his selection--deserve much consideration.

Recent days I hear and read so many seeking to convince the new President that he "has a mandate to adopt many Humphrey programs"--and perhaps appoint Humphrey to his official family--"because the election was so close." Rubbish. Kennedy "squeeked" in and nobody questioned his "mandate."

"Nixon must shift to the left," another insists.

Significantly, many demand that Nixon turn his back on the Deep South which voted against him but none I have read says he should reject the Manhattan Islanders who rejected him.

The post-convention Nixon-Rockefeller shotgun wedding was an understandable political expedient.

Indeed, I am sure Mr. Nixon is genuinely determined to try to keep his party together and pull our country together.

This will necessarily require some accomodation. [sic]

My fear now is that he will listen to the concerted voice of his enemies to the subsequent neglect of his friends.

It is because Mr. Nixon's historic image is "conservative" that the liberals are now making such a concerted effort to influence him thataway.

It will be easiest for him to yield rather than suffer the criticism which the eastern liberals are able to mobilize against any who dare to oppose them.

Mr. Nixon, therefore, is going to need all the encouragement he can get to stand by what most voters considered to be his own personal principles.

Whatever other interpretation anybody tries to put on the returns from the recent election, this fact is incontrovertible: The liberal ism was rejected. In fact, by the combined Nixon-Wallace turnout, it was overwhelmed."

Good Day!