Photographs of President Richard Nixon with Sammy Davis, Jr.

By Jack Brummet, National Affairs Ed.

In honor of RMN's departure 40 years ago, I'm sharing some photos of The Trickster with Sammy Davis, Jr.

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Fun With Dick Nixon's Ghost

If you're a friend, or a blog follower, you probably know that LBJ and Nixon are the presidents I've studied most. With Nixon, it has been a life-long fascination. When I lived in NYC, I often brought friends over to pay homage at his townhouse on the Upper East Side--and where the Secret Service never hassled us, although we rarely arrived there before 2 AM, or even closing time (which in NYC then was 4 AM). I wrote a while ago about visiting him here. Or check here.

Anyhow, yesterday, I spent a half hour at his grave site, communing with the shade of Richard Nixon, who has fascinated me for forty-some years, and a couple more hours at his library, and birthplace. Despite being a Gorbachev Democrat, I still like the guy, and despise about 90% of his politics. He was a treacherous sneak, but managed to pull off some pretty stunning accomplishments before he was driven to the sea.

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Gov. Blagojevich considered naming Oprah to fill Obama's Senate seat. Did "O" fail to cough up the requisite $$$?

By Pablo Fanque
All This Is That National Affairs Editor

Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the soon to be ex-Illinois governor, in the middle of an impeachment trial told ABC's "Good Morning America" that the idea of nominating Oprah Winfrey came to him as he looked at candidates for the job he is now accused of trying to sell to the highest bidder.

"She seemed to be someone who would help Barack Obama in a significant way become President," he said. "She was obviously someone with a much broader bully pulpit than other senators."

The governor dropped the idea, 'though, because he felt it would look like a gimmick; he also thought that she would not accept the position. Of course, it's also quite possible she was unwilling to cough up the cash he required for the slot. . .
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Remember, 27% of the people still approve of President Bush's performance in office. . .

click the Prez. to enlarge

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If I were the President of this land. . .I'd stick my head in the oven

I'd stick my head in the oven and crank open the jets if I was in POTUS's boots today. There have been a few other similar periods, but the torrent of bad news in the last two weeks has to have the President openly weeping in the West Wing. I mean, if you studied statistics in college you probably know that no matter how bad things are, statisically, some things will break your way. . .once in a while. Au contraire, mon frere. The President has faced a relentless monsoon of bad news over the last few weeks. And not one thing has broken his way of late. Here is a quick sample of just what has gone wrong in the last few days:

click poster to enlarge

Republicans abandoning Bush
Bush And Cheney's Cursing Cited In FCC Enforcement Case...
NEWSWEEK Poll: Bush hits All-Time Low; 28%...

Bush invokes executive privilege...
CLASSIFIED REPORT: AL QAEDA AT PRE-9/11 STRENGTH

Iraq surge a failure, top Democrats tell Bush

Cheney to have heart defibrillator replaced...
White House, Cheney's Office, Subpoenaed
Chertoff bases warning of terror risk on 'gut feeling'
CALLS FOR IMPEACHMENT OF CHENEY AT GEPHARDT EVENT
Bush Orders Miers Not to Testify
Much of US favors Bush impeachment: poll

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Visiting Richard Nixon Again (his ghost this time)

If you've known me long, you probably know that I am a life-long Richard Nixon afficionado. Not that I actually liked the misanthropic thug. . .but I respected him, despite his many many faults. I spent a little time at his house (albeit standing in the cold outside)--see the post below on Visiting Richard Nixon. Some recent posts here on President Nixon:

Jackie Gleason, President Richard Nixon And The Men From Mars

President Richard M. Nixon decommissioned, resigns in disgrace

Visiting President Richard Nixon

32 Years Ago Today, Richard Nixon Walked Away

Thirty-four years ago today, The Watergate burglars were arrested. . .

Alien Lore No. 39 - Presidents (And Near Presidents) Who Believe In Or Have Seen UFOs: Carter, Nixon, Reagan, Ford, Goldwater, Truman

Early next week, I will be in Newport Beach, California on business, and I have arranged an afternoon to achieve a lifelong dream. . .I am going to the Nixon Library and birthplace in Yorba Linda. And I even get to see the Elvis-Nixon exhibit, which has been running since January. I well remember the numerous times we stopped by Nixon's townhouse on the upper east side, and how the Secret Service never even hassled us, despite our loud laughter and brewski tilting. I guess President Nixon didn't want any "incidents." Maybe on our trip to NYC this spring, I can revisit the scene of that old crime! Below this is an article from the Nixon Library on the Nixon-Elvis Exhibition I will be seeing next Tuesday. . .

The Day Elvis Met Nixon

The historic 1970 White House meeting of Elvis Presley and Richard Nixon will be commemorated in a special exhibit opening on Elvis’ birthday, Monday, January 8, highlighted with the sartorial choices of the President and the King.

Opening day events included a lecture by special guest Egil “Bud” Krogh, the assistant to President Nixon who staffed the Elvis-RN meeting and recalled the events in his book, The Day Elvis Met Nixon, writing: “I had prepared a memo for the President with a summary of Elvis’ letter and some talking points for their visit, but who knew where this was going to go? We got the memo back from Bob Haldeman – he’d written on it, ‘You Must Be Kidding,’ but approved the meeting anyway, and I called Elvis back over.”

On special loan from Graceland, the exhibit will highlight the black velvet suit, boots, wing-collared white shirt and gold, diamond-studded belt worn by Elvis Presley during his White House drop-by December 21, 1970. The statesmanlike gray suit and tasteful tie worn by the 37th President also will be displayed.

Elvis would have been 72 on January 8, and President Nixon 94 on January 9. The iconic photo of their White House meeting is the most requested image from the National Archives.

The King requested the meeting in a hand-written letter on American Airlines stationery, which he presented to a startled guard at the northwest gate of the White House. Dear Mr. President, he wrote: First, I would like to introduce myself. I am Elvis Presley and admire you and have great respect for your office . . . Sir, I can and will be of any service that I can to help the country out…

The display also will include the gifts exchanged by the two iconic figures, from Elvis a commemorative World War II Colt 45 pistol in a presentation case, as well as family photos, and from RN, a set of Presidential cufflinks and an honorary Bureau of Narcotics Special Assistant badge requested by Elvis for his collection.

The exhibit closes April 9, 2007.

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