Thoughts on Nixon |
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24 August 2026 - Erlenbach
While watching a PBS documentary on Nixon, I wrote down some stream of consciousness thoughts...
In Switzerland they vote on
what movies the theaters will show
what the grocery store will sell
whether sanctioning Russia violates their neutrality.
The Gemeinde (town) is where tax money flows.
They don't have to build Kirchenburgen.
They've outlawed minarets
... and welcome muslim individuals by the thousand.
We disagree and there's a bomb shelter for every one of us (including immigrants like me)
...if the Russians attack
...but there's also a memorial in Andermatt for the Russians who saved Switzerland from French invaders during the Napoleonic wars.
Many of the bomb shelters were built against Nazi attack,
by the Francophone general Guisan with the strong support of a Germanic majority.
When the local government is dominant, nationalism is irrelevant.
Let me talk to my neighbors and decide.
I would blame Lincoln and his suspending of laws and bloody Civil War for why America lost this, but even mid-twentieth century movies believe America still had it.
Once.
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance showed us that even the good could be corrupted.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington showed us that the good can be defeated by lies.
Seven Days in May showed us just how close military dictatorship is.
In Switzerland's 18th century Civil War, few died. General DuFour was the Lee of Switzerland and took the responsibility on leading the national army, unlike the Virginian of America. DuFour presented his battle plans to his countrymen and gave them time to see if they could counter. And was magnanimous when they surrendered.
The early Union generals seem to have thought this strategy would work a decade later against the better experienced and senior Confederate generals, but their aim was subjugation rather than harmonization. So perhaps it was doomed to failure. I still think that if Lee had not left the Union army, then American Civil War would have been similarly short and the casualties few. And maybe he could have moderated Lincoln's aims.
Alternate history is ever speculation.
Imagine a South undestructed and unreconstructed, but that had accepted the end of slavery on its own own terms without the Jim Crow laws. As most of the English-speaking world did in the 19th century.
The resonance of history is no small reason why Walt Disney chose to set Robin Hood with a southern rebel vernacular.
The 20th century experience of South Africa is, of course, much later, but can still paint a path to a reconciliation of race relations without war. Is it surprising that the most famous South African today, Trevor Noah, has a Swiss father?
Richard Nixon was opportunistic, gained wisdom through experience, and consistently sought a peace that didn't abandon America's allies. Trump won re-election when the Taliban overran Afghanistan as American troops left. The parallels to the Hanoi evacuation were just too close. Nixon didn't realize that the USA wasn't like Switzerland anymore. He ignored protests because most people didn't support them. Fine in a state with local democracy, but politically deadly in one where power is concentrated at the top. Protests arise because people have no local democratic outlet to express their opinions. Nixon would have been a great Kirchenburgen leader. It's amazing that he thought so globally with his ideas that he failed so locally with the roots of their power.
Winning isn't everything.
...but also, winning is everything.
The decision to pursue historical denialism or historical correction is one of both morality and efficacy. Denialism can feel very moral, but is often without efficacy. Historical correction is a long, slow road that often never reaches its goal. Unless an honest man like Richard Nixon records and shares his darkest secrets, and is thus destroyed his honesty.
