Politics

---

Larry Lilly's Letter Tuesday October 4, 2005

When I was but a child I heard and watched Vice Presidential Candidate Richard Nixon give his famous 'Checkers' speech. It was September 23, 1952. I was barely 11 years old, but I distinctly remember thinking that anyone with a dog like Checkers had to be alright. Checkers had been given to the Nixon's by a man down in Texas and Tricia had named it Checkers because it was a black Cocker Spaniel with white spots, hence the name Checkers.

I didn't know much about Democrats, but I knew one Republican had a healthy concern for dogs and said on television that they were going to keep Checkers, and that courageous statement won me over. I tried to influence all of my fellow elementary friends to "Like Ike" mostly because I liked Nixon. Sometime during that fall I actually shook hands with Mr. Nixon right after his speech at the Howard Hotel in our little town of Elkton, MD. I know it was early fall because I was still barefoot.

All of this came flooding back into the minds eye the other evening as The Great Blonde and I went to hear Bob Woodward, of Watergate fame, speak at our local college, Indiana State. Bob's speech was delivered in Hulman Center, the arena made famous by Larry Bird. Soon after Mr. Woodward started his speech which became a Bush Bash early on, Mrs. Lilly turned to me with that 'deer caught in the headlights look', and stated emphatically, "He's a Democrat." The tone of voice was one of astounding discovery. Several people turned and stared, and I feared for my life, not from the pacifist audience, but from said blonde for bringing her to such a cheap leftist show. Somehow I like to think that perhaps The Blonde was not the only person who was surprised to discover Mr. Woodward's political leanings. As far as I know, even though Bob is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and best selling author, I doubt if he has a nice dog else he would have mentioned such and took a little off of the stigma of being an admitted Democrat. At least President Clinton had a dog although he didn't take very good care of Buddy.

Bob did say some good things that ring true with folks regardless of which political party they choose to disappoint them. He reminded us of a little statement made by President Nixon to his family and close associates on August 9, 1974 just prior to his official announcement of his resignation as President of The United States. President Nixon said:

"Always remember others may hate you, but those who hate you don't win unless you hate them and then you destroy yourself."

Regardless of your opinion about the Watergate era, history records that even on August 9th, President Nixon was on the way to some recovery, some inner cleansing, some semblance of redemption. He did make several little acknowledged achievements on the world stage. You will go along way and read much to come up with a better summation of the devastating power of hatred. I trust the Lord Jesus for grace to enable me to have the courage and common sense to follow the advice of Richard M. Nixon on this issue.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2005 Use with credit.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE