One of the more profound transitions we’re seeing this week is the final, dramatic end to a political era that began with the election of President Richard Nixon.<\/p>\n
Nixon ushered in a cadre of political operatives — from Donald Rumsfeld and Alexander Haig to Pat Buchanan and Dick Cheney — who influenced American history long after his resignation.<\/p>\n
Ronald Reagan drew heavily on Nixon’s cabinet, as did the first and second Presidents Bush.<\/p>\n
Obviously, the Nixon-era lion who rose farthest and had the most influence was Dick Cheney. (Rumsfeld would be a close second.)<\/p>\n
When he goes, an era ends. <\/p>\n
Many observers have seen Dick Cheney’s controversial tenure as vice-president as a direct response to Watergate.<\/p>\n
He worked zealously to restore the power and latitude of the executive branch, lost in the wake of a Constitutional crisis he helped to create.<\/p>\n
Ironically, he also served two men who raise the most troubling doubts about the so-called “Imperial” presidency.<\/p>\n
Mr. Nixon because of his clearly established criminality; and Mr. Bush because his iron-clad convictions led America down so many disastrous paths. <\/p>\n
It turns out there was as reason why the Founding Fathers divided power among three branches of government and dispersed it further across a union of semi-autonomous states.<\/p>\n
The good news? Our system is strong enough that it has survived even Mr. Nixon’s long shadow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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