Party Like It's 1974

Happy Fortieth Resignation Day

Nixonland

August 8, 2014

Let me make one thing perfectly clear. It was August 8, 1974. Forty years ago today while I was enjoying a Bonnie Raitt concert on a balmy summer’s eve, something historic and wonderful happened. Bonnie stopped the show to announce that war criminal, Jew-hater, King Lear wannabe and 37th president of the United States, Richard M. Nixon had just announced that as of the next day he would be resigning his office. Then she sang Auld Lang Syne. 

"I have never been a quitter," said Nixon. "To leave office before my term is completed is opposed to every instinct in my body…Therefore, I shall resign the Presidency effective at noon tomorrow. Vice President Ford will be sworn in as President at that hour in this office." Gerald Ford, Nixon’s hand-picked pardoner successor took the oaf of office on August 9, 1974 capping off America’s only two-day national holiday. I still remember it well, to the best of my recollection. There was great merriment, singing and dancing and all kinds of things right there on the Group W Bench, I mean the streets of America.  

Nixon, who came to prominence as a member of the House Un-American Activities Committee, where he accused State Department official Alger Hiss of being a Soviet spy, exited prominence just ahead of impeachment proceedings. The cover-up of the Nixon re-election committee’s bungled break-in at the Democratic National Committee’s headquarters in Washington, DC had indeed become a cancer on the presidency. This was Nixon’s Watergate...I mean Waterloo.

To his credit, hardly anyone believes Nixon was involved in either of the Kennedy assassinations, even though without these two murders Nixon never would have been president. And, in all fairness, to this day nobody thinks he was actually on the Grassy Knoll at Dealey Plaza in November 1963.

And so I offer you this special phrase, to kids from one to ninety-two; and though it's been said, many times, many ways - Happy Resignation Day, Happy Resignation Day, Happy Resignation Dayyyy to you.

Wishing you and yours all the best during this brief, fun-filled anniversary celebration of finally-not-having-Dick-Nixon-to-kick-around-anymore, Paying Attention presents this timeless American classic IN TECHNICOLOR.

Ed Venture

Managing Editor

In 2006 I stumbled across a bit of this very old, well-know verse that I thought would be fun to share with everyone at this special time of year.  It’s an age-old seasonal ditty and this being the eve of my favorite American holiday and all.  I’m not sure I remembered all of the words correctly but I’ve rendered them to the best of my recollection, and I may have been overzealous and inadvertently added a few verses that didn’t exist at all.  But, it’s full of holiday magic and joy – a favorite of children and adults throughout the ages, so read it to your children and grandchildren and keep this patriotic American tradition alive.  Now without further ado, in honor of August 8-9, 1974, a moment in history, which our Founders would surely have savoured, I bring you…

Twas the night before Resignation

Twas the night before Resignation, when all through the house
Richard Nixon was cornered, like a trapped diseased mouse.
His burglars had screwed it tho they burgled with care,
His cover-up in ruins, soon the end would be there.

The Congress were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of impeachment danced in their heads.
Sam Irvin with his gavel, exposed all the crap,
And roused our democracy from a long winter’s nap.

So all o’er the land there arose such a clatter,
Even the public could see what was the matter.
And there it was every day on TV like a flash,
Then everyone knew the president was trash.

It was hard to imagine this crook being regal
Tho he said, “If the president does it then it is not illegal.”
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But his lies all exposed and the end of his career.

A great day for democracy, it happened so quick,
What could be worse than that horrid old Dick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And all those were sentenced and each one by name!

"Now Haldeman! now, Erlichman! now, Mitchell and Dean!
On, Colson! On, Liddy!, oh my what a scene!
They all came a tumbling from the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

‘Tis the eve of impeachment –Oh please just once more
So much fun to be had, who knows what’s in store,
This appointed dry-drunk liar with his head up his butt.
Must be ripped from the Peoples’ House and his prison door shut.

Yes we did it one time not so long ago
Said it couldn’t be done, well how could we know.
Who knows what can happen when clear thinking rules,
Maybe we can get rid of this new batch of fools.

It’s that time of the season, to excise George the king,
The land of the free and that sort of thing.
And I say to you all, Power To The People, Out Of Sight,
More Impeachment to all, and to all a good-night!

Thanks Ed, that was a treat as always. I hope you don’t mind if I add a verse or two for today’s holiday season…

Once more it’s that season, now Obama’s the one
New Impeachers are restless, and each has a gun.
They are angry and senseless, and each one is White

No need for good reason, they just want to fight.

So let’s watch in amusement, as they trip o’er their tongues

As they sputter and spew and expel from their lungs,

All the hot air and spittle, all the BS and blight,
Keep it up silly Crackers, and to all a good-night!

One more thing before we sign off - this classic from the late, great Gil Scott-Heron

I. Mangrey reporting.

Thanks for listening. I am not a crook.