Here we go again with John Nova Lomax’s essays on new nicknames for our Presidents.
For reasons unknown to me he stopped writing these with President Clinton so I have divided the last seven into two parts and will wrap up these essays in May.
If you have not read these fear not as I plan to re-run them later and at that time add in the composite rating of each according to the three major Presidential ratings as compiled by C-Span, the American Political Science Association the Siena College ratings which they have published for decades are the three most recent so I will compile rating from each to arrive at a consensus figure for that upcoming essay.
36. Lyndon the Disillusioned (1963-1969)
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The old saw “Be careful what you want because you just might get it”, came to be Lyndon’s epitaph. Crazed by powerlust and gifted with perhaps the craftiest political mind of his generation, Johnson labored a lifetime to attain the White House only to resign after his first full term. Had there not been the small matter of Vietnam (or had the War been won), Johnson would probably have sailed serenely into history as a demi-Franklin Augustus, a somewhat dictatorial President of no mean domestic accomplishments, examples being the Civil Rights and Clean Air Acts.
JL3 – Examples being the Civil Rights Act and the Clean Air Act
But there was that small matter of Vietnam.
37. Richard the Foul-Mouthed (1969-1974)
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What comes across on all of Nixon’s tapes is his boyish cussing, it is the cussing of the 11 year-old at summer camp, the poo-mouthed bluster of a childish but dangerous man. His swearing shows off, it boasts, it is the consummate smoke screen of the boy among men, and it was the cornerstone of the transparent Nixon machismo.
38. Gerald the Oafish (1974-1977)
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Unfairly remembered as the prat-falling dolt, portrayed by Chevy Chase, Ford was actually probably the most athletic President to date as well as one of the least consequential.