Richard Nixon was a smart man

Former speechwriter, the very estimable William Safire reveals conversations with his former boss. Here's a gem that captures Nixonian genius.

On the domestic Clinton: "I told him [ a year ago ] I gave him credit for a bold program. A leader tells people not where they want to go, but where they ought to go. That's from Burke. Clinton reminded me that with wage and price controls, I did something bold. Yeah, but it was a mistake." Nixon reminded me: "You wrote that speech, don't forget.

To paraphrase Archie Bunker, "We could use a little Nixon again!"