The chairman and his job

Richard Nixon's remarks upon departing the White House are revealingly banal. Confronted by what he took to he shameless leers in his moment of humiliation, he responded by portraying himself as a romantic prince who remains steadfast in the face of personal adversity. To the extent the message was met with cold scrutiny it failed to evoke an image of heroism or a mood of tragic pity. It was instead heard as a fairy tale told by an undignified sulk. The princely allusions only reminded the listener of darker monarchical impulses and confirmed the propriety of victimizing the self‐proclaimed victim with stares.