Several hours ago I happened upon C-Span's broadcast of the 35th anniversary of the Watergate break in. I was struck by Krogh's phrase "Reposing special trust in your integrity".
Nixon's lack of ethics and Watergate, multiplied by ten leads to Reagan and Iran-Contra, which multiplied by ten leads to Bush and Abu-Graib.
Now join me below the break for an interesting journey among the lesser characters of a forgotten era.
John Dean and the usual suspects were there. I listened intently for a while, and caught the first bit of Egil "Bud" Krogh's comments. Having lived through that time, I bid the program adieu, and went to gather signatures for my precinct committtee person's nominating petition, and then to get a delightful greek salad (take away).
I returned home, wasted a bit of time, and eventually turned on the telly.
And what to my wondering eyes to behold, but John Dean and Egil Krogh holding forth once again on what went so wondrously wrong.
So I munched away, sipped some zinfandel, and listened while "Bud" Krogh explained his meeting with Nixon, Halderman, Hoover, another official and himself discussing the suggestion that killing a police officer should be made a federal offense. Nixon said it was a good idea, Halderman agreed and asked Edgar. Hoover agreed with Halderman, and so on down the chain to Krogh, who agreed with all the others. Krogh did not want to break the comaraderie established, and thus chose not to mention his own prior research that 90% of all police killings were resolved by local officials within 24 hours, and thus there would be no need for the FBI or any other federal agency to intervene on the local turf.
Krogh went on to explain that it was only later in life, having plead guilty, served his time in prison, and returned to public life that he re-read his plaque of commission as a member of the Nixon administration.
There, at the very beginning of his commission, was the phrase "Reposing special trust in your integrity..." which went on to express the specific commission for the appointee.
There lies the crux of the evil we face today. No lawyer in the Reagan or Bush administrations, including John Ashcroft, Alberto Gonzales and Michael Mukasey have a clue as to the meaning of the phrase "Reposing special trust in your integrity...".
For Krogh's most recent discussion of his issues, see Spirituality.com
See also Bud Krogh