Richard Nixon and Donald Trump have a certain common air about them that is hard not to notice.
Journalist Jan Martínez Ahrens says that the reissue of Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward’s book “All the President’s Men,” is a hymn of praise to journalism. It suggests parallels, but also differences, between the current U.S. president and Nixon.
Their stories cover the same ground, although Nixon (1913-1994) and Trump started in different places. Nixon, the Quaker lawyer, lived at the center of the world of politics from the time he was young. First he was a congressman, then a senator, then Dwight Eisenhower’s vice president for eight years. He lost a presidential contest to John F. Kennedy, but went on to win two others, against Hubert Humphrey and George McGovern. During the latter, the scandal that came to be known as Watergate had already started.
Trump is from another planet, to the point that some think he is crazy. He worships fame, money and power, but he had never run for office. Under Nixon, all the rot and decay of the political system were exposed; the politicians knew how to cover them up by means of impeachment proceedings. However, the rot and decay remain, and are an aggravation to many. Because of this, Trump, who ran as the anti-establishment candidate, was able to win in the last election. The Cold War is over, but the savage “War on Drugs” started by Nixon has been rebooted by Trump, in the frenetic digital world today that would have been incomprehensible in 1972.
Nevertheless, Nixon and Trump have a certain common air about them that is hard not to pick up on. Oliver Stone said that Trump and Nixon “resemble each other in their hatred of the press.” * But more than this, they resemble each other in the whisper of impeachment that is hovering over Washington, on the chance that the current president gets on the nerves of the establishment too much.
The Nixonian stench is there, and Trump has a special capacity for self-destruction. In only five months in office, he has managed to become one of the most unpopular presidents, with a disapproval rating outside the U.S. at record levels. Only 49 percent of foreigners polled by the Pew Center have a positive opinion of the U.S.; in 2015, during the Obama administration, it was 64 percent. And the negative opinion has increased from 26 to 39 percent.
In some countries, the decline in positive opinion is quite evident: in Germany, from 86 to 11 percent, in France, from 84 to 14 percent, in the United Kingdom, from 79 to 22 percent and in Spain, from 75 to 7 percent. Respondents found Trump arrogant (75 percent), intolerant (65 percent) and dangerous (62 percent). But the negative image of the president didn’t stain the favorable image foreigners had of people from the U.S. − 58 percent have a positive opinion. Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon are the only countries in which the majority of citizens expressed a negative opinion. U.S. neighbor Canada is not happy either. This is the first time since the Pew Center has been asking Canadians about their opinion of the United States that the positive rating has fallen below 50 percent. Only 43 percent of respondents have a favorable opinion.
Meanwhile, the economy would seem to be weakening. The International Monetary Fund predicts that the world’s largest economy will grow 2.1 percent in 2017, compared with an estimate at the start of the year of 2.3 percent, and far from the administration’s goal of 3 percent. Although the IMF is not all that reliable, perhaps they are right to retract their report from the beginning of the year, citing “significant uncertainties” about trade agreements, investments and immigrants.
*Editor’s note: Although accurately translated, the specific Oliver Stone quote could not be independently verified.
Trump, el heredero de Nixon
Richard Nixon y Donald Trump están unidos por un halo que difícilmente pasa desapercibido.
Cuenta Jan Martínez Ahrens, periodista, que la reedición en español del libro Todos los hombres del presidente de Carl Bernstein y Bob Woodward, sobre el escándalo Watergate, es un canto al periodismo que sugiere paralelismos, aunque también diferencias, entre el actual Presidente de EEUU y Nixon.
La historia transita por los mismos lugares, aunque Richard Nixon (1913-1994) y Donald Trump comienzan en lugares distintos. Richard, el abogado cuáquero, vivió desde joven en las entrañas de la política. Comenzó como congresista, luego senador, vicepresidente durante ocho años con Dwight Eisenhower, y perdió una contienda presidencial contra John F. Kennedy para luego ganarle otras dos a Hubert Humphrey y a George McGovern. La última, ya iniciado el escándalo conocido como Watergate.
Trump procede de otro planeta, al punto que algunos lo consideran lunático. Es un adorador de la fama, el dinero y el poder que jamás había enfrentado unas elecciones. Con Nixon quedó expuesta toda la podredumbre del aparato estatal, que los políticos supieron tapar con el impeachment; sin embargo todavía subsiste y enoja, y por ello Trump, quien representa el antisistema, logró vencer en las últimas elecciones. La Guerra Fría acabó, pero la tremebunda “guerra contra las drogas” iniciada por Nixon ha sido reflotada por Donald; en tanto que el mundo frenéticamente digital de hoy en día resulta incomprensible en 1972.
No obstante, Richard y Donald están unidos por un halo que difícilmente pasa desapercibido. Dice Oliver Stone que “Trump y Nixon se parecen en el odio que le tienen a la prensa”. Pero más que en eso se parecen en el olor a impeachment que sobrevuela Washington en caso de que el actual Mandatario enerve excesivamente al establishment.
El aroma nixoniano está presente y Trump tiene una especial capacidad de autodestrucción. En solo cinco meses de mandato ha conseguido ser uno de los presidentes más impopulares, con un rechazo récord en el exterior. Solo el 49% de los extranjeros encuestados por el Centro Pew tiene una opinión positiva de EEUU; cuando en 2015, con Obama, eran el 64%. Y la opinión negativa ha aumentado del 26% al 39%.
En algunos países la caída de la opinión positiva es bastante evidente: en Alemania, del 86% al 11%; en Francia, del 84% al 14%; en Reino Unido, del 79% al 22%; y en España, del 75% al 7%. Los encuestados definieron a Trump como arrogante (75%), intolerante (65%) y peligroso (62%). Pero la mala imagen del Presidente no ha teñido la imagen favorable que poseen los extranjeros de los estadounidenses: el 58% tiene una opinión positiva. Turquía, Jordania y Líbano son los únicos países encuestados donde la mayoría de sus ciudadanos expresa una opinión desfavorable. Ni el vecino Canadá está contento. Es la primera vez desde que el Pew Research Center les pregunta a los canadienses sobre su opinión de Estados Unidos que la valoración positiva cae por debajo del 50%. Solo el 43% de los encuestados tiene una percepción favorable.
Entretanto, la economía pareciera desmejorar. El FMI considera que la primera economía del mundo crecerá 2,1% en 2017, frente a un estimado del 2,3% presentado a principios de año, y lejos del objetivo del 3% del Gobierno. Aunque este organismo estatal internacional no es muy confiable, quizás tenga razón al retractar su informe de principios de año, debido a las “significativas incertidumbres” con respecto a acuerdos comerciales, inversiones e inmigrantes.
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