Featured photo by The Nixon Library

Another Nixon era anniversary is here. Events usually accompanied by recollections of the dark moments of the 37th president’s life. But this one offers a life changing lesson.

Forty-eight years ago, the Nixon presidency collapsed under the weight of Watergate. A collection of criminal allegations tagged with the name of a building complex made famous by a bungled politically motivated burglary. By early August 1974 the House Judiciary Committee approved three articles of impeachment, Congressional Republican leadership retreated from their support, and a White House recording system intended to preserve Nixon’s accomplishments, instead memorialized his weaknesses and missteps.

On the night of August 8, 1974, the president announced in a live televised address he would resign the presidency at noon the following day, leaving Vice President Ford to succeed him. The soon-to-be former president said he was putting the interests of the nation ahead of his own, acknowledged some of his judgements were wrong without admitting to specifics, claimed no bitterness toward those who did not support him, thanked those who did, and in an effort to leave with his head held high, recounted some accomplishments. Considering the circumstances, it was a gracious exit. 

The following morning members of the cabinet and the White House staff gathered in the East Room to hear from their boss one final time. This speech was also televised. He bid them au revior, saying they would meet again, praised them for their good work, and expressed his gratitude. He also said defeat is not the end, but just a low point before another beginning. Hinting he would someday attempt a return to the public stage.   

Toward the end of his remarks, he offered this advice: 

 “Always give your best, never get discouraged, never be petty; always remember, others may hate you, but those who hate you don't win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself.”

He could have prefaced this with “and don’t do what I did.” His own pettiness and a need to not only defeat his enemies but destroy them, had in turn destroyed him. 

“Enemy” and “hatred” are strong words. But cutthroat rivalries exist. Competition for power, promotions, or recognition in the workplace, and nasty family confrontations. Nixon was right. When you are consumed with not just overcoming a problem but also the need to retaliate and eviscerate the opposition, you lose perspective, and put yourself in danger of doing and saying things you may regret. The dark clouds of unchecked emotions can obscure your view of the oncoming train about to derail your career or may not clear in time for you to see that you’ve traveled well past the point of no return in a relationship.

Not everyone develops enemies. Opposition and dislike exist in less threatening forms. The everyday tug of war exchanges common at work. Different opinions and viewpoints, the rub of personalities, and the clash of cultures. Personal relationships are littered with the potholes of misguided and misinterpreted comments, perceived slights, and the frustrations born of familiarity. Yet Nixon’s advice still holds. Attack the problem - the miscommunication, misunderstanding, or the misperception. Not the person or persons.

Nixon surrendered and retreated for a brief time, but he did eventually re-enter the public stage. He wrote books, gave speeches, did interviews, traveled the world, and when asked, offered advice to some of the presidents who followed him. But nothing he did erased the stain of Watergate. The anniversaries of his accomplishments are overshadowed by those of his darkest days.

In his East Room remarks Nixon also said, “only if you've been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain.” On the anniversary of his resignation, instead of remembering his deepest valley, it would be more fitting to reflect on the advice that can propel us to the highest mountain.

“Always give your best, never get discouraged, never be petty; always remember, others may hate you, but those who hate you don't win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself.”