Frost/Nixon Play

One of our community theaters just put on a production of Frost/Nixon.  President Richard Nixon had covered up a break-in of the Democratic National Party offices in Washington DC.  He faced impeachment for this cover-up and resigned the Presidency. 

David Frost was a British talk show host that later arranged an interview of Nixon where Nixon finally admitted to the cover-up.  The play was based on the interview and what happened off stage before, during and after the interview.

The play received some good reviews.  I played Colonel Jack Brennan, Nixon’s Chief of Staff.  The play was given without an intermission in order not to interrupt the flow.  There were refreshments after the show so the audience could interact with the performers.

The most common remark I heard from the audience was that people felt politicians before and after Nixon probably did a lot worse than Nixon and were never held accountable.  This does not speak well for the public image of our politicians.

I recognize that the break-in was probably a felony, but I almost consider it a political prank.  No one was hurt and nothing was stolen.  I pulled pranks that were a lot worse in high school.  Some were pretty funny.  I never thought I was committing a felony. 

The cover-up by Nixon was stupid, but probably fits the above-the-law mentality of many high level politicians.  I agree with the comments by the audience that a lot worse has happened by high-level politicians both before and after Nixon. 

A look at recent history shows the Fast & Furious incident and the Benghazi incident.  In both cases people died.  Americans died.  In both cases the people in charge were incompetent or worse.  The obvious cover-up continues and no one has been held accountable in either incident. 

What is wrong with our priorities?  Why don’t we hold our politicians and bureaucrats accountable?  We seem to have less and less respect for our politicians, but we don’t hold them accountable.  If we don’t get more involved, get the facts, and demand the media actually report the facts, maybe we deserve what we get.