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Washington, D.C, August 9, 1974
ALL
MORNING
the signs of a histo-
1""\..
ric change were in the air,
sensed by the crowds that
gathered in front of the White
House to see Mr. Nixon and his
family leave the nation's capital.
The emotions in the throngs of
people ranged from sadness to a
sense of relief, and in sorne cases,
open ela tion at the resignation of
the 37th Presiden! of the United
States. While some wept, others
cheered.
Even the hardened press corps
were atfected by the historie events.
1
asked one well-seasoned corre–
spondent what his thoughts were of
the past few days. His only reaction
was,
"Alll
can say is we are living in
very unique times."
The reaction on Capital Hill to
America's recent presidential crisis
was summarized by Senator Hugh
Scott: "This country has been on the
verge of a nervous breakdown long
enough."
"Reprieve" for America?
The vast majority of members of
the House of Represen tati ves voiced
a heartfelt, genuine welcome for the
incoming Pres ident , Gerald R.
Ford.
lt
was like a "breath of fresh
air," as one observer commeoted.
He continued:
"lt
seems like Amer–
ica has been given a reprieve."
In his acceptance speech, Mr.
Ford seemed to se t the moral
groundwork of his administration:
"My fellow Americans, our long na–
tional nightmare is over. Our Con–
stitution works. Our great republic
is a government of laws, and not of
men. Here the people rule.
"But there is a higher power, by
whatever name we honor him, who
ordains not only righteousness but
!ove, nol only justice but merey."
In conclusion, Mr. Ford called
upon all Americans to pray for him.
He affirmed that "God helping me,
1
will not Jet you down."
Political Earthquakes
Worldwide
In my three years in Washington,
have seen severa! world leaders
EEDED:
NATIONAL
CHANGE
by
Dexter H. Faulkner
cometo this capital to converse with
President Nixon, only lo return
borne and be overthrown or face
interna! political turmoil.
We in America are unique only in
the fact that this is our very tirst time
lo experience an unprecedented
change in power. The fact
is,
politi–
cal upheava ls a nd overturns of gov–
ernment are not uncommon on the
world scene today. At least two
dozen nations have undergone po–
litical earthquakes in the last 24
months.
Has the political and social struc–
ture of the United States been wea–
kened - or st rengthened, as many
assert - now that Watergate is
"past"? The "spirit of America" is
now moving forward again, it is said
by sorne. Our democratic system
and our way of life works and has
purged us. We are whole and right
again.
But are we really? Has the system
purged us as a society? Will the re–
moval of one man, however guilty,
and the inauguration of another
solve all our national problems? Or,
pul it another way. did we make a
scapegoat of Richard Nixon by as–
signing all our sins to him, by mak–
ing him stand tria! as our leader for
the wrongs of the nation as well as
his own?
1
think there is something to be
said for this latter view. As I Iook
around Washington and listen to
people, 1 hear very few wiUing to
accept any personal responsibility
for whatever plight this country
finds itself in. Men who publicly
decry tawlessness trot home and file
crooked income lax forms. They lie
and cheat each other publicly and
in
prívate. Those hurling accusations
often find themselves in a few
months being the accused. Police–
men,judges, cabinet members anda
vice-president of the United States
have been ensnared by their own
misconduct.
The list of examples could be
endless; the point is simple: the
character of a nation is the sum of
its parts.
Watergate: Symptomatic
of National lllness
The Watergate affair, rather than
making us gleeful ove r Nixon's
ouster or giving us a "sense of re–
lief," should, in fact , make us in–
trospective of our own lives. When
was the last time
l
told the easy lie
instead of the hard truth? Morality
is no respecter of persons - wrong is
wrong. This nation is beset with
many scandals - not just one. Cor–
ruption threatens to become a way
of life - for many, it already is.
Unless and until we as individuals
and as a nation turn to the straight
and narrow paths of truth, justice
and merey, we have not seen our
last Watergate. The nation as a
whole must change.
Will we as a people be so foolish
as to overlook the words of lsaiah
the prophet: "Ah sinful nation, a
people laden with iniquity.. .. From
the sole of the foot even unto the
head there is no soundness in it; but
wounds, and bruises, and putrifying
sores" (lsaiah
1
:4, 6).
And again the very God to which
our new Presiden! has asked us to
pray says through lsaiah. "None
calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth
for tru th: they trust in vanity, and
speak líes; they conceive mischief,
and bring forth iniquity... . The
way of peace they know not; and
there is no judgment in their goings:
they have made them crooked
paths; whosoever goeth therein shall
not know peace" (Isaiah 59:4, 8).
The solution lo our national prob–
lems is not the condemnation or
remova l of one man, but the con–
fession and repentance of our na–
tional sins.
o