Political observations culled from the letters of my Great Uncle Archibald G. Ogden to his sister Athalia:
"God knows, the miners deserve a raise, but they have no right to bugger up the whole country. This is more than a strike for higher wages; it is an all out fight to topple the present government, inspired by the miners' just grievances, but pushed beyond limits by non-miner communist militants. As always, it will straighten itself out, and everyone, including the miners, will lose money in the process. I don't think the Government will fall. As a matter of fact, if the Tories remain as resolute as they are at the moment - as much as they are vilified by the articulate left, they will end up stronger than ever. I don't love 'em all that much, but they are so much better than the other choice that you can't help rooting for them. (Feb 16th, 1972)
"We were very lucky in regard to the recent senseless wave of strikes over here. Our gas never was shut off, or even lowered as far as I know - though we use as little as possible. The rail chaos was not part of our world, except that it added to London traffic problems, and it would take Betty 1/2 an hour longer to drive the 2 1/2 miles to her office and ditto coming home in the evening. Fortunately we didn't have to go to hospital either. I do hope that silly thing is settled before August. Both they and the gas men have my complete sympathy, except for the timing of their demands. The 'plate-men' (engineers to you) are complete bastards and universally disliked. They simply resent that they are no longer the railroading elite. With full automation they won't even exist. But they won't starve either. Even I don't want that to happen!" (March 26, 1973)
"Because of industrial action - news-speak for a bloody-minded strike - in the Post Office computer section, we received no telephone bills for 6 months. Our office bill came in last week for well over £300, and our home bill (2/3 chargeable to business came to over £150. If the sewerage people actually go on strike, I naturally hope all strikers' families catch the Plague. I'll just have to give up water for white wine - though I hate to shave in the stuff. Ah, well, I cheer myself by thinking that things can always get worse - and very probably will." (January 19, 1980)
On left and right on both sides of the Pond:
"Penny can't understand why I am so anti-left wing in England and anti-right wing in America...over here the lefties are such hypocritical, self-seeking bastards. They don't really want a better England - they just want power for themselves. Get rid of the ruthless Czar and put me in his place. In Russia it was just one group of a cruel and terrible oligarchy being replaced by a similar group, who were equally ruthless, if not more so, not as well educated and certainly not as colorful. I hold no brief for either of them. Over here there there are Tories who would really like to bring back a past that has gone forever, but there are others who are terribly patriotic and would like to see England take a commanding (not imperially, but morally) place in a modern world. They want to stay in power - sure - but mainly, I think, because they are convinced that they can preserve this country. I have the feeling that the other side merely wants to preserve itself in power - regardless of what happens to the rest of the country and, indeed, the world - more or less as I feel about Nixon. I have a secret hope that he and Mao may change places. It might be the salvation of both countries - at least of ours." (Feb 16th, 1972)
"As an Ayn-Rand enthusiast, I am amused at how the free-enterprise country has to come always to the rescue of its socialist friends (to which the latter, incidently, are violently opposed). Unfortunately the Tories do not have the brains (however misguided the latter seem to be) to run the country much better. The present boys must inevitably run themselves into the ground and whatever Tories are left will pick up the pieces - and, with vast resentment from Labour party, suddenly find that money is pouring in from all directions to help them. Ho-hum." (June 20, 1967)
"I fear that with the sudden reappearance of the Liberal Party, Labour will sweep to a landslide victory. Unfortunately the Liberal votes comes from disgruntled Tories rather than disgruntled Socialists. Last time Labour was so sure of victory that a lot of them didn't bother to vote. I'm morally certain that this will not happen again, and we shall have Mr. Wilson in power again. He is the only politician I can think of who is as devious as Tricky Dick - if not more so - though he doesn't feather his own nest to the extent that Nixon and LBJ have done. In both countries politicians seem to be held in as low esteem as the Mafia. It's a bad sign when votors have no respect whatsoever for the people they themselves put into office. This is the road to fascism, and I still have nightmares that in the name of 'Law and Order'', the Pentagon may decide that they must rule America - for our own good, of course. It's not so far fetched an idea as you might think." (September 1, 1973).
On Ted Kennedy:
"Like you, I'm a bit bored with Watergate - just as I never minded missing an episode of the continuing saga of Peyton Place - and I'm quite certain I shall not care for Nixon's successor any more than I care for him - that is if, as I fear, it turns out to be the last of the Kennedy line. I wouldn't want him assassinated but I hate the thought of the hero of Chappaquiddick being my President. It will be a good excuse to remain over here, if, indeed I should live so long..." (September 1, 1973)
"I wish my fellow Americans would stop shooting at Mr. Ford. I don't think too highly of him; but he seems the best of a poor lot. I fear the last of the Kennedys might be able to beat him - even with Chappaquiddick - but I continue to hope he won't run or be drafted. Even I would root against Teddy." (October 20, 1975)
"I'm amused by the number of American politicians - both potential contenders and others - who keep reiterating that if Kennedy runs, he will not once bring up the subject of Chappaquiddick. I believe there is one who has already said this 4 times. So Kennedy can rest assured that no one will bring up this distasteful subject. Even I wouldn't bring it up very often or mention his cheating at school. We all have our little peccadillos and must maintain our tolerant attitudes." (November 5, 1979)
"I didn't think I was going to take any interest at all in the upcoming Presidential elections; but Anderson seems to be getting more and more support - enough perhaps for him to become a "spoiler", if not a winner. The only other moment of interest will be at the Democratic Convention, seeing what kind of a stink Mr. Kennedy may raise. Wishing him the best of luck, I hope he falls flat on his ass - preferably breaking it in the process." (June 12, 1980)
"I read that there are car stickers about saying 'Johnson was right.' I must say for Ford that he reminds me of St. Peter, for 3 times he denied that he would pardon Nixon out of hand, and then, after a quiet word with God and not consulting anyone else more immediate to the case, he gave him absolution. I overheard in the American club yesterday, 'I think I'd rather have a crook than a c*nt", but I hasten to add that that last rude word is used over here to mean a complete fool, is used irrespective of sex and has little or nothing to do with the vagina. Because of your conservative, if backward leanings, I, somewhat against my will, tell an almost pro-Nixon story (which you have probably already heard). Anyway, a few days before the debacle he invited Journalists to join him for an evening on the Potomac. When the presidential yacht was anchored, he stepped out on the water and walked ashore, returning by the same route. Next day the headline in the Washington Post was NIXON CAN'T SWIM. I fear you have heard it, but it brought a laugh to some of my ultra-conservative friends over here, who never thought I could bring myself to say a good word for the S.O.B. They were almost right. I have thought for some years that he should be in jail - with 70 typewriters, 45 assistants and an around-the-clock Secret Service guard to see that he didn't escape)." (Sept 27, 1974)
On Jimmy Carter:
"You know how much I appreciate the NEW YORK REVIEW, which I read each fortnight from cover to cover. If it keeps me as well informed on Carter as it did on Nixon I shall be happy indeed. I imagine I'm with the majority when I say of the peanut farmer that I have high hopes, but no great expectations. My friend Arthur Tourtellot, who has talked to him on two occasions, says he will not be a great innovator and is fundamentally conservative. I don't think Dad would have approved of a teetotaler, psalm-singing Baptist in the White House - with a Methodist V.P., no less - though I highly approve of the latter (but not for reasons of religion, I might add). I only hope they both survive. No one seems to shoot politicians over here - pity." (January 10, 1977)
"The reservations I have always maintained in regard to our man in the White House are, I fear, all too sadly justified, and his flying trip to Europe hasn't reduced them. He'd better stay home and get some of his 'Cracker' cronies to teach him how to handle his democratic Majorities in the House and Senate. So far, he seems about as effective as Eisenhower, though not quite so likeable." (January 14th, 1978)
On Reagan and Thatcher:
"We somewhat reluctantly go along with you as regards Reagan. I keep my fingers crossed in hopes of him surrounding himself with capable advisors and of his taking their advice. I'm not worried about his age. After all, he's almost two years younger than I am! And if he doesn't last the course, his V.P. (unlike Nixon's original choice for one) is as sensible and skilled as anyone else around. I worry more about this country than I do about my own - though I think Maggie is on the right track and may beat inflation and depression. If she doesn't and that other lot gets in, with their newly acquired extreme left-wing tendencies, I shall be heading home without waiting for an urn to carry me. But, if she succeeds, it will be a long time before the left-wing Socialists take over and ruin the country. Their wild nationalization of industry having brought the economy to its knees, their only proposed remedy is further nationalization!" (November 13, 1980)
"I wish this country didn't go in for monopolies. Maggie threatens to allow Free Enterprise into postal deliveries, if their prices rise any higher. The Post office is the only monopoly in America, and it's the only big business that is regularly and consistently inefficient. Ho-double-hum. I guess this is a good year to become so conservative. Hope Reagan continues as he has started- and that he does not make Sinatra Ambassador to Italy. Otherwise he seems to be like Billy Carter - never puts a foot wrong." (November 22, 1980)
On Presidential Politics:
"Having waited twenty years for the right to vote in a Presidential election (and I have always been a great believer in exercising one's franchise) I couldn't bring myself to vote for either Ford or Carter. I fear it will be the same in 1980. I just can't vote for Kennedy. I think he's the smartest politician around, but, not for that reason, the least trustworthy. You and Esther might bring yourselves to vote for Conally, but I cannot believe that either of you - or anyone else in his right mind - could vote for Reagan. It's a stomach-turner either way. Well, cheer up - your old friend Nixon might run again - one more person for whom I wouldn't vote, even with a gun to my head. What has happened to the great politicians - in both countries?" (October 23, 1979)
"I am the first to admit that there are some crimes in the book that Nixon failed to commit, but I'm sure it was an oversight on his part...Actually, I carry no flag for the honesty of LBJ. he and his wife made a fortune as a result of his becoming president. The first Kennedy did nothing in his short time in office to make himself go down in history (as I thought that little bantam cock, Truman, did), but he suddenly brought a little color into Pennsylvannia Avenue, which was certainly absent under the Jack Nicklaus of the White House putting green." (Oct 22, 1975)
On being an Expat:
"I still feel that I would never want to be anything else but an American, but except for complete rustication on a farm in Virginia, I don't think I could really be happy anywhere else in the world than London. Of course, that isn't absolutely true: I could be happy anywhere with someone like Betty, but I do love the life here, and would like to hope that with her business and my writing (other than 95 cent paperbacks) we might eventually earn enough to justify a one month visit to America every two years. We miss you all, but at the moment prefer that you visit us!" (June 20, 1967)
Yes, stop the killing, just stop it!
Posted by: Web Sutera | April 23, 2007 at 11:26 AM