When someone accuses you of hiding something, you don't go shoving more skeletons into the closet. Nixon maybe gets a little overzealous here, opening up his life to public examination to a degree that was unheard of back in the wasteland years before Jerry Springer. It shows how desperate Nixon was that he decided to do it, even if it was embarrassing to his wife to have her family finances revealed to the whole world on national television.
The whole message of the speech is that he's got nothing to hide. Pretty ironic for a guy who was known for being suspicious and secretive through most of his career, and who later pulled off the biggest cover-up in the history of the Presidency.
Questions About Transparency
- Why was the opening of his financial record such a powerful move on Nixon's part?
- Why, in an era when wealth and status were so closely linked, were the Nixons seen as heroes after unveiling their financial situation?
- Do you think any contemporary politicians would ever make a move as drastic as this?
- Do you think candidates' finances should be an open record?
Chew on This
Nixon's Hail Mary attempt at saving his career was a hugely risky move.
In a political climate of back room deals and rampant corruption, the Checkers Speech was a breath of fresh air.