As a rule, Republicans have spent the last half-century avoiding comparisons to Richard Nixon. That’s understandable: The late former president resigned in disgrace after having been caught up in a series of indefensible scandals. Few GOP officials and candidates have wanted to be associated with Nixon or his legacy.
Donald Trump, however, is quite comfortable with Nixon comparisons.
Last month, for example, the former president talked about his relationship with Nixon and his family, telling The Washington Examiner that Nixon’s “biggest regret” was stepping down during the Watergate impeachment crisis. “He should have fought,” Trump said.
The Republican added, “His biggest mistake was that he didn’t fight back when Barry Goldwater and a group of senators and congressmen came to him on that very dark and dreary evening in the White House and said, ‘Mr. President, you have no votes. You’ve got to resign immediately.’ He resigned. It was the regret of his life that he didn’t fight back — and very much unlike the man I knew.”
In other words, as Trump described it, Nixon was guilty; he knew he was guilty; his public support had collapsed; and Congress was poised to throw him out of office. Trump believes quitting was nevertheless the wrong call, and based on private conversations that may or may not have occurred, Trump would have the public believe that Nixon himself regretted his decision.
Last night, as The Hill reported, the former president went a little further.
Former President Trump on Sunday compared himself to former President Nixon, touting the support he has in Congress and within his own party as he weathered impeachment proceedings and now faces ongoing legal battles.
In an interview with Mark Levin, which aired on Fox News last night, Trump said, “I’ll never forget: When [impeachment] happened, we had such great support. Nixon had no support. You know, he just didn’t have support. He was very, very tough with people. I get…
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