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Donald Trump channels Richard Nixon’s paranoia, lies and cover-ups

President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with the Fraternal Order of Police, Tuesday, March 28, 2017, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington.
President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with the Fraternal Order of Police, Tuesday, March 28, 2017, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. Evan Vucci AP

The new administration seems to be channeling the bad parts of the Nixon administration, right down to its labeling the free press the “enemy of the people,” and the press secretary referring to “professionals” disrupting Republican town halls.

Does anyone remember the constant cries about “outside agitators,” or Spiro Agnew’s “nattering nabobs of negativism?” Nixon’s paranoia? The willingness to commit break-ins and burglaries? The lies and the cover-ups? The enemies list? The unwillingness to accept real reality, not just the TV kind?

Arlie Grant, Arroyo Grande

This story was originally published March 28, 2017 at 8:38 PM with the headline "Donald Trump channels Richard Nixon’s paranoia, lies and cover-ups."

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