The Undergraduate Chair
Despite the lack of massive demonstrations to vocalize their feelings, Dartmouth students do have definite views regarding the current state of the nation's politics. The state of their feelings may in fact be the reason for the lack of popular youthful outcry, or vice versa. Decide for yourself.
"I'd never enter politics, it's too much of a dirty business, it's just corrupt," says Pacca Currea '77. "Nixon is obvious he's just as corrupt as the rest - but he has just known how to keep it quiet until now. He's an intelligent politician.
"He has brought us peace abroad, and at home, and it will eventually get better, but then how many people are going to wait for 'eventually'. "
Corruption and scandal in America have come in phases, according to the Dublin, N.H. coed. "Watergate has blown it up, made the scandal visible. After all the reports are written and the actions are taken, there will be a period of little perceived corruption, and then it will pick up again. You learn, but you can't help falling into it. It's more crucial now because so many at the top are involved."
"If Nixon were impeached, the next guy could be better ... or worse." Currea thinks the President probably could be convicted, although "Congress with all its rules and aversion to drastic action would need absolute proof positive."
Why Watergate? Currea feels partially because the perpetrators believed they would not be caught, and partially to keep Nixon in office. "Even then it wasn't all for the good of the country because Nixon's being in and staying in office was an advantage to them. The actions weren't really necessary, he would have won anyway . . . and to think Nixon's been doing this sort of thing his whole career. But he's been down and out once, and he must have been thinking, I've got to have every little bit I can get, because I'll need it to get elected'. "
"This system doesn't work," says Currea, "but I don't know what does. Maybe there isn't a solution. I guess there can't be because nothing is perfect. I don't know if I'm pessimistic . . . life would be dull in a perfect world.
"The students? They get upset, and make noise, and then quiet down, just like they've done for everything else."
"I've considered going into politics," says Tom Berdeja '74, president of the senior class, "but partially because of summer reading on constitutional law, and partially because of Watergate, I'd modify that desire to one of being some sort of public servant, like a judge.
"I'm an inveterate optimist. Like Howard Baker said, Watergate may lead to revivification of spirit that may in itself be good, and it may also bring about the election of men more qualified to political office. That's a hope though, and not a prediction. Participation, too, is likely to increase; a greater percentage of people are likely to vote next time. I would hope this sort of thing is not a cycle, that changes will result from Watergate that will make a difference for a while at least."
As for students, Berdeja believes that "we tend to be the most idealistic, so we are probably the most pessimistic right now about the state of the nation. Yet the resiliency of students has always been great. We will bounce back more concerned, and ready for more meaningful participation. Students will be the ones first to rectify what has been a bad situation. More than in any other way, this bouncing back will not mean rallies and chanting, but more people living their lives in accord with general rules of propriety, and with greater personal resolve."
"Watergate," says Berdeja," has a more sensationalistic nature to it than did Vietnam." He attributes its occurrence to the vast increase in executive power, especially in foreign affairs. "It's carried over into the domestic realm; Nixon has arrogated to himself powers never considered by any other President, including fund impoundment, executive privilege, etc. At the same time, Congress seems to have accepted these moves."
"Now," says the senior from Memphis, "the violations of the law have become flagrant and numerous, and the people and Congress are finally starting to do something about it.
"Impeachment now, however, would be disastrous for the country. The ordered sense of destiny of the people could be shattered. Resignation would be best. Nixon's ability to govern has been too severely impaired. I voted for him, and have tried to give him every break; regardless of his direct involvement in Watergate, he's gone too far. I have a great respect for the law. and like Cox, I raise the question of whether the President is equal to the law or subject to it. The Constitution clearly intends the latter. Ideally, too, national figures set examples for people all the way down to the average man in the street."
"No one can be naive enough to believe that nobody ever before has done this sort of thing," asserts Chuck Kaufmann '73. "The others have just never been caught before. I and a lot of others blame Nixon for failing to recognize a change in attitude of the people. Years ago, these actions just didn't create the furor they have now."
Says Kaufmann: "There has been more publicity now and more time has been spent thinking that politicians shouldn't do this sort of thing. The media - and I give credit - have provided a good demonstration of the scandal. Indeed, Nixon's and Agnew's attempts to discredit the media have backfired because the media's side has usually been closer to the truth than has the administration version.
"The future? Given interest group politics and the cost of campaigning today, big sums of money will be crucial to politics. In addition, the good people still don't see politics as being worth entering. By default, interested but less able people go into politics then.
"The Nixon people did what they did for themselves and not for the country. But it the rules get toughened, people will get around them . . . it's part of the game. The people of the country just don't put anything into politics, or expect much of it. they are now getting what they have put into it.
"The country is not going down though. We'll survive this aberration by the strength of the people and our system."
WANTED Old photographs of Dartmouth dormitory rooms for use in an Alumni Magazine article on dormitory life "then and now. " After use. the photographs will be transferred to the College Archives or returned to the owner. as requested. Send to Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, Crosby Hall, Hanover, N.H 03755.
