Pulitzer Prize winner and former New York Times columnist Russell Baker, known for his trademark satirical wit and strong political opinions, entertained a full house at Moore Theatre Wednesday night as he reflected on his experiences in Washington journalism.
In a speech titled "The Decline and Fall of Politics and Practically Everything Else," the "Masterpiece Theatre" host humorously recalled his interactions with U.S. presidents. He also shared his opinions on the upcoming election and the state of present political parties.
"Journalism itself is an essential component of politics in any democratic system," Baker said. Admittedly "not a Bush fan," Baker dismissed the idea of objective journalism, instead suggesting that journalists let their readers know who they are and what biases they hold.
Upon arriving in Washington in 1954, Baker said he was surprised to see the personal side of presidents, who had never been more than "cardboard cutouts" to him. Baker shared these insights with the audience, recalling Dwight D. Eisenhower as a charming man with an irresistible smile and the rare understanding of the American military's true power. According to Baker, Lyndon B. Johnson could make self-deprecating jokes but had remarkably thin skin and could not withstand outside criticism.
"Johnson was paradise if you were doing satire, because all you had to do was describe what he was doing lately," Baker said.
In contrast, Richard Nixon was a character who needed to be put back in the Dostoyevsky novel from which he had escaped and was singularly unsuited for the type of life he had chosen, Baker said.
"Americans have never had much use for well educated politicians," Baker said, reflecting on the presidents who have populated his writings. "Wilson was the last president famous for being educated, and it's doubtful there'll be another one."
Baker contrasted the "multi-billion dollar marketing campaigns" of modern presidential elections with the complacency in the "golden age" of Eisenhower.
Then, Democrats controlled Congress but had nothing to change in America in their presidential campaigns, he said. Reflecting on the presidency, Baker viewed the progression of presidents as a downhill journey.
Nor was Baker silent on the upcoming election and the present organization of the Democratic and Republican parties. The upcoming vote, he said, is the most important election in a generation and truly one based on ideologies.
"The oldest political party is remaking itself entirely... it's not too much to say the Republican Party has been born again," Baker said. He depicted current Republicans as intensely passionate about their political ideologies while describing Democrats as politicians who don't stand for much of anything except getting elected.
In Baker's eyes, the Democratic party has withered away slightly and moved to the right of old moderate Republicans. He predicted old Southern Democrats will vote for Bush, but in the event that Bush is reelected, he saw only a repeat of Vietnam.