Striking on a seed of an idea for a column that connects current events with historical events is always a thrilling experience. It’s even more exciting when I realize that the anniversary of the past event aligns with my deadline. I see it as a sign from the universe that my journalistic instincts are on point.
Last week, as I delved into the federal indictment of former President Donald J. Trump, I stumbled upon a section that discussed a significant meeting in July 2021 between Trump and the ghostwriters working on Mark Meadows’ memoir, “The Chief’s Chief.” (By the way, Kirkus Reviews described it as a book tailored for ardent Trump supporters, so it’s not for everyone.)
During this meeting, Trump attempted to discredit Mark Milley, his former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and a vocal critic. To achieve this, Trump showed the ghostwriters classified battle plan documents outlining potential U.S.-Iran war scenarios. As we know, such documents are highly classified.
It was evident that even Trump recognized the sensitive nature of these documents. He referred to them as highly confidential and secret. In a flippant tone, he mentioned that as the president, he could have declassified them. This remark elicited laughter from his staffers.
Little did they know that this seemingly harmless exchange would later become a crucial piece of evidence against Trump. It’s been dubbed the “smoking gun” of the indictment. Interestingly, this term reminds me of a significant event from 51 years ago.
On June 23, 1972, a discussion between President Richard Nixon and his chief of staff, H.R. “Bob” Haldeman, centered around the FBI’s investigation into the Watergate break-in and its potential impact on Nixon’s re-election campaign and the White House. Haldeman suggested obstructing the investigation by instructing Acting FBI Director Patrick Gray to drop it, citing national security concerns with regards to the CIA. Fortunately, Gray didn’t comply, and the truth prevailed.
Comparing the two recordings, it’s striking how the Trump transcript makes Nixon’s conversation seem almost civilized. Nixon and Haldeman, despite their wrongdoing, seemed genuinely curious about uncovering the truth behind the Watergate scandal. They even acknowledged the foolishness of the burglars. In contrast, Trump’s transcript lacks any self-awareness of his misconduct. It’s akin to Nixon inviting multiple people into the Oval Office to witness his attempts to obstruct justice.
Although this strategy might not hold up in a courtroom, given the need for a fair understanding of federal law and evidence rules, its impact goes beyond that. The eventual release of the “smoking gun” tape in 1974 sealed Nixon’s fate. Similarly, the release of the Bedminster transcript has spurred media attention and loyalty among elected officials still devoted to Trump. His likely plan will be to portray himself as a victim of political persecution, counting on either winning the 2024 election or finding a Republican candidate willing to pardon him immediately, regardless of the trial outcome.
After all, President Gerald Ford pardoned Nixon, and even Haldeman, like Mark Meadows, went on to publish a ghostwritten memoir after serving time in prison.
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