REMAKING THE DEAN’S LIST

We are currently amid impeachment hearings from the US House of Representatives over the alleged misconduct of Donald J. Trump, President of the United States. It brings back memories of the same occurrence for former president Richard M. Nixon and the Watergate hearings, only this time it is the Ukrainian hearings, as I like to call them. 

Way back in the early 1970s, the impossible had occurred, the President of the United States was under pressure for his obstruction of justice in the break-in of the DNC Watergate headquarters, all very illegal. The “Plumbers” no longer referred to just pipes.

At my office in Lawrence G. Chait & Co.

Nixon on the behest of his biggest supporters from the Republican sides of the aisles of Congress resigned when he saw it was indeed over and would be faced with removal from office. In those days the Republican Party was still a vital part of our governance and played a significant role in saving the nation from the agony of removing him through a lengthy trial. They were men of principle and honor, not like today.

During the height of the Watergate scandal, the Spiro Agnew crush, and the making of so many stars in Congress the Congressional probe about President Nixon peculiarly touched me. The national media was abuzz about the Watergate scandal, the constant reports and the all-day coverage of events as they unfolded during the hearings on TV. Every day was a new revelation, every day brought something new to the table to be made aware to the general public.

 

I won an award for my graphics at Lawrence G. Chait & Co.

The chairman of my company, Lawrence G. "Larry" Chait (June 27, 1917 – July 18, 1997) was an American advertising executive who was a pioneer in mail order and direct marketing. He was chairman of Lawrence G. Chait & Co., Inc, President of the Direct Marketing Club of New York, and his political activities landed him on the master list of Nixon political opponents, the enemies list, A.K.A. the Dean’s List. His company was a small but influential advertising agency in New York City and he was an influential man, coming from the field of journalism, working for a major media company at one time, and that influence ranged over to politics, and the attention of Richard Milhous Nixon. The Chairman was a somewhat wealthy man and made contributions to the Democratic Party. During this time of political infighting and the unhinging of the Presidency under Nixon, it was not a good thing to do as far as Republicans were concerned. My politics were of a conservative bent in those days, without affiliation to any party, and I still feel that way.

Arriving at my office one morning, I notice as I pass the desks of the support staff, little buttons on each desk. I don’t think much of it since there was always a promotional item hanging around for one client or another. When I got into my office, there on my desk was this same button. It was about 2 ½ inches across and had a hangman’s noose on it, Across the button in big letters was the words: “I"M ON THE DEAN’S LIST”!

Finding it on my desk gave me the creeps. Why? Because I knew what it meant, and I was guilty by association, and I didn’t like the whole idea for myself. I had a little kid at home and just married and didn’t want anything to do with this that might touch even so slightly on my wife’s reputation.

There seemed to be a certain pride among the office personnel how we were all on the “Dean’s List’. I was confused and wondered why. I hate politics, always have and hate politicians in particular, so this whole idea was abhorrent to me. Then I figured it out, my boss was on the Dean’s List, not the staff or anyone else! I was starting to get a little giddy; life away from Bellport, NY was getting complicated!