In April, 1970, Pres Nixon “fortified his nerves with viewings of the motion picture ‘Patton’ and cocktail cruises on the WH yacht Sequoia” w/his family, best friend Bebe Rebozo, and aides. [FN1] On 4/25, after dinner w/Rebozo & Henry Kissinger, they watched Patton, which 1/8

Nixon had seen 5 times. Kissinger later said “pressed to the wall, [Nixon's] romantic streak surfaced” & he saw himself as a beleaguered military commander in the tradition of Patton.” Next evening, Nixon authorized the incursion. [FN2] On 4/30/70, Nixon told 2/8

the nation. Protests took place nationwide, esp on university & college campuses of colleges & universities. At Kent State University, on Monday, 5/4/70, Ohio National Guardsmen opened fire on student protesters, killing four and wounding 9. Several days later police 3/8

opened fire at Jackson State University protests [FN3], but the shootings at that Historically College and University received far less press coverage. [FN3]
The day after Kent State, my first class in the morning was Advanced Biology. 4/8

I was a high sch freshman. Our teacher asked how many believed the college students got what they deserved. I think I was the only student whose hand was not raised. We were unaware of illegal bombings carried out in Cambodia. Nor did we foresee the killing fields 5/8

in Cambodia after the fall of its governments. Part of the resentment that fuels the maga far right is bitterness over the loss of U.S. prestige, akin to our “team” not kicking ass as it should. Listen to Billy Joel’s “Allentown” or Springsteen’s “The River.” 6/8

Vietnam and Cambodia had nothing to do w/”freedom and democracy.” In Vietnam it was our dictators against their dictators. In Cambodia we installed chaos after an invasion launched by martinis. And I approve of this blog. Hell, I wrote it. 7/8

Footnotes:
FN1. Farrell, John A.,”The Year Nixon Fell Apart,” Politico. 3/26/17, accessed 5/5/25.
FN2. Id.
FN3. Tipton, Aliyah C., “An Inside View of Jackson State’s May 1970 Shooting and Its Aftermath,” Kent State Today, 5/2/23, accessed 5/5/25. 8/8