Teapot Dome, packing the court, Tonkin Gulf, Watergate, Iran Contra, Whitewater, Monica Lewinsky. These were all scandals in the 20th century that defined some of the presidencies during that era.
In the case of Teapot Dome, President Harding died before the full weight of the scandal hit. FDR realized his error and abandoned his goal of packing the Supreme Court with people more similar to his ideological beliefs. President Johnson deceived the Congress in granting him virtually absolute power to fight in Vietnam.
Watergate was a word that not only revealed that President Nixon covered up a third rate burglary, but exposed all the nefarious activity members of his administration committed, certainly with his knowledge but also, in many circumstances, with his consent. And because he seriously broke the trust of the American people, he was forced to resign his office.
The purpose of Iran Contra was to trade arms for seven American prisoners. While the trading of arms was prohibited by the Congress, speculation that President Reagan knew all the details has been disputed. In November, 1986, he took to the airwaves, assumed responsibility for his senior administration officials' zeal and stupidity, and asked for forgiveness. We did and he was able to successfully complete his term. He passed into history as one of the top Presidents this country had.
A special prosecutor was appointed to investigate President Clinton's involvement with an Arkansas savings and loan's joint venture activity with the purchase and development of the area around the Whitewater region of that state. While the investigation revealed that neither the President nor Hillary Clinton did anything wrong, other questionable, personal problems did arise.
Mr Clinton initially claimed that he had not done anything improper with an intern and said so to a grand jury anc inca statement to the American people, he took stock of what he had done to his presidency and decided to tell the truth. But by the time he did, the House of Representatives drew up articles of impeachment due to his commission of perjury. This matter went to the Senate, which via an overwhelming bipartisan vote, found him not guilty. He too, was able to successfully complete his term of office. He is held in higher regard now by members of both parties, than he ever was as president.
Which brings us to President Obama. Presently, he is embroiled in several issues, any one of which could topple his Presidency, or at a minimum, make his remaining years a failure. He is a prideful man, who has issues admitting wrongdoing or apologizing, and prefers to blame others for his mistakes.
But as Reagan and Clinton have shown, if you apologize, the people may be annoyed with you, but will forgive you. To his detriment, Nixon did not, and was forced in the end to resign.
Which option will Mr Obama choose? In the end, it is his choice to make and the decision he makes will determine the outcome of his presidency. If he wants to have a successful legacy, he must realize his time remaining to apologize is growing short. Does he think by not apologizing, his fate will be different than Nixon's?
Only his pride knows for sure.
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