#rubaeo

Question 1 was already answered but I’ll do the rest:

5. What is the most ridiculous statement on them you have ever read?

Oppenheimer: I’m not sure? Nothing particularly wacky or controversial is coming to mind? 

Nixon: Probably the whole claim that Nixon was the last “liberal” or “liberal Republican” (???? ? ? ?!?! wtf the fuck??) president, I really…don’t buy that.

10. What is your favourite quote by / about them?

Oppenheimer: “There is no place for dogma in science.” Runner up would be “Damn it, I happen to love this country.”

Nixon: He said a lot of stuff I very strongly disagree with, but that line from the speech he gave to his White House staff just before he resigned, “Others may hate you, but those who hate you don’t win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself,” really got to me? If you watch the speech, his voice wavers a little bit when he says that part and it’s just?? ? a weirdly reflective line and I feel like in that moment it all really sort of hit him.

11. What is your favourite portrayal of them in fiction (e.g. movies, novels etc.)?

I don’t really have one for either of them, because, um, I’ve never really read/watched any fictitious things involving them, though I know such things exist. Like, (and this is really funny to me), this one guy actually ended up writing operas (??? ?) about both of them: Nixon in China and Doctor Atomic.

Also, I’m interested to read that Crooked book over the summer after I get through some actual non-fiction ones about Nixon.

17. Is there a song that reminds you of them?

Oppenheimer: On a serious note, this song literally samples probably his most famous quote so…there’s that. On a more comedic note, there’s this. Also, a while ago my friend actually made an entire 8tracks playlist (as a joke) about him so??? 

Nixon: I mentioned this in a previous post; there are a lot of songs that remind me of Tricky Dick. Most poignant, though, is probably “Campaigner” by Neil Young (I legit got emotional when I first heard this song, wtf? delete me).

20. What is your favourite possession that refers to your favourite historical figure (e.g. statue, book etc.)?