Checkers

“It was not a secret fund. As a matter of fact, when I was on ‘Meet the Press’—some of you may have seen it last Sunday—Peter Edson came up to me after the program, and he said, ‘Dick, what about this “fund” we hear about?’ and I said ‘Well, there’s no secret about it. Go out and see Dana smith who was the administrator of the fund.’ And I gave him [Edson] his [Smith’s] address.”

Nixon includes his conversation with Peter Edson of Meet the Press to establish credibility. He claims to not only have discussed the fund in question with him but have given him the information necessary to investigate further. He does this to show that he has nothing to hide.

“[A]nd I want to make this particularly clear—that no contributor to this fund, no contributor to any of my campaigns, has ever received any consideration that he would not have received as an ordinary constituent. I just don’t believe in that.”

Nixon disputes the claims that this fund has led to favoritism or unfair treatment. He states that he has never unfairly considered any constituent. He ends with how he simply does not believe in doing such a thing, emphasizing his sense of morality and ethics on the subject.

“Well, then the question arises, you say ‘Well, how do you pay for these and how can you do it legally?’ and there are several ways that it can be done, incidentally, and that it is done legally in the United States Senate and in the Congress. The first way is to be a rich man. I don’t happen to be a rich man, so I couldn’t use that one.”

This setup provides a hopeful alternative means of funding his campaign so that those who may wonder if he considered other avenues can be appeased. He then reveals the alternative as being rich. He shares that this option was not available to him, emphasizing his political identity as a common man in contrast to the wealthy opponents he faces.

“And so now, what I am going to do—and incidentally this is unprecedented in the history of American politics—I am going at this time to give this television and radio audio—audience, a complete financial history, everything I’ve earned, everything I’ve spent, everything I own. And I want you to know the facts.”

Nixon introduces his plan to do something no one has attempted before. Not only is he giving an in-depth political address on television, but it will include personal financial history. He uses this tactic to create the appearance of openness and honesty in response to any questions about his integrity and morals while also presenting himself as an ordinary, middle-class American like his supporters.

“I went to the South Pacific. I guess I’m entitled to a couple of battle stars. I got a couple letters of commendations. But I was just there when the bombs were falling.”

Nixon’s running mate, Dwight D. Eisenhower, is a celebrated general, having served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during World War II. Nixon presents his own military accomplishments as humble and barely consequential by comparison. By saying “I guess I’m entitled to” rather than “I earned,” he defuses any sense that he is boasting. This language maintains his tone of modesty while reminding the audience of his military service.

“Well, that’s about it. That’s what we have. And that’s what we owe. It isn’t very much. But Pat and I have the satisfaction that every dime that we’ve got is honestly ours.”

Nixon emphasizes how hard he and his family have worked for the money they have. In contrast to his opponent, this depicts Nixon as a man who earns what he gets, gaining the favor of the working class and disputing any claims that he may be seeking unearned wealth.

“One other thing I probably should tell you, because if I don’t they’ll probably be saying this about me, too. We did get something, a gift, after the election.”

These lines introduce the story of Checkers the dog. Nixon sets up this anecdote by claiming, despite all his unfiltered financial history, that there is something he should share that might be worthy of scrutiny. The ridiculous notion that he might be judged for keeping a gifted puppy for his children suggests that his entire confession was probably unnecessary as well. The anecdote allows Nixon to portray himself as a devoted father while simultaneously making the accusations of financial impropriety seem frivolous.

“I don’t agree with Mr. Mitchell when he says that only a rich man should serve his Government in the United States Senate or in the Congress. I don’t believe that represents the thinking of the Democratic Party, and I know that it doesn’t represent the thinking of the Republic Party.”

In another instance of apophasis, Nixon uses Mitchell’s statement to represent the thinking of the Democratic Party while explicitly stating that he does not “believe this statement represents the thinking of the Democratic Party.” In doing so, he lends support to his portrayal of the Democrats as elitist and the Republicans as the party of the common people.

“I believe that it’s fine that a man like Governor Stevenson, who inherited a fortune from his father, can run for president. But I also feel that it’s essential in this country of ours that a man of modest means can also run for President.”

This is another instance of apophasis. Nixon introduces Stevenson’s generational wealth as a parenthetical, implying that it is hardly worth mentioning while actually calling significant attention to it. In doing so, he portrays his own questionable campaign financing methods as striking a blow for democracy and against the entrenched power of the elite.

“And I think you will agree with me—because, folks, remember, a man that’s to be President of the United States, a man that’s to be Vice President of the United States, must have the confidence of all the people. And that’s why I’m doing what I’m doing. And that’s why I suggest that Mr. Stevenson and Mr. Sparkman, if they are under attack, that should be what they are doing.”

Nixon continues to attack the opposing party by implying that others are attacking them. Without appearing to criticize his opponents directly, he suggests that they have something to hide.

“‘Why do I think it is in danger?’ And I say, look at the record. Seven years of the Truman-Acheson Administration, and what’s happened? Six hundred million people lost to the communists. And a war in Korea in which we have lost 117,000 American casualties isn’t good enough for America.”

Nixon explains that the government is in danger of corruption. He points to the present administration and how they’ve handled the war in Korea. He also includes his anti-communist stance that has gained him popularity in this campaign to stress the fear of electing a similar administration.

“You’ve read about the mess in Washington. Mr. Stevenson can’t clean it up because he was picked by the man, Truman, under whose Administration the mess was made. You wouldn’t trust the man who made the mess to clean it up. That’s Truman. And by the same token you can’t trust the man who was picked by the man that made the mess to clean it up—and that’s Stevenson.”

Due to Truman’s decline in popularity amid the Korean War, it is beneficial for Nixon to associate him with Governor Stevenson. He reminds the audience that in choosing Stevenson, they are choosing to continue what Truman has put in place. He insists that this would make Stevenson untrustworthy and ineffective as president.

“I say that a man who, like Mr. Stevenson, has pooh-poohed and ridiculed the communist threat in the United States—he said that they are phantoms among ourselves. He has accused us that have attempted to expose the communists in the Bureau of Fisheries and Wildlife. I say that a man who says that isn’t qualified to be the President of the United States.”

Nixon further attacks Stevenson by noting his lack of action regarding communism. Nixon’s strong self-identification as an anti-communist is again being used here to show that Stevenson is unqualified to take control of the communist threat.