Inflation
Inflation affects some things more than others. In 1952, a gallon of regular gasoline ran $0.24. Today, that gallon is twelve times more expensive. A newly-constructed 2000 SF Levittown home cost $15 K in ’52. Today, a modest new home is nearly impossible to find at less than two hundred times that amount.
The cost of Political Influence inflated at a rate that dwarfs both energy and housing.
In 1952, wealthy supporters established a $7,500 “slush fund” to cover Richard Nixon’s expenses while he campaigned as the GOP vice presidential nominee. “Tricky Dick” secured that nomination by switching his allegiance and that of the California delegation from its Governor Earl Warren to Dwight Eisenhower at the convention. Political conventions used to be more wheeling and dealing and less elaborate photo ops back in the day. Warren’s supporters discovered the “slush fund” and publicized it. There was no Fox News back then, but Nixon’s campaign claimed that the story was “a filthy maneuver by left-wingers, fellow travelers, and former Communists.” Sean Hannity could not have said it any better. Nixon himself took the high road. “The fund is to pay political expenses so they are not charged to the hard-working taxpayer.”
The scandal lingered and there was some discussion about dropping Nixon from the ticket. Talk about “sliding doors”. With no Nixon presidency would we have pulled out of Vietnam sooner? Say before Lieutenant Dufton went in the Army?
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Nixon went on national TV and gave the famous Checkers Speech. He claimed that he would pay back every cent in that “slush fund” except the adorable cocker spaniel puppy that was also donated as part of it. “My daughters named the puppy Checkers and cannot be parted from it. Here’s a photo of the girls and the puppy.” That tugged at America’s heartstrings. Dropping Nixon from the ticket would be like kicking a puppy to the curb.
If the price of Political Influence in 1952 was $7.5 K (plus a puppy), inflation raised it to $400 million this year. Donnie is unhappy with Air Force One and he is really unhappy that Boeing is five years late providing a new one. Qatar to the rescue! They just happen to have a spare 747 with all the latest comforts for the busy Commander-in-Chief. They’ll just give it to Donnie as a “loaner” until Boeing comes through. No strings attached. In fact, Donnie can keep it when he leaves office. To get around that nasty emoluments clause in the Constitution, they will transfer the title to the Trump Foundation, not to Donnie directly. What’s one more violation of the Constitution anyway?
If push come to shove, Donnie can always go on national TV. “I will pay Qatar the value of that plane, but I cannot return it to them. Barron loves that plane and cannot be parted from it. Here’s an adorable photo of him in its cockpit.”
By the way, if gas prices inflated at the same rate as Political Influence since 1952, a gallon of unleaded would go for $12,800 today.
By Ed Dufton
