Primary Colors
In 1972, the nation was shocked to learn that their elected president, Richard Nixon, was scheming to win re-election. The Committee to Re-Elect the President had men break into an opponent's hotel and set-up bugging devices to track their tactics and dealings. Worse, however, was the news that the President, having denied involvement, had tried to secretly divert investigators of the break-in. It was seen as deception, lies and betrayal to the public.
Suddenly a nation of people who had fought for their country and stood behind their president became faithless of their system and political leaders. With one man, the word politician brought on a dirty connotation: manipulation, greed, self-service. Now, thirty years later, the nation has still not recovered. In fact, an entire industry has risen in the media and between rival partisan groups to prove the opponent as a "dirty crook," to prove him to be like Nixon, like everyone else--mortal.
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