History As It Happens – “Best of HAIH: Enemies Lists”

Host: Martin Di Caro
Guest: Ken Hughes (Nixon historian, author)
Release Date: December 31, 2025

Overview

This "Best of" episode, first aired in March 2025, revisits the story of presidential enemies lists—most notably Richard Nixon’s infamous list during Watergate—and draws parallels to contemporary politics, particularly under President Donald Trump. Through historical audio, expert analysis, and discussion, the episode explores the personal and political roots of presidential paranoia, the weaponization of executive power, and the challenges these abuses pose for American democracy.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Historical Context of 'Enemies Lists'

• Nixon’s secret enemies list was a method to weaponize the federal government against perceived political threats. Unlike public enemies, these were people Nixon personally deemed as obstacles.
  • Ken Hughes (01:17): “The enemy's list was one way that Richard Nixon tried to weaponize the federal government against people who got in his way politically... These were people whom Richard Nixon considered his enemies.”

2. Nixon’s Enemies: Methods and Motivations

• John Dean, former White House counsel, revealed the existence of the list and a memo bluntly suggesting the use of “federal machinery to screw our political enemies.”

  • John Dean (02:11): “...a memorandum that was requested by me to prepare a means to attack the enemies of the White House. There was also maintained what was called an enemies list, which is rather extensive and continually being updated.”

• The revelation provoked bipartisan outrage; conservative William F. Buckley Jr. labeled the list “proto-fascist” (03:16 and 34:41).

• Ken Hughes emphasizes that Nixon’s weaponization included “official acts” such as IRS audits, wiretaps, and even plotting illegal break-ins (14:26–15:28, 31:18–34:41).

3. Comparisons to Trump

• Trump’s rhetoric is openly revenge-driven, sometimes mirroring the logic of enemies lists, but with differences—he often names enemies in public, leveraging mass media and social platforms.

  • Donald Trump (00:50): “I am your retribution. Your liberty will be our ultimate reward... Success will be our revenge.”

• Hughes points out, “Trump has publicly listed his enemies… and made such scurrilous accusations as to claim that they had committed treason...” (13:18–13:37).

• Discussion of recent (2025) events: Trump using law enforcement powers publicly against immigrants and dissenters, as well as against universities (05:53).

4. Evolution of Abuse: From Nixon to Now

• Then (Nixon’s era): Enemies lists were secret due to the understanding that weaponizing government was unacceptable.

  • Ken Hughes (27:31): “The enemy's list was a secret. And of course it had to be because there was a universal understanding that our heritage as Americans meant that our government was our servant…”

• Now: Weaponization often occurs in public, via social media, with fewer consequences and less bipartisan revulsion.

• Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity for “official acts” is flagged as enabling more abuses—most of Nixon’s Watergate crimes were technically “official acts” (14:12–15:28).

5. Notable Personalities and Stories

• Who was on Nixon’s List? Not just politicians, but media, actors, and activists:

  • Ed Guthman (journalist), Paul Newman (actor/activist), Leonard Bernstein (composer), Allard Lowenstein (liberal activist), Charles Dyson (media financier), Morton Halperin (policy analyst)—(29:55–31:18).

• Morton Halperin’s Wiretap:
  Nixon had Halperin’s phone tapped for 22 months, resulting in zero evidence but valuable political intelligence (31:18–34:41).

• The Brookings Break-In Plot:
  Nixon and his Plumbers plotted to firebomb a think tank to steal documents, demonstrating the scale of lawlessness (38:46–41:08).

6. Nixon’s Paranoia and Personality

• Paranoia had both rational (fear of exposure over Vietnam) and irrational (anti-Semitism, anti-intellectualism) roots (16:23–22:29).
• Nixon’s dislike and distrust of “Jews, intellectuals, and Ivy Leaguers” played into both political strategy and personal vendettas.
• Discussion of Nixon’s lack of interpersonal political skills but his undeniable strategic ruthlessness (22:29–23:27).

7. The Media and the Public

• The press and academia were recurrently labeled as “the enemy” by Nixon, a sentiment echoed in Trump’s rhetoric (07:46, 26:54–27:04).
• Hughes highlights polarization in both eras; modern mass media differences highlighted (25:30–26:54).

8. Checks, Balances, and Today’s Challenges

• Watergate prompted reforms aimed at curbing executive overreach.
• In 1974, bipartisan support for Nixon’s impeachment articles contrasted starkly with the current partisan climate (41:56–42:30).
• The uncertain ability of courts and Congress to check executive abuses in the present (42:30–44:17).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Nixon and His List

• John Dean (02:11): “I do of course, know, and as I have submitted in documents, other agencies were involved in seeking politically embarrassing information on individuals who were thought to be enemies of the White House.”
• Nixon (07:46): “The press is the enemy. The press is the enemy. The astounding is the enemy. The professors are the enemy. The professors are the enemy.”
• Ken Hughes (29:04): “He said the purpose was to use the machinery of the federal government to screw our enemies.”

Bipartisan Response

• William F. Buckley Jr. cited by Ken Hughes (03:16 & 34:41): “[The enemies list] is fascist in its reliance on the state as an instrument of harassment.”

Trump Era Parallels

• Donald Trump (00:50): “I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution.”
• Ken Hughes (13:18): “Trump has publicly listed his enemies crooked... and made such scurrilous accusations as to claim that they had committed treason when there's no evidence of that out in public.”

The Dilemma of Truth and Responsibility

• Ken Hughes (24:45): “The commandment is not, you shall not bear false witness... Even if you have, like, no absolute knowledge of whether your neighbor is guilty or not.... It's still a basic ethical obligation for us to tell the truth and to make sure that we are telling the truth and not just to say whatever helps us at the particular moment.”

On Lawlessness and the Rule of Law

• Ken Hughes (43:28): “Legal action never works completely... That something that doesn't solve all the problems shouldn't be tried.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Nixon’s Enemies List Revealed: 02:00–03:16
• William F. Buckley’s Condemnation: 03:16, 34:41
• Contemporary Parallels (Trump Rhetoric & Actions): 05:15–05:53, 13:18–15:28
• Supreme Court Presidential Immunity Discussion: 08:35, 14:12
• Origin and Purpose of Nixon’s List: 28:00–29:07
• Notable Names and Wiretapping Story: 29:55–34:41
• The Brookings Firebomb Plot: 38:46–41:08
• Enduring Questions about Accountability: 42:30–44:17

Conclusion

The episode deftly weaves together historical analysis and contemporary commentary to show how the abuse of official power for personal retribution is a persistent threat to American democracy. It warns that lessons from Nixon’s downfall—alarm, bipartisan pushback, institutional reforms—now face unprecedented challenges in a polarized, media-saturated era. This “Best of” discussion stands as both a history lesson and a call to vigilance in defending the constitutional order.

Upcoming Episode Teaser:
Next, the show will tackle the history of repression and civil liberties, focusing on the Alien Enemies Act, the Palmer Raids, and parallels to current events with historian Michael Kazin.

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