Nixon Quote by Don Winslow
““We go off the meds and elect Richard Nixon, the Nurse Ratched of the American political psych ward.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Force, 2017
Electing Nixon is likened to choosing a tyrannical nurse, implying the political system is a chaotic mental ward.
In simple terms: Choosing Nixon equals picking a tyrant.
Key Takeaway
Beware of authoritarian leadership.
Themes
politics
authoritarianism
mental health
critique
Mood
critical
ironic
Type
satirical
political
When to use this quote
- election analysis
- political commentary
- media critique
Key Concepts
Nixon
psychiatric metaphor
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the dangers of political hyperbole?
- How does mental health language affect political discourse?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may be hyperbolic.
![“Mr. [Richard M.] Nixon never has anything but hindsight.” quote by Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/910/eleanor-roosevelt-381_hindsight_mr-richard-m-nixon-never-has-anything-bu_236889.jpg)
![“[democrats] hated Richard Nixon, and no wonder. It was Nixon who sent Alger Hiss to jail, and Nixon who waged the Vietnam War after the Democrats gave up,” quote by David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/63d/david-frum-3455_democracy_democrats-hated-richard-nixon-and-no-won_232462.jpg)
![“I'd almost prefer [Richard] Nixon. I'd say [Bill] Clinton is every bit as corrupt as Nixon, but a lot smoother.” quote by Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/799/hunter-s-thompson-278_bills_i-d-almost-prefer-richard-nixon-i-d-say_109279.jpg)
![“[On Richard M. Nixon:] Americans began with a president who couldn't tell a lie and now they have one who can't tell the truth.” quote by Benazir Bhutto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2f1/benazir-bhutto-7903_lying_on-richard-m-nixon-americans-began-with_84893.jpg)
![“There were really funny characteristics about this guy [Richard Nixon], chief of which would be that he seemed to devote about 85 percent of his waking energy to suppressing any sign of his emotional response to anything that was going on around him, and the other 15 percent blurting out those…” quote by Harry Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7f4/harry-shearer-7595_characteristics_there-were-really-funny-characteristics_50569.jpg)
