Slush funds? No way. Mink coats and fancy cars? Not a chance.
One of Nixon's major goals of the speech was to demonstrate just how humble and down to earth he was. It could have been hard for Nixon, a U.S. senator, after all, and one of the most important people in the Republican party, to pass himself off as just another one of the guys. But it worked. Unveiling his modest finances went a long way in presenting himself as just an honest American trying to make ends meet like the rest of us.
Nixon's career as a whole didn't suggest humility. Insecurity maybe, but not humility. Still, he wasn't rich at the time of the Checkers Speech, and that was enough for most Americans to believe that he wasn't a wealthy elitist like Adlai Stevenson. They believed he felt their pain, and they sure felt his.
The takeaway? That goes a long way in politics.
Questions About Humility
- Do you think Americans today would be as receptive to the portrait Nixon paints of himself and his family?
- Was Nixon sincere in his sentiments, or was he just trying to save his career?
- Did Nixon go too far in his portrayal? Could he have been less self-deprecating and still saved his image?
- Why do you think Nixon chose this extreme strategy?
Chew on This
Nixon, one of only a few hundred people actually running the American government, managed to persuade the American people into believing he was just your average Joe.
Nixon's heaping portion of humble pie clearly resonated with the American public, because people want a leader they can identify with.