We're going to be straight with you: Nixon was not dissatisfied with this speech. In fact, his approval rating skyrocketed after giving it, so he was really quite pleased.
In the speech itself, however, Nixon does address the dissatisfaction of others. Throughout the speech, Nixon refers to those people dissatisfied with the war in Vietnam. He refers to those dissatisfied with their college experiences. He refers to those dissatisfied with gender inequality. He probably even refers to those who were dissatisfied with the looks of their own noses.
That's a lot of dissatisfaction.
Questions About Dissatisfaction
- Nixon is criticizing more than the dissatisfied anti-war crowd in his speech, but his attacks are somewhat veiled. Looking at the words of the speech, who do you think was on Nixon's "People I Don't Like" list?
- Why does Nixon even care about the people dissatisfied with the Vietnam War if he thinks they're in the minority?
- Looking at the speech and using what you know about the Vietnam War, how do you think the anti-war protesters of the 1960s and 1970s might have been dissatisfied with Nixon's speech?
- What was the point of calling out all those dissatisfied people as the opposite of the "great silent majority"?
Chew on This
In terms of dissatisfaction, the only thing that Tricky Dick ever cared about was his own dissatisfaction with those who were dissatisfied. Nixon didn't care that protesters had good reasons to protest and that feminists had good reasons to be feminists; he just wanted them out of his hair. That's the only reason he mentions the dissatisfied—to bully them out of the picture.
By the time Nixon gave this speech in 1969, there was a lot to be dissatisfied with. The Vietnam War was spiraling out of control. Drug use was on the rise in America. Protests were breaking out everywhere. So, Nixon had to address those who were dissatisfied. But he did so with respect and dignity, acknowledging the problems in America.