Better called the Haunting of the Richard Nixon, the film seems less concerned with any truth than with piling mud on Richard Nixon, man and president.
Central to the story is the effort of a television show host David Frost (Michael Sheen) to secure an exclusive interview with the elusive Nixon. Frost wants to make money and career on sinking Richard Nixon on television after his resignation. Frost career is at a low point, he needs a boost.
Frost employs number of researchers and helpers to get the dirt on Nixon. He knows little, if anything about Nixon’s presidency, and is spending his time in marketing the interview and its monetary potential to reluctant buyers.
Nobody believes that Frost is capable of pulling the interview off. It takes until the last two hours of multiple day shoot for him to trap Nixon. But this is television, the previous footage, which might be favorable to Nixon, can be edited out to get the money and the career advancement the team is looking for.
If the previous smells strongly of Hollywood made thrillers, the last is largely accurate. It does not matter how short, inaccurate or inconsequential the moment trapped on tape is. If that is the only footage the producer wants shown, it will become the only reality known. It is a manipulation of highest degree. It has, since that interview, become the norm of television “journalism”. The consequences are tragic not only for the industry, trash bores fast, but also for all societies that operate under the mistaken belief that their members have the right information to make a valid choice, say, at election time.
Unfortunately, I do not believe that this was the point the director Ron Howard wanted to make. Howard would make us believe that Frost was a light weight but he was, at that time, know for his ability to get the truth from his subject. Nixon had to know that the interview would be difficult. Howard makes us believe that Nixon took the money, because it was so much money, believing he can fool Frost. Clearly Howard follows the model set by Frost’s interview: it is not about finding the truth but about getting paid for the ratings.
The film provides a fascinating look into how the television, and largely all media, business operates. But it is a fiction pretending to be historically accurate. The moment where Nixon calls Frost to discuss their lives and similarities rings particularly hollow. True, both men were underdogs in their environment, but Nixon had never given any indication that he cared about being accepted by what the film presents as “privileged” classes. Nixon seemed truly indifferent to those who were “better born” and this very likely added to his downfall; the hunt for Richard Nixon, and his entire family, was relentless by those who were insulted by his lack of respect or fear of them.
The film is based on a play, also written by Peter Morgan, author of the Queen with Helen Mirren, and both actors performed on stage. Frank Langella got Tony for Best Actor for his role of Richard Nixon . The performances are realistic enough, as long as it is about two men, each having their own goal, locked in a battle of wits.
In order to see the reality a bit clearly: all presidents, their families, staff, and if it spoke English, their dog are paid for their speeches, appearances and interviews.
In every single case there are numerous agreements to such appearances, from what questions might be asked to what would be shown. Nancy Reagan had her print interviews taped in order to be able to argue what her facial expressions were at what moment.
Many presidents keep notes of their meeting, many swear, scream and generally are prone to difficult acts- it comes with the pressures of the office.
Lastly, many decide what is legal, and from the point of the American Constitutions they might have the right to do so. George w. Bush excelled at this.
Richard Nixon’s presidency took place in very difficult time and was probably less corrupt than many.
It has always bothered me that when Nixon won his election, after the Parisian Articles of Peace with Vietnam were signed in 1973, and announced his version of “better society”, which included things like fair wages and heath care; suddenly masked men were seen entering the offices of Democratic Party, on security camera tape, in order to bug that office.
Both parties spy on each other by any and all means available. Neither is stupid enough to send masked men into security cameras equipped buildings to be taped while spying.
Careers were made by blackening Nixon’s name. Yet, Nixon was betrayed by government servant, an FBI man, who hated him. Justifying his actions this man said that breaking the law, which is what he did, was acceptable for greater good. Greater good as he obviously perceived it, since having done his breaking in secret, he was the sole judge and jury of his actions. He considered himself so righteous that he also accepted a full pension for work well done. It did not occur to him that he had done exactly that which he accused Richard Nixon of doing, without the power of presidential office, and without a leak.
With Richard Nixon leaving, the social net of America started to unravel. Thirty years later very little of the social security that he envisioned was left to working Americans. In present recession there is not only no help, but also no realistic way to better the conditions of the country than going back to what have been lost. Not for all, of course, a small percentage, 1% of the nation managed to amass 50 % of its wealth.
As fro disgracing the Presidency: when George W. Bush took office, he had not only guaranteed himself power of law, he also excluded from prosecution those who worked for him. He awarded contracts worth of billions to his pals, corrupted the Department of Justice, sanctioned torture, and gave billions in cash to his friends to freely distribute in Iraq, where he started a war based on falsified information. The money was never found. Then Bush awarded 770 billions to his friends in the banking industry. He fought nail and tooth against healthcare, living wage, environment protection, habeas corpus, privacy rights, even against standing laws such as discrimination. Amazingly, the press crowded White House dinners. Something to thanks Frost for- ratings and future contracts are everything.
