The DC Traveler

President Richard Nixon opened relations with the Soviet Union and China leading to the first strategic arms limitation treaty. He also launched the EPA, the DEA to fight the war on drugs, ended the gold standard for American currency, and eventually ended the Vietnam War.  Yet his legacy is defined by just one word - Watergate.

While some think President Bush’s ratings are the lowest ever, Nixon’s dropped to just 23% during the peak of the Watergate scandal.

Now imagine sitting in the Lincoln Sitting Room in the White House, on the evening the Richard Nixon evaluates his presidency, and ponders if he should either resign his office, or fight the pending impeachment.  The charges was obstruction of justice, abuse of power and contempt of Congress.

As a result of the scandal, 25 officials from his administration, plus 45 others were convicted of related crimes.

The brilliantly written and performed fictional political satire, Nixon Nixon’s at the Round House Theatre in suburban Bethesda, MD, takes you behind the scenes of the public Nixon, his presidency and how the most powerful man in the world might examine his life when the walls of his house are crashing down around him.

With his Secretary of State, Henry Kissenger at his side, and the brandy freely flowing (plus Nixon’s colorful language flowing even freer), they discuss their options.  They discuss Nixon’s accomplishments, both men’s legacies and even examine possible ways to distract the public from Watergate, in a poignant, comical and at times, sad way.  The conversations gives us a glimpse of Nixon’s perceived paranoid and narcissistic personality, as well as his humanity and inner fears.  Some of the dialog about Nixon’s 1960 loss to John Kennedy, the closest election in American history, strangely correlate to today’s Obama-Clinton “let’s count all the votes” battle.

In humorous conversations in which Nixon and Kissinger reenacts meetings with world leaders, including Chairman Mao, Brezhnev, John Kennedy and Israel’s Golda Myre, they recount political victories and show how Nixon should be called the first “comeback kid”.

The below video overviews the “smoking gun”, a tape of his participation in obstructing justice, his resignation address to the nation and his departure form the White House.

The two man, one-act play stars two local actors who reprise their 1999 acclaimed performances in the same roles, with Edward Gero as Nixon and Conrad Feininger portraying Dr. Kissinger.  Gero has Nixon’s mannerism, voice and persona down so well, easy to suspend reality and believe he’s actually on stage.  And Feininger effectively plays role of a Secretary of State who has written off the President, but half-heartedly tries to remain a loyal adviser, while keeping one eye on his own legacy and questionable political future.

The performance I attended ended with an immediate and well-deserved standing ovation.  Nixon’s Nixon is a play for a must see for who lived through Watergate or wants a view of how politics might work behind closed doors.

I give this play 5-stars, on a 5 point scale.

Nixon’s Nixon
Round House Theatre
4545 East West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814 (map it)

Dates and Times - Wednesdays - Sundays, through June 29, 2008

Tickets - $50.00 - $60.00 and are available online.  The language makes this play inappropriate for children.

Nearest Metro Subway Station - Bethesda, Red line, then a 1-block walk.

Parking - Paid parking ($4.00) in the attended underground garage across the street from the theatre. Entrance is on Waverly Street.

Images - Nixon leaving - public domain - National Archives, with Moa - LOC public domain, Round House - personal collection - ©2008, Jon Rochetti

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