Here, to entertain you, are four paragraphs from Richard M. Nixon’s 1969 inaugural address:
The greatest honor history can bestow is the title of peacemaker. This honor now beckons America–the chance to help lead the world at last out of the valley of turmoil, and onto that high ground of peace that man has dreamed of since the dawn of civilization.
If we succeed, generations to come will say of us now living that we mastered our moment, that we helped make the world safe for mankind.
This is our summons to greatness.
I believe the American people are ready to answer this call.
You are leading your followers out of the valley of unfettered joy, and onto the high ground of respect for teenagers that history tells us is ultimately self-destructive.
Respect for teenagers is ultimately self-destructive? Where would you or I be today had not adults respected us when we were teenagers? Better question: where are those people now? Destroyed?
(Actually, many of them are my colleagues.)