All the President's Men (DVD, 1998)

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences does recognize powerful drama, in danger, truth, corruption, history, and public exposure of deceit in the highest of places, including the Oval Office itself. Redford and Hoffman are consummate thespians who delivered a marvelous performance. They had a terrific script, knew their parts ans what they needed to say and do to move the story forward and simply told one of the most important, intimidating, and significant stories in our Nations history. America's democracy and our Constitution was in question with our Civil Liberties hanging in the balance. America then as now with this President needs to remember that a Chief Executive in our Western Democracy is not royalty but and elected public official and the prinicpal First Citizen, ideally a dignified example of a free leader of a free world and never above or beyond the law. Americans would do better to remember Founding Father Benjamin Franklin's words that, "Power Corrupts, and Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely." History is repeating itself before our eyes on the news and A statement Einstein made once which I will paraphrase as best I remember it, would also apply here (The definition of insanity is doing the same thing multiple times and expecting a different result.) Maybe George W. Bush will like Richard M. Nixon may leave a legacy that Today's Journalists are still Patriots, Seekers of Truth, Trustworthy, Integral to the Success of Democracy, and ultimately embody the very Heroic icons that Woordward and Bernstein Symbolize. The American People need reminding that our government rules by consent of the governed. Two journalists in 1972-73 can listen to trusted sources, gather the facts as they know it from other corraborating sources, report the story accurately, and on time. They informed voters about the kinds of High Crimes and Misdemeanors the Constitution says are necessary to impeach. Today as then, hard-nosed reporters can still bring an adminstration crumbling to its knees.