FROST / NIXON, and COLSON   

   Remembering the   

   History and the film   

Back in the days of "Watergate", things were heating up behind the scenes.

There was 'DeepThroat', code name for the government official who blew the whistle on President Richard Nixon and his co-conspirators.

From 'DeepThroat''s secret meetings with Woodward and Bernstein of the Washington Post, came the research and articles which brought the sorry mess onto the public scene. The special legal work of Senator Sam Irvin's committee "pulled the plug" on the backed up mess in Washington's plumbing. Then the flowing water of Truth flushed it away. 

Thus, Richard Nixon, the first 'imperial president', was forced to resign the presidency of the United States of America.

There was still another layer to this historic scenario - and it was the spiritual battle fought by a handful of Christians who had accepted the assignment -       to seek God's Face, and listening to what He told them - then pray God's will into the visible events as they unfolded. 

Using the example of Jericho - (when the Hebrews under Joshua marched around the city 7 times, then blew their trumpets praising God for the victory and the miracle of the fallen walls) --

A blood-washed former hippie who had become a praying, worshipping warrior, drove around the White House complex and park on multiple occasions. As he drove, he prayed, and listened. In the evenings, there was more worshipping, praying and listening.

There was much rejoicing when the weight of evidence and public revelations of that evidence forced Nixon's resignation.

But the soft-hearted, well-meaning new president, Gerald R. Ford gave a full pardon to the departed Nixon, shaking all those who knew the facts. America was in shock, and Bible believers realized that God's Word was violated.

 

MERCY WAS GIVEN, AND JUSTICE WAS CHEATED.

God's Word says that because

WHERE MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH WILL BE REQUIRED.

When the national founding document, the Constitution of the United States of America, and the writings of the wise founding-fathers were by-passed, and the corrupt leader was pardoned, the people were betrayed. Not only were they betrayed, they continued to pay the bills for their betrayer. 

(Retired US presidents and their wives receive lifelong pensions. They and their wives receive Secret Service protection.)

Because prayer now had to be made to secure justice for the American people, and because nothing is too hard for God, He provided another way.

God certainly has a sense of humor. In the case of justice regarding Watergate and Richard Nixon, the divine laugh was heard.

Enter David Frost.

Frost was British and originally from Australia - a performer with a talk show.  The idea just would not leave him alone. With his producer's agreement, Frost began laying the foundation for his historic project. 

He would interview former U.S. President, Richard M. Nixon. He would do a series of interviews on-camera, and in the process, bring Nixon to an admission of his wrongdoings. This was Frost's goal.

But first he had to gain the interest of Nixon, and his agreement to do the series of interviews. A meeting was arranged at Nixon's home in San Clemente, California, and $600,000 payment to Nixon was agreed upon. This done, Frost began to seek corporate sponsors. Until enough sponsors were finally in line, Frost's own finances would have to fuel the project. 

Expert, able research assistants were recruited. Many documents were combed through until the list of questions was before Frost as each interview session began. Because Nixon enjoyed talking, he would usually ramble-down-memory-lane for many minutes.

Before the last interview, Nixon was still avoiding the angler's hook. Frost and his team were suffering from severe frustration. Then came the breakthrough. 

Late at night and under the influence of alcohol, Nixon picked up his telephone and called Frost. As Frost listened to the Nixon ramblings, he received the keys he needed. A quick call to one of his research men resulted in specific documentation. 

In a recorded phone conversation with Chuck Colson, Nixon had stated that whatever the "law" said, if the US President chose to do otherwise, it was legal. In Nixon's view then, he was above the law - and not accountable to it.

The questions asked by Frost THIS time, would hook and reel in his slippery adversary.

In their private, final conversation, Nixon asked Frost if he (Nixon) had really  made that late-night call, and Frost confirmed it.

Here is a synopsis from Wikipedia of the historic Frost/Nixon interviews.

The Nixon Interviews

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Nixon Interviews were a series of interviews of former United States President Richard Nixon conducted by British journalist David Frost, and produced by John Birt. They were recorded and broadcast on television in four programs in 1977.[1] The interviews became the subject of the play Frost/Nixon, which was later made into a film of the same name; both starred Michael Sheen as Frost and Frank Langella as Nixon.

Background

After his resignation in 1974, Nixon spent more than two years away from public life. In 1977, he granted Frost an exclusive series of interviews. Nixon was already publishing his memoirs at the time; however, his publicist Irving "Swifty" Lazar believed that by using television Nixon could reach a mass audience. In addition, Nixon was going through a temporary cash flow problem with his lawyers, and needed to find a quick source of income. Frost's New York-based talk show had been recently cancelled, leaving him consigned to a career based around the stories covered by the proto-reality show Great Escapes.[2] As Frost had agreed to pay Nixon for the interviews,[3] the American news networks were not interested, regarding them as checkbook journalism. They refused to distribute the program and Frost was forced to fund the project himself while seeking other investors, who eventually bought air time and syndicated the four programs.[2]

Frost recruited James Reston, Jr. and ABC News producer Bob Zelnick to evaluate the Watergate minutiae prior to the interview. Their research allowed Frost to take control of the interview at a key moment, when he revealed details of a previously unknown conversation between Nixon and Charles Colson. Nixon's resulting admissions would support the widespread conclusion that Nixon had obstructed justice.[4] Nixon continued to deny the allegation until his death, and it was never tested in a court of law because his successor, President Gerald Ford, issued a pardon to Nixon after his resignation. Nixon's negotiated fee was $600,000 and a 20% share of any profits.[1][5]

Nixon chief of staff Jack Brennan negotiated the terms of the interview with Frost.[6] Nixon's staff saw the interview as an opportunity for the disgraced president to restore his reputation with the public, and assumed that Frost would be easily outwitted. Previously, in 1968, Frost had interviewed Nixon in a manner described by Time magazine as "so softly that in 1970 President Richard Nixon ferried Frost and Mum to the White House, where the Englishman was appointed to produce a show in celebration of the American Christmas."[7]

Interviews

The interviews began on March 23, 1977, and lasted 12 days. They were taped for two hours a day, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, for a total of 28 hours and 45 minutes.[3] The interviews were managed by executive producer Marvin Minoff, president of Frost's David Paradine Productions,[8] and by British current affairs producer John Birt.[8][9]

Recording took place at a seaside home in Monarch Bay, California,[10] owned by Mr. and Mrs. Harold H. Smith, who were both longtime Nixon supporters. This location was chosen instead of Nixon's San Clemente home, La Casa Pacifica, on account of interference with the television relay equipment by the Coast Guard navigational-aid transmitters near San Clemente. Frost rented the Smith home for $6,000[1] on a part-time basis.

Broadcasts

The interviews were broadcast in the US and some other countries in 1977.[3] They were edited into four programs, each 90 minutes long.

In the weeks preceding the interviews with Nixon, David Frost was interviewed by Mike Wallace of CBS's 60 Minutes, the same news organization that Frost had "scooped" (CBS had also been in negotiations to interview Nixon, but Frost outbid them). Frost talked about looking forward to Nixon's "cascade of candor".[11]

The interviews were broadcast in four parts, with a fifth part containing material edited from the earlier parts broadcast months later:[1]

Part	Broadcast	Content
Part 1	4 May 1977	Watergate
Part 2	12 May 1977	Nixon and the world
Part 3	19 May 1977	War at home and abroad
Part 4	26 May 1977	Nixon, the man
Part 5	10 September 1977	additional material from parts 1-4

The premiere episode drew 45 million viewers, the largest television audience for a political interview in history - a record which still stands today.[12]

In Part 3, Frost asked Nixon about the legality of the president's actions. Nixon replied: "Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal."[13]

Part 5 opened with Frost's blunt question, "Why didn't you burn the tapes?"[14]

Aftermath

A Gallup poll conducted after the interviews aired showed that 69 percent of the public thought that Nixon was still trying to cover up, 72 percent still thought he was guilty of obstruction of justice, and 75 percent thought he deserved no further role in public life.[3] Frost was expected to make $1 million from the interviews.[1]

The last laugh from God's throne has been heard around the world now for many years through the biblical conversion of Nixon's "hatchet man", Charles Colson, and his subsequent service to God as an ambassador for the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Here is a list of Charles Colson's publications and achievements. 

Charles Colson Resources

May this remarkable history of Nixon, Frost and Colson, become a beacon light to the journalistic media and the world, as America emerges from the darkness of this present era into the light of God's promised redemption!