goRton Agonistes 119
gestion and 81 supporting it. The phone callers were more supportive—81
out of 119. “This is about what we expected. The people who call or write
generally have their minds made up in advance... The speech, however,
was aimed at persons who did not have their minds made up.”^17
Five months later, in a dramatic televised address from the Oval Of-
fice, Richard M. Nixon announced his resignation. To leave office before
the end of his term was “abhorrent to every instinct in my body,” he told
the nation. But “as president, I must put the interests of America first....
By taking this action I hope that I will have hastened the start of the pro-
cess of healing which is so desperately needed in America.”^18
That was precisely Gorton’s point. Protracted blood-letting in an im-
peachment trial would polarize the country all the more.^ In any case, he
never wanted to run for governor. Urged on by the National Republican
Senatorial Committee, he flirted with challenging Senator Magnuson
that fall. The old lion looked vulnerable in 1974.
Gorton concluded the time wasn’t yet ripe. He’d be patient.