In 1980, a vacationing Rod Blagojevich camped in front of Richard Nixon’s home, with a friend, until the pariah ex-president emerged and this picture was taken.
No, I think it went more like this… “Then I rolled down the window, and the girl asked, aren’t you Governor Reagan?” … “So I had Liddy shake her down, we got 2 quarters and a Milkyway.
“Don’t ever give up, kid,” wrote the former president who resigned rather than be voted out of office.
The young man, Rod Blagojevich, absorbed details about history while often missing the meaning of the history he read, like Otto in “A Fish Called Wanda”.
Blagojevich failed to note the irony of Nixon’s advise until the Illinois General Assembly voted 113-0 to form an impeachment committee.
“Wait, Nixon did give up!?” Blagojevich thought to himself. “Why did he tell me not to quit?”
- Commonsense in Illinois - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 9:53 am:
In 1980, a vacationing Rod Blagojevich camped in front of Richard Nixon’s home, with a friend, until the pariah ex-president emerged and this picture was taken.
In 1982, Rod Blagojevich camped in front of Alderman Ed Vrydolyak home, with a basketball, until his sons emerged and included Rod in basketball games.
In 1987, Rod Blagojevich camped in front of Alderman Richard Mell’s home, with movie tickets, until the alderman’s daughter emerged and let Rod date her.
In 2009, as a pariah ex-governor, Rod Blagojevich bunked next to former governor George Ryan’s cell, until the pariah ex-governor emerged and a friendship was established.
Fascinating picture. The governor has made his own bed and a his day of reckoning is coming, but it’s heartbreaking to be reminded that he was just a goofy innocent kid at one time, like we all were.
It’s sad to note that he didn’t take any wisdom from meeting a man who reached the heights, but whose unchecked indulgences of his darkside led to a colossal fall.
The moment when I got the cherished note that has carried me through many a tough spot and I always keep in my wallet : “(Bleep)’em if they can’t take a joke”.
- Jake from Elwood - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 10:37 am:
Nixon apparently did not share with his young admirer what he had learned about the danger of surreptitious recordings.
and you know who was the friend? i get one year free subscription to the Capitol Fax Rich for answering this question. it was Michael Ascaridis who went on a trip to New York and waited for Nixon
No offense to anyone and I agree that this is a funny photo, but coming from a daily photoshop user, you can tell this photo was manipulated. Take a good look at the pixel colors around his arms.
i just heard that Rod keeps an apartment in DC… at the Watergate hotel/ condo complex.
Is that true?
If yes, add that to the list of his bizarre fascination/ fate/ destiny with Nixon.
There are just too many strange angles for this made-for-TV-movie. What’s a writer to do?
Caption: Once the age of the personal computer dawned, it became a simple task to crop out of the photo the WWND (What Would Nixon Do?) bracelet that young Rod wore. By that time, however, the sentiment was engraved not just on a bracelet, but on Rod’s heart.”
This is cool. Use a finger and block out Blago’s hair. It should occur to you, in an instant, that Blago is a clone of Alfred E. Neuman from MAD magazine. That’s right, Alfred with incredibly bad hair. You can imagine him saying, “What? Me worry?” and smirking!
- OneMan - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 9:44 am:
A Caption…
Here son, this is the phone number of a good attorney I think you will need it someday.
- Joe in the Know - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 9:45 am:
Man, good thing Nixon is dead or he would really be embarrassed by this photo.
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 9:46 am:
I wonder if Nixon told lame tales of kids mistaking him for da first Mayor Daley?
- 618er - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 9:48 am:
Is that another jogging suit?
- Heartless Libertarian - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 9:49 am:
No, I think it went more like this… “Then I rolled down the window, and the girl asked, aren’t you Governor Reagan?” … “So I had Liddy shake her down, we got 2 quarters and a Milkyway.
- Carl Nyberg - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 9:52 am:
“Don’t ever give up, kid,” wrote the former president who resigned rather than be voted out of office.
The young man, Rod Blagojevich, absorbed details about history while often missing the meaning of the history he read, like Otto in “A Fish Called Wanda”.
Blagojevich failed to note the irony of Nixon’s advise until the Illinois General Assembly voted 113-0 to form an impeachment committee.
“Wait, Nixon did give up!?” Blagojevich thought to himself. “Why did he tell me not to quit?”
- Commonsense in Illinois - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 9:53 am:
…I Richard Nixon grant full and unconditional…
- Just Because - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 10:00 am:
My hero
- Anon - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 10:06 am:
Nixon: Nice try with the hairdo, but I knew Elvis Presley; Elvis Presley was a friend of mine. Kid, you’re no Elvis Presley.
- ex state employee - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 10:09 am:
A tricky dick and a yound rod in one photo, sick…
- Hazardman - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 10:09 am:
our missteps in the past become the footprints our our future
- carbon deforestation - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 10:14 am:
Thank you Gawker! (and Rich)
I remembered seeing that picture in Chicago magazine years ago, have been waiting for it to re-appear all week.
- downstate reader - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 10:24 am:
Birds of a feather flock together?
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 10:24 am:
In 1980, a vacationing Rod Blagojevich camped in front of Richard Nixon’s home, with a friend, until the pariah ex-president emerged and this picture was taken.
In 1982, Rod Blagojevich camped in front of Alderman Ed Vrydolyak home, with a basketball, until his sons emerged and included Rod in basketball games.
In 1987, Rod Blagojevich camped in front of Alderman Richard Mell’s home, with movie tickets, until the alderman’s daughter emerged and let Rod date her.
In 2009, as a pariah ex-governor, Rod Blagojevich bunked next to former governor George Ryan’s cell, until the pariah ex-governor emerged and a friendship was established.
- Capitol Mean - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 10:27 am:
Don’t you think its unfair to the memory of Richard Nixon?
- Dan S, a Voter and Cubs Fan - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 10:30 am:
Birds of a feather flock together!
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 10:30 am:
Commonsense, that’s a good one.
Fascinating picture. The governor has made his own bed and a his day of reckoning is coming, but it’s heartbreaking to be reminded that he was just a goofy innocent kid at one time, like we all were.
It’s sad to note that he didn’t take any wisdom from meeting a man who reached the heights, but whose unchecked indulgences of his darkside led to a colossal fall.
- zatoichi - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 10:30 am:
The moment when I got the cherished note that has carried me through many a tough spot and I always keep in my wallet : “(Bleep)’em if they can’t take a joke”.
- Jake from Elwood - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 10:37 am:
Nixon apparently did not share with his young admirer what he had learned about the danger of surreptitious recordings.
- phocion - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 10:38 am:
Both Blagojevich and Nixon maintained their distinctive coifs for decades.
- guest035 - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 10:50 am:
and you know who was the friend? i get one year free subscription to the Capitol Fax Rich for answering this question. it was Michael Ascaridis who went on a trip to New York and waited for Nixon
- hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 10:58 am:
Well that helps put the nattering nabobs of negativism line in context.
- photogirl - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 10:58 am:
No offense to anyone and I agree that this is a funny photo, but coming from a daily photoshop user, you can tell this photo was manipulated. Take a good look at the pixel colors around his arms.
- Captain Flume - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 11:45 am:
Before there was Emil, there was Dick.
- Say WHAT? - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 11:48 am:
One day, Mr. President I want to be just like you.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 11:52 am:
Heartless Libertarian, that was hilarious.
- Edward Morgan Blake - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 12:12 pm:
So there is a picture of Rod with Nixon. Is there one with Rod and Elvis? Anyone?
- OneMan - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 1:15 pm:
yes there is a photo of Rod with Elvis
http://htsblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/one-last-one-for-tonight-couple-of-rod.html
- Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 2:02 pm:
Well, we are not crooks. We’ve earned everything we’ve got.
We made our mistakes, but in all of our years of public life we have never profited from public service.
- dupage progressive - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 2:25 pm:
i just heard that Rod keeps an apartment in DC… at the Watergate hotel/ condo complex.
Is that true?
If yes, add that to the list of his bizarre fascination/ fate/ destiny with Nixon.
There are just too many strange angles for this made-for-TV-movie. What’s a writer to do?
- Gabriel - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 2:31 pm:
dupage progressive: Blagojevich owns a condo in DC at the Waterford Complex, not the Watergate Hotel.
That would have been surreal if true.
- Steve - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 4:59 pm:
Caption: Once the age of the personal computer dawned, it became a simple task to crop out of the photo the WWND (What Would Nixon Do?) bracelet that young Rod wore. By that time, however, the sentiment was engraved not just on a bracelet, but on Rod’s heart.”
- Independent - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 5:21 pm:
“Pardon me, Mr. President, I see a camera.”
- WFB Conservative - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 8:25 pm:
This is cool. Use a finger and block out Blago’s hair. It should occur to you, in an instant, that Blago is a clone of Alfred E. Neuman from MAD magazine. That’s right, Alfred with incredibly bad hair. You can imagine him saying, “What? Me worry?” and smirking!
- Mac - Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 8:55 pm:
I am not a (bleep) crook.