Watergate withdrawal -- 1974

Howard and Judith Daniel were among Murray and Rosa's oldest (and possibly most cynical) friends. They moved to Howard's native Australia after Howard retired from the United Nations. Looking back on Watergate from the perspective of 2020, the hearings seem to represent a lovely example of journalists and Congress all doing their jobs.

Dear Howard and Judy—

Way back when I was at Time I used to spend my time folding planes out of Luce stationery and sailing them out of the 17^th floor window. They'd disappear toward the East River, but nobody ever answered. You must feel like that when you write to us. I don't know which writers block makes me feel worse: book or letters to the Daniels.

Nixon and Rebozo (Florida Archives)

You are much in our minds. Would have loved to have been with you during the Watergate denouement. Such a marvelous unveiling. Such a mixture of farce and triumph. Such an improbable new hero. Such quick anticlimax. But even with Ford to kick around, I suffer from Watergate withdrawal. For such a long time there was a geometric pattern of revelation, pause and more revelation that I began to entertain hopes that they'd eventually come up with Tricia as the triggerman for the Wallace shooting, or Lassie as Dick's enamorata. Now I have to settle for wishing the worst to Erlichmann and wondering if they'll get around to Bebe Rebozo. ...

Howard Daniel to Morgans, 13 October 1952 -- "the atmosphere in UN is ghastly at the moment"

Dear Murray and Rosa:

Just a few words to say how much we enjoyed seeing Otto and Phyllis [Goldschmid]: for other things aside, they brought with them the redolence of Trout Lake and hits more human denizens. 

What’s happening out there? Is there much excitement over the elections? Have been Nixiated? We saw him on television and I haven’t been able to keep anything down since. What a menace. I find Stevenson charming cultured humane and intelligent. Will that do the trick? If a Nixon TV job is done just before the elections I fear for the American people. Also, in the Stevenson campaign there don’t seem to be many professionals--by that I mean types like the great McGinty and the other semihoods who get the vote out. Even if Stevenson is elected I wouldn’t be too optimistic about any great change away from butchering civil liberties. There will still be McCarrans, McCarthys, Jenners, Wileys, Woods, Dulles, [Merlyn] Pitzele (excuse the expression) and their spawn.

Sen. Pat McCarran

The atmosphere in UN is ghastly at the moment. A federal fraud jury has been crucifying 36 staff members (all Americans) of course and has now turned the bodies to the McCarran Committee. A few of my friends, two of my staff, and my former boss are pointed toward the lions. The poor bastards have no protection from the UN--indeed many of our top brass would willingly appease McCarran with these dubious morsels in the hope that after a little bloodletting things will quieten down. Little do they know the laws governing carnivores. I expect my character to be assassinated once more. McCarran started on the UN in 1949 and I was on his list, primarily because I had been in UNRRA [United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration]. If he lets loose once more, I shall probably issue a statement, more for publication in Australia than here. What I can say must be dignified or else the people here in UN who don’t like me will use it to fire me. I’d like to challenge McCarran to a duel* --stupidly romantic but there’s little enough one can do anyway.

...

Are you still blasting them on the radio? Your suitcase is now upstairs in the kitchen & as Judy has tripped over it several times it gets nearer to Tacoma. 

Much love,

Howard

*Chamber pots at 6 paces.