Archive | June 30, 2011

Marriage 2000: A Time Odyssey

The following passage (CHT Jesse Walker) from Ehrlichman’s Witness to Power: The Nixon Years, quoting Nixon on same-sex marriage in 1970 –

I can’t go that far; that’s the year 2000! Negroes [and whites], okay. But that’s too far!

– irresistibly reminds me of these lines toward the end of the recent Doctor Who episode “Day of the Moon,” set in 1969:

a different Doctor Who and a different Nixon

DOCTOR: Canton just wants to get married. Hell of a reason to kick him out of the FBI.

NIXON: I’m sure something can be arranged. … This person you want to marry – black?

CANTON: Yes …

NIXON: I know what people think of me, but perhaps I’m a little more liberal –

CANTON:he is.

NIXON: I think the moon is far enough for now, don’t you, Mr. Delaware?

CANTON: I figured it might be.

It struck me because I’d seen DW viewers complaining that it was “unrealistic” that Nixon would even have so much as considered the issue of same-sex marriage.


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