I always will think of Clinton like I did Nixon. All that vast potential, brilliant mind – compromised somewhat by character flaws. Both had consequential Presidencies and accomplished wonderful things – but they could have been truly great but for those character flaws.

I won’t get into the Gordian knot of Nixon’s insecurities and which of the enemies that persecuted him for decades because he went after Communists were right or wrong. It’s complex, like the times and the Man.

But Bill Clinton might have had the “holes” in his behavior and psyche fixed or at least patched up if he had done the one thing he said he “loathed” – Stepping up and serving in the military during the Vietnam War.

He might have died. He might have dishonored himself as Kerry did. Or he might have had the irresponsible, sleazy, grasping “narcissistic little brat” behavior pounded out of him.

As was, Clinton remained incomplete as a person in office – and still is incomplete, now.
But a person well worth listening to, because the brilliance, talent, and some true wisdom is there. Just as Nixon in his Twilight was the guy who clawed his way back to write 6 important books and become the guy whose phone started ringing again by 1976 and never stopped ringing. Too many people, from 4 Presidents to academics to foreign leaders to academics thought Nixon was an invaluable source of advice on a range of subjects. After Nixon died, William Safire gave him tribute for delivering such usually on-mark advice to Dems and Republicans alike, by having the Nixon persona in Purgatory opine on a range of issues in his column.