Mailer Quote

"Nixon passes through them with the odd stick-like motions which are so much a characteristic of his presence...There is something almost touching in the way he does it, as if sensitive flesh winces at the way he must expose his lack of heart for being warm and really winning in crowds...No, it is not so much that he is a bad actor (for Nixon in a street crowd is radiant with emotion to reach across the prison pen of his own artificial moves and deadly reputation and show that he is sincere) it is rather that he grew up in the worst set of schools for actors in the world-white gloves and church usher, debating team, Young Republicanism, captive of Ike's forensic style-as an actor, Nixon thinks his work is to signify. So if he wants to show someone that he likes them, he must smile; if he wishes to show disapproval of Communism, he frowns; America must be strong, out goes his chest."

I chose this quote because in lecture, the topic of Nixon's awkwardness and shiftiness was discussed in terms of his debate with John F. Kennedy. Also, another blogger commented on Nixon's contrived attempts to appear warm and genial. I think that Mailer commented on these issues comically.