Nixon and Cheney. Great Minds Thinking Alike.

The same mindset which was behind Nixon's thinking is evident behind the Bush administrations thinking.

Nixon told Frost:

Frost: Would you say that there are certain situations - and the Huston Plan was one of them - where the president can decide that it's in the best interests of the nation, and do something illegal?

Richard Nixon: Well, when the president does it, that means it is not illegal.

And now Cheney tells Wallace:

WALLACE: This is at the core of the controversies that I want to get to with you in a moment. If the president during war decides to do something to protect the country, is it legal?

CHENEY: General proposition, I'd say yes.

Both administrations believe that if the president does something, then it becomes inherently legal simply because he is the person who has done it. In other words the president is not only above the law, he is the law.

Tags: Cheney, Nixon, presidential power, US constitution