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White Rose

More Bacon, Less Hogwash

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The 18^th Century British essayist and critic, Ben Johnson, once remarked: “Language most (shows) a man: Speak, that I may see thee” (1).  Johnson was reflecting upon how a person’s dialect can readily be associated with how he or she was raised and their social class.  Yet the phrase crosses over towards another meaning –to what degree a person’s word is taken seriously when statements translate into deeds. Words reveal more than a person’s status within society -- it also reveals ones conduct throughout life.

Sir Francis Bacon would have agreed. This Elizabethan Age philosopher and Royalist Statesman believed that one’s honor is firmly attached to character. He wrote that no greater shame befalls an individual than to have it be known one is a liar, a manipulator and evader of truth (2).  Sir Bacon was not one who would subscribe to placing modifiers in front of the term “ethics.”

Nor would Truman. Dean Acheson once described Truman as one who  understood “ethics” as simply being ethics. To him, there was no such thing as situational, political or corporate ethics. To men of the caliber of Truman and Bacon, ethics modified is chicanery exposed. 

In an earlier RadioRote article, the subject of  President George W. Bush's decision to first "sidestep" any decision about, then restrict usage of, opening presidential papers for public scrutiny was discussed. The article pointed out: 

When George W Bush signed Executive Order 13233 that if a sitting president decides a former presidents papers would not be released -- even if the former president or his family requests its release -- the papers will ... remain virtually inaccessible. The first consideration may have been for his father who served as Nixon's RNC Chief, CIA Director, Reagan*s Vice President and President of the US. In each capacity his father was involved in national scandals that, if he had not personally obstructed the investigations, stood a good chance of having him face impeachment and/or dismissal.... The question arises whether this enactment safe- guards the nation or the Cult of the Individual (3).

One way we can begin answering that uncertainty is to base it on the information available prior to George W. Bush’s decision to hide presidential material. From there, we may choose to decide on our own – since no one from the executive office feels the need to publicly respond in kind

 

    Next Installment:   White House E-Mail

1. Johnson, Ben. "Timber, or Discoveries Made Upon Men and Matter".

2. Bacon, Francis Sir "The Essays: On Truth." See:  Full Text.

3. RadioRote. "When Does Secrecy Become Conspicuous?" 

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