In the early 1960s, William Safire and other journalists began calling those on the political fringe ‘WingNuts.’ Wingnuts are actual nuts and bolts that look as if they have small wings but they were referring to people whose ideas were on the far extremes of the political center…bright, but odd, people who have popped up throughout our country’s history. I thought you might enjoy revisiting some of our country’s most classic ‘WingNuts!’
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN – Politically a Democrat, ol’ Will was never mainstream. He ran for President three times beginning in 1894, a captivating speaker who frequently invoked God’s name when he spoke, demanding that the country stop using gold to back U.S. currency (“you shall not crucify mankind on a cross of gold”). He opposed evolution in the famous Scopes Monkey trial. His zealousness knew no bounds and for more than a decade he entranced audiences as a speaker on the Chataqua circuit.
UPTON SINCLAIR – Author of nearly 100 novels early in the 20th century, Sinclair championed causes on the left…the working man…an equitable society. In his book The Jungle he wrote of abuses and unsanitary conditions in meat plants that led to the establishment of the Food & Drug Administration. He also penned novels that dealt with abuses in coal mining. His articles on ‘yellow’ journalism led to new rules of ethics. He received a Pulitzer Prize for his writing, yet, turned to politics and ran, unsuccessfully, for Governor of California.
LINUS PAULING – A chemist, biochemist, one of the founders of the fields of quantum chemistry and molecular biology, winner of multiple Nobel prizes and an energetic peace activist, lending his voice to those who opposed the Vietnam War. Author of more than 1200 papers and books, New Science magazine called him one of twenty of the greatest scientists of the 20th century. Yet, he appeared to go off the rails late in his career by espousing the theory, refuted by the medical community, that mega doses of vitamins, particularly ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) guaranteed prolonged health.
RALPH NADER – A crusader for automobile safety, his book, Unsafe at Any Speed, condemned General Motors and Ford for their careless design of the Chevrolet Corvair and Ford Pinto. Location of its rear gas tank led to countless deaths, some from minor rear-end collisions. He then pivoted, using his fame, to run for President four times. In his last bid, in 2000, he garnered enough votes to earn George Bush a victory over Al Gore, forever tarnishing his liberal reputation.
JOSEPH MCCARTHY – A relatively unknown junior Senator from Wisconsin, McCarthy gained fame by stoking fears of widespread Communist influence in the government and the military. The House Un-American Activities Committee had already set the tone by its accusations of the movie industry. Now, beginning in 1950 he and his Senate cronies took their unfounded attacks to another level. His ‘red-baiting’ was finally thwarted and in 1954 he was censured by the entire Senate for his extremist behavior.
ALEXANDER HAIG – A decorated military leader, including Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, as well as Chief of Staff to Presidents Ford and Reagan and Secretary of State under Reagan. Yet his lack of ability on the international stage dealing with China, Israel, and Nicaragua were public embarrassments. His career ended ignominiously following the assassination attempt on President Reagan’s life when, with the President temporarily sidelined, Haig announced to one and all: ‘I’m in charge here.’ He wasn’t!
Now, footnotes in history, the one thing all these men had in common was hubris …feet of clay that destroyed the esteem in which they had been held.