Caryl Chessman Quotes
I am not generally regarded as a pleasant or socially minded fellow.
Chessman, Caryl. Cell 2455, Death Row. Prentice-Hall, 1954, p. 3.
This quotation tells us more about Nixon than Reagan. The latter was known for his extraordinary affability. Even his political enemies enjoyed and sought out his company. Nixon in contrast, no one liked to be around on a personal basis. His inner circle pandered to him to ingratiate themselves and jockey for power and influence but few liked him. Reagan and FDR are at the top of most people’s Presidential affability list while, Nixon fights it our with a few fro last place. Often brilliant at politics, Nixon’s people skills and his interpersonal perceptions were terrible.
Caryl Whittier Chessman was a convicted robber, kidnapper and rapist who was sentenced to death for a series of crimes committed in January 1948 in the Los Angeles area. Chessman was charged with 17 counts and convicted under a loosely interpreted "Little Lindbergh law" – later repealed, but not retroactively – that defined kidnapping as a capital offense under certain circumstances. His case attracted worldwide attention, and helped propel the movement to end the use of capital punishment in the state of California.
