That said, Trump is no Nixon. And today's cowardly Republicans are not as independent as former Republican Senator Howard Baker of Tennessee. Today's Congress has abdicated its responsibilities to be a co-equal branch of government.
The moody Nixon hunkered down in the White House in his final months in office, calling the "liberal" press his enemy and wondering how his "base" had dissipated. By contrast, Trump has his own huge social media following and would be all over the country at mass rallies goading his full-throated followers into the streets.
It is conceivable that the open investigations could continue in the criminal division of the Justice Department, as pointed out by Alan Morrison, our counsel in the Watergate era case against Nixon (see: Nader v. Bork). Trump would be clever to let the legal process drag out interminably. For if he tried to shut down the entire investigation, then that would be "the nuclear option," in Morrison's words (see: "Firing Mueller Is Only the First Step").
But why would Trump have to go that far, already thinking he wields the unlimited presidential pardon power for any contingencies?
Throughout his career, Trump has beaten the law and survived to further enrich himself. He did this as a brazen, foul-mouthed businessman. Imagine, in his mind, now as President and Commander in Chief, with his cowed party holding a veto on any impeachment drive, derisively stomping on the rule of law (see: "Land of the Lawless"). The towering Trump believes he can defy the law, put toadies in high offices, and rid himself of the Lawman as the needs arise. For, as King Louis XIV said: "L'etat, c'est moi."
Remember the vestigial Electoral College that selected Trump against the popular voter's verdict.
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