faith
1970s Richard Nixon Before “Saturday Night Live” made exaggerated characterizations of politicians popular, there was the Nixon mask bearing a caricature likeness of the president with an unrealistically large nose. This mask marked the first time criticism of a president stepped out of the political world, Selby said. “I think the experience of Watergate damaged the reputation of the presidency, not just him as an individual,” he said. “It made it easier for critics and comedians to actually poke fun at the person.” Thus was born the presidential parody and the complete presence of politicians as pop culture icons.
1990s Bill Clinton Though Clinton’s demeanor, accent and features were often made fun of and parodied, his presence in pop culture comes down to just one sentence: “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.”
48 the burr Fall 2011