Richard Nixon came within a gnats eyelash of being impeached over the
Watergate scandal, but ended up resigning instead. Despite some of his positive achievements, he is generally considered a bad president. But what about Trump? Is he worse?
In this episode of Lean to the Left, host Bob Gatty is joined by novelist and podcaster Laura VanWormer, creator of the serialized audio fiction podcast Class of ’74.
The conversation explores the dynamics of political power through a compelling comparison of Donald Trump and Richard Nixon, with VanWormer offering a provocative take on why Nixon—despite his flaws—represented a more functional form of leadership.
Laura also shares her deeply personal journey following a devastating car accident that forced her to step away from writing novels—and how that loss unexpectedly gave rise to Class of ’74, a podcast that blends 1970s nostalgia, political backdrop, and soap-opera storytelling into a modern audio experience enjoyed by listeners around the world.
This episode is a reflection on:
• Political leadership and historical perspective
• Resilience after personal tragedy
• Podcasting as a new literary frontier
• Humor as a survival tool in dark political times
Thoughtful, funny, and deeply human, this conversation is a reminder of the enduring power of storytelling—and the importance of laughter when confronting history and the present moment.
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction to Lean To the Left
00:29 Comparing Trump and Nixon
01:00 Introducing Laura VanWormer
01:13 Laura’s High School Reunion and Podcast
01:55 Weather and Small Talk
03:13 Details About the Class of 74 Podcast
09:00 Laura’s Personal Story and Accident
11:45 The Impact of Laura’s Podcast
13:20 Writing and Voices
13:38 Trump vs. Nixon
14:12 Nixon’s Environmental and Media Policies
15:21 Nixon’s Downfall and Resignation
16:33 Personal Reflections on Nixon Era
17:09 Nixon’s Draft and Popularity
20:32 Comparing Nixon and Trump
21:25 High School Memories and Politics
23:34 Teenagers and Social Media
25:26 Books and Writing Career
26:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
For many years, Bob Gatty worked as a writer, editor, and communications consultant, based on the Washington, DC area with a focus on government and politics. He began at The Pittsburgh Courier, an African American weekly, covering crime and the courts. His salary was $55 per week before moving on to two local Pennsylvania dailies. At age 24, he began reporting for United Press International covering state politics in Pennsylvania and then New Jersey, where he was UPI’s state capitol bureau in Trenton.
Tempted by the allure of Washington, DC and big-time politics, at age 29 Bob became press secretary and chief of staff for two Congressmen – first Republican Edwin B. Forsythe, and then Democrat James J. Florio, who later became governor of New Jersey and until his recent death was a frequent podcast guest and co-host of Bob’s NFN Radio News podcast (now called Lean to the Left).
After seven years on Capitol Hill, Bob opened a communications business in Washington, first providing political media consulting to candidates and then freelance Washington coverage for business and trade magazines, plus creative communications services for trade and professional associations, including social media. This work involved articles and analyses of key governmental developments affecting businesses, such as the food and Health industries, retailing, and the environment.
His work as a communications consultant to trade and professional associations included launching and editing association publications, providing website content and social media assistance, and covering conferences and conventions.
Bob retired from G-Net Strategic Communications in 2016 and moved to Myrtle Beach, SC, where he launched his blog site, first called Not Fake News, now known as Lean to the Left.
Hijacked Nation
In August, 2020, Bob and co-author Chris Waldron, one of Lean to the Left's most loyal and prolific contributor, published "Hijacked Nation-Donald Trump's Attack on America's Greatness," a two-volume compilation of blogs regarding Trump's presidency and the consequences for our nation. A followup volume was published by Luna Global Media in September 2024. It is available at https://amzn.to/4ePrTF7 .
In all three volumes, blogs from Not Fake News and Lean to the Left create a virtual play-by-play of key actions of the Trump administration and Congress. For more information, please visit https://leantotheleft.net/books/, and visit Bob's Author's Page on Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/stores/Bob-Gatty/author/B08C7HWXZ5?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=4e603563-7251-4074-b54d-40800c4ce40a.
The Lean to the Left Podcast
The Lean to the Left podcast provides commentary and interviews with newsmakers and others with interesting stories to tell. Video and audio podcasts stream twice weekly on major channels. More info at https://podcast.leantotheleft.net.
The Lean to the Left YouTube Channel
You'll find all of the audio tracks for the Lean to the Left Podcast here plus original videos, including complete video versions of each podcast.
https://www.youtube.com/@LeantotheLeft.
