On a hot, drizzly Friday in August more than 51 years ago, I stood with other reporters on a temporary riser outside the East Wing of the White House. There, we watched as a disgraced Richard Nixon climbed the stairs to a presidential helicopter, turned at the doorway, extended his arms in a bizarre victory salute, and flew off into history. A short time later, we were ushered into the East Room, where Nixon had earlier given an emotional farewell speech to his staff. Now we witnessed the