Tag Archive: Richard Nixon

Chas Freeman: The flea driving the dog

2026-03-23

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2026-03-23

Part of the upcoming “World War III” documentary At a time when it takes great courage, and a great appetite for risk, to speak one’s mind freely about the most important issue in the world right now, it sure is reassuring to see that there important voices that still have what it takes to do so. The interview that follows is a prime example of that. Chas Freeman is a highly distinguished retired American diplomat, polyglot, and author with a...

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Weekly Market Pulse: Happy Anniversary!

2021-08-16

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2021-08-16

Today is the 50th anniversary of the “Nixon shock”, the day President Richard Nixon closed the gold window and ended the post-WWII Bretton Woods currency agreement. That agreement, largely a product of John Maynard Keynes, pegged the dollar to gold and most other currencies to the dollar.

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End of Bretton Woods: A Date Which Will Live in Infamy

2016-08-24

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2016-08-24

Franklin Delano Roosevelt called the Japanese “surprise” attack on the U.S. occupied territory of Hawaii and its naval base Pearl Harbor, “A Date Which Will Live in Infamy.” Similar words should be used for President Nixon’s draconian decision 45 years ago this month that removed America from the last vestiges of the gold standard.

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Why a “Dollar” Should Only Be a Name for a Unit of Gold

2016-07-27

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2016-07-27

Once Upon a Time… Prior to 1933, the name “dollar” was used to refer to a unit of gold that had a weight of 23.22 grains. Since there are 480 grains in one ounce, this means that the name dollar also stood for 0.048 ounce of gold. This in turn, means that one ounce of gold referred to $20.67.

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The Day They Killed the Dollar

2016-07-20

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2016-07-20

LAS VEGAS – It was 113 degrees outside when we rolled through Baker, California, a few days ago. We drove along in comfort, but our sympathies turned to the poor pilgrims who made their way to California in covered wagons. How they must have suffered!

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End of an Era: The Rise and Fall of the Petrodollar System

2016-07-18

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2016-07-18

The chaos that one day will ensue from our 35-year experiment with worldwide fiat money will require a return to money of real value. We will know that day is approaching when oil-producing countries demand gold, or its equivalent, for their oil rather than dollars or euros. The sooner the better.

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