"Oh, Shit. That Kid."

Last week we learned that young Fred Thompson was a willing shill for the Nixon administration. This week we learn Nixon's opinion of Thompson.

"Oh shit, that kid," Nixon said when told by his chief of staff, H.R. Haldeman, of Thompson's appointment on Feb. 22, 1973.

"Well, we're stuck with him," Haldeman said.

In a meeting later that day in the Old Executive Office Building, Baker assured Nixon that Thompson was up to the task. "He's tough. He's six feet five inches, a big mean fella," the senator told Nixon.

Remember, this is the key reason Zach Wamp gives for supporting President Fred. More from Nixon:

Nixon expressed concern that Thompson was not "very smart."

"Not extremely so," [Nixon's lawyer, J. Fred] Buzhardt agreed.

"But he's friendly," Nixon said.

He's friendly! Give him some ice cream and a shiny dime and he'll be distracted for hours. Me, I'm just waiting for Thompson's cornpone response to this story, as his strategy for every piece of bad news has been to blow it off with a not-that-funny wisecrack. Remember his response to allegations that he lobbied for a pro-choice group?

I'd just say the flies get bigger in the summertime. I guess the flies are buzzing.

Isn't it time we had a stupid president?