"There were dragons to slay in the old days. Nixon was a good dragon"

In the quote "There were dragons to kill in the old days. Nixon was a good dragon", political cartoonist Pat Oliphant provides a metaphor-rich reflection on the difficulties dealt with by reporters and social commentators during the presidency of Richard Nixon. To translate this declaration, it's important to look into both the historical context and the symbolic language used.

The term "dragons to kill" creates imagery from mythology and folklore, where dragons are often powerful beasts that symbolize substantial obstacles or risks that must be conquered. This metaphor suggests that throughout Nixon's time in workplace, there were engaging and difficult concerns that demanded attention and action. This era, most notably marked by the Watergate scandal, was rife with political turmoil, deceit, and debate, providing fertile ground for reporters and cartoonists like Oliphant to participate in investigative reporting and commentary.

Describing Nixon as a "good dragon" includes an intriguing dimension to the metaphor. In this context, "good" is not likely to imply virtuous or useful in the standard sense. Rather, it indicates that Nixon was an efficient or tough enemy, supplying sufficient product for social review. His administration's actions and policies presented clear targets for political discourse and activism, hence using chances for the press and public figures to hold power accountable. Nixon, in his effective and questionable function, embodied the essential "dragon"-- a force that demanded conflict and, potentially, slaying, through examination and direct exposure.

Oliphant's quote nostalgically suggests that the age's contentious political environment, while filled with peril, invigorated democratic engagement and journalistic passion. By framing Nixon as a "great dragon", Oliphant recognizes him as a pivotal figure that challenged journalism and galvanized public discourse, ultimately asserting the important role that a free press plays in securing democracy by "slaying" or attending to the proverbial dragons of their time.