Which option is most likely the historical context of this fictional passage? For years it seemed as if public figures of all kinds were above the law. Now, though, a new era is upon us, in politics at least. We've learned that not even the holder of the highest office in the land can play without a rule book. On the news today, we saw President Nixon walk across the White House lawn and step into the presidential helicopter for the last time. In that moment, it seemed to us that we would all be held to a higher standard of behavior in the years to come.