THE WHITE HOUSE: The Deductible President

An American couple that earns a salary of $200,000 a year is theoretically liable for federal taxes as high as $100,000. In 1970 Richard and Pat Nixon, who have an income of more than $200,000 a year, reportedly paid $792.81 in federal income taxes; in 1971 they paid $878.03. Their taxes were the equivalent of those paid by a family of three that earns between $7,500 and $8,500 annually. While the Nixons escaped the category of zero taxpayers, it was only by a pittance.

The reason that the First Family paid so little...

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