Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s national reputation as a progressive leader took a major hit with the revelation that she compiled a list of vocal critics and sent it to her police department.

The Nixonian tactic of keeping an enemies list, which Wu justified as a security measure, might dent her image as a liberal darling in the national media.

The popular Democrat, the first Asian American mayor in Boston’s history, might have her sights set on higher office in the coming years, with the possible opening of a U.S. Senate seat or appointment to a Democratic Biden administration.

But the enemies list is just the kind of thing that could follow her around the country.

The story about the list, first reported by the Boston Herald, went viral among conservative-leaning media outlets and social media sites, which compared her to former President Richard Nixon.

Getting lumped in with Nixon, who was forced to resign in disgrace because of the Watergate scandal, is never a good thing in politics.

Critics jumped on the revelation of the enemies list, which was first uncovered in an email by her opponents, as evidence that she’s dictatorial and infringing on people’s rights to protest.

The list included anti-vaccine activists who have been protesting outside Wu’s Roslindale home, as well as North End restaurant owners who sued the Wu administration, and City Council candidate Catherine Vitale.

It was compiled as Wu took action against protesters by passing an ordinance prohibiting loud demonstrations outside her home during certain hours.

Vitale said in an email to the Herald that days after the list was forwarded to police she was “strong armed” and had her megaphone confiscated by police. And weeks later she says she was arrested while protesting peacefully at Wu’s home.

A Wu spokesman said the list of 15 people was forwarded to the police department after Wu had been “harassed and physically intimidated” by protesters outside her home and at city functions like parades and coffee hours.

“The request (from police) came after many of the individuals on the list repeatedly impeded the Dorchester Day Parade to harass Mayor Wu and her family and staff, yelling through megaphones at her and her children for nearly ninety minutes as they marched in the parade despite being asked by parade organizers to leave the parade route,” Patron said.

“Following the Dorchester Day Parade on June 5, 2022, Boston Police met with City staff on June 10 to make a safety plan for the upcoming Bunker Hill Day parade on June 12, and the then-Captain of the District overseeing Charlestown asked for a list of individuals who had been involved in public disruption and harassment of the Mayor at the Dorchester Day Parade and outside her house,” he added. “The email was sent as a follow-up immediately after that meeting.”

The disclosure of the critics list – which her opponents call a “hit” list – comes amid increased tension between Wu and the Boston City Council.