Famous Richard Nixon Quotations

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"A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits."
by Richard M. Nixon
"The greatest honor history can bestow is that of peacemaker."
by Richard M. Nixon
"Watergate showed more strengths in our system than weaknesses... The whole country did take part in quite a genuine sense in passing judgment on Richard Nixon."
by Archibald Cox
"When the president does it, that means it is not illegal."
by Richard Milhous Nixon
"You must pursue this investigation of Watergate even if it leads to the president. I'm innocent. You've got to believe I'm innocent. If you don't, take my job."
by Richard Milhous Nixon
"Because of what you have done the heavens have become a part of man's world. And as you talk to us from the Sea of Tranquillity, it inspires us to redouble our efforts to bring peace and Tranquillity to Earth. For one priceless moment, in the whole history of man, all the people on this Earth are truly one. One in their pride in what you have done. One in our prayers that you will return safely to Earth."
by Richard Milhous Nixon
"I've analyzed the best I can ... and I have not found an impeachable offense, and therefore resignation is not an acceptable course."
by Richard Milhous Nixon
"I played by the rules of politics as I found them."
by Richard M. Nixon
"I can take it... The tougher it gets, the cooler I get..."
by Richard Milhous Nixon
"I can see clearly now ... that I was wrong in not acting more decisively and more forthrightly in dealing with Watergate..."
by Richard Milhous Nixon
"I gave 'em a sword. And they stuck it in, and they twisted it with relish. And I guess if I had been in their position, I'd have done the same thing."
by Richard Milhous Nixon
"Certainly in the next 50 years we shall see a woman president, perhaps sooner than you think. A woman can and should be able to do any political job that a man can do."
by Richard M. Nixon
"By taking this action, I hope that I will have hastened the start of the healing."
by Richard M. Nixon
"Once you get into this great stream of history, you can't get out."
by Richard M. Nixon
"I let the American people down."
by Richard M. Nixon
"I have impeached myself by resigning."
by Richard M. Nixon
"If I were to make public these tapes, containing blunt and candid remarks on many different subjects, the confidentiality of the office of the president would always be suspect."
by Richard M. Nixon
"If an individual wants to be a leader and isn't controversial, that means he never stood for anything."
by Richard M. Nixon
"I wish I could give you a lot of advice, based on my experience of winning political debates. But I don't have that experience. My only experience is at losing them."
by Richard M. Nixon
"Rarely have so many people been so wrong about so much."
by Richard M. Nixon
"Politics would be a helluva good business if it weren't for the goddamned people."
by Richard M. Nixon
"People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook. Well, I'm not a crook. I earned everything I've got."
by Richard M. Nixon
"When I retire I'm going to spend my evenings by the fireplace going through those boxes. There are things in there that ought to be burned."
by Richard M. Nixon
"Any lady who is first lady likes being first lady. I don't care what they say, they like it."
by Richard M. Nixon
"The presidency has many problems, but boredom is the least of them."
by Richard M. Nixon
"If you want to make beautiful music, you must play the black and the white notes together."
by Richard M. Nixon
"Remember, always give your best. Never get discouraged. Never be petty. Always remember, others may hate you. But those who hate you don't win unless you hate them. And then you destroy yourself."
by Richard M. Nixon
"It's a piece of cake until you get to the top. You find you can't stop playing the game the way you've always played it."
by Richard M. Nixon
"Solutions are not the answer."
by Richard M. Nixon
"No event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now."
by Richard M. Nixon
"My strong point, if I have a strong point, is performance. I always do more than I say. I always produce more than I promise."
by Richard M. Nixon
"My own view is that taping of conversations for historical purposes was a bad decision on the part of all the presidents. I don't think Kennedy should have done it. I don't think Johnson should have done it, and I don't think we should have done it."
by Richard M. Nixon
"I brought myself down. I impeached myself by resigning."
by Richard M. Nixon
"I believe in the battle-whether it's the battle of a campaign or the battle of this office, which is a continuing battle."
by Richard M. Nixon
"Voters quickly forget what a man says."
by Richard M. Nixon
"Under the doctrine of separation of powers, the manner in which the president personally exercises his assigned executive powers is not subject to questioning by another branch of government."
by Richard M. Nixon
"Never say no when a client asks for something, even if it is the moon. You can always try, and anyhow there is plenty of time afterwards to explain that it was not possible."
by Richard M. Nixon
"I concede!"
by Richard M. Nixon
"If you think the United States has stood still, who built the largest shopping center in the world?"
by Richard M. Nixon
"'Good luck, Mr President,' I said to him. 'As I told you when I named you, I know the country is going to be in good hands with you in the Oval Office.'"
by Richard Milhous Nixon
"A man is not finished when he's defeated he's finished when he quits."
by Richard Milhous Nixon
"A public man must never forget that he loses his usefulness when he as an individual, rather than his policy, becomes the issue."
by Richard M. Nixon
"Always remember, others may hate you- but those who hate you don't win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself"
by Richard Nixon
"Always remember that others may hate you but those who hate you don't win unless you hate them. And then you destroy yourself."
by Richard M. Nixon
"Always remember others may hate you but those who hate you don't win unless you hate them. And then you destroy yourself."
by Richard M. Nixon
"Americans admire a people who can scratch a desert and produce a garden. The Israelis have shown qualities that Americans identify with: guts, patriotism, idealism, a passion for freedom. I have seen it. I know. I believe that."
by Richard M. Nixon
"An American tragedy in which we all have played a part. (On Watergate, announcing pardon of former President Richard M Nixon)"
by Gerald R. Ford
"Any change is resisted because bureaucrats have a vested interest in the chaos in which they exist."
by Richard M. Nixon
"As far as I am concerned now, I have no enemies in the press whatsoever."
by Richard M. Nixon
"As far as I am concerned now, I have no enemies in the press whatsoever"
by Richard Nixon
"As this long and difficult war ends, I would like to address a few special words to the American people: Your steadfastness in supporting our insistence on peace with honor has made peace with honor possible."
by Richard M. Nixon
"As this long and difficult war ends, I would like to address a few special words to ... the American people Your steadfastness in supporting our insistence on peace with honor has made peace with honor possible. (On the Vietnam War)"
by Richard Milhous Nixon
"Because of what you have done the heavens have become a part of man's world. And as you talk to us from the Sea of Tranquillity, it inspires us to redouble our efforts to bring peace and Tranquillity to Earth."
by Richard M. Nixon
"By the time you get dressed, drive out there, play 18 holes and come home, you've blown seven hours. There are better things you can do with your time."
by Richard M. Nixon
"Certainly he is not of the generation that regards honesty as the best policy. However, he does regard it as a policy. (On President Richard M Nixon)"
by Irving Layton
"Castro couldn't even go to the bathroom unless the Soviet Union put the nickel in the toilet."
by Richard M. Nixon
"Defeat doesn't finish a man, quit does. A man is not finished when he's defeated. He's finished when he quits."
by Richard M. Nixon
"Do you realize the responsibility I carry? I'm the only person standing between Richard Nixon and the White House."
by John F. Kennedy
"Don't get the impression that you arouse my anger. You see, one can only be angry with those he respects."
by Richard M. Nixon
"Finishing second in the Olympics gets you silver. Finishing second in politics gets you oblivion."
by Richard M. Nixon
"Get a good night's sleep and don't bug anybody without asking me. (To re-election campaign manager Clark MacGregor)"
by Richard Milhous Nixon
"I am not a crook."
by Richard M. Nixon
"I can take it. The tougher it gets, the cooler I get."
by Richard M. Nixon
"I concede"
by Richard Milhous Nixon
"I don't know anything that builds the will to win better than competitive sports."
by Richard M. Nixon
"I don't think that a leader can control, to any great extent, his destiny. Very seldom can he step in and change the situation if the forces of history are running in another direction."
by Richard M. Nixon
"I had never expected that the China initiative would come to fruition in the form of a Ping-Pong team. (On first friendly overture by People's Republic of China)"
by Richard Milhous Nixon
"I had never expected that the China initiative would come to fruition in the form of a Ping-Pong team."
by Richard M. Nixon
"I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is opposed to every instinct in my body. But as president I must put the interests of America first Therefore, I shall resign the presidency effective at noon tomorrow."
by Richard M. Nixon
"I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is opposed to every instinct in my body. But as president I must put the interests of America first ... Therefore, I shall resign the presidency effective at noon tomorrow."
by Richard Milhous Nixon
"I hereby resign this office of president of the United States."
by Richard Milhous Nixon
"I made my mistakes, but in all my years of public life, I have never profited from public service. I've earned every cent. And in all of my years in public life I have never obstructed justice. And I think, too, that I can say that in my years of public life that I welcome this kind of examination because people have got to know whether or not their President is a crook. Well, I'm not a crook. I've earned everything I've got."
by Richard M. Nixon
"I reject the cynical view that politics is a dirty business."
by Richard M. Nixon
"I turned into the helicopter ... the red carpet was rolled up. ... The White House was behind us now."
by Richard Milhous Nixon
"I took a look around the office. ... I walked out and closed the door behind me. I knew that I would not be back there again. (On leaving the Executive Office Building)"
by Richard Milhous Nixon
"I want you to stonewall it. (To staff on news of break-in at Watergate)"
by Richard Milhous Nixon
"I voted for you during your last election. (To President Richard M Nixon)"
by Mao Zedong
"I welcome this kind of examination because people have got to know whether or not their President is a crook. Well I'm not a crook"
by Richard Nixon
"I was not lying. I said things that later on seemed to be untrue."
by Richard Nixon
"I was under medication when I made the decision to burn the tapes."
by Richard Nixon US President
"I wish I could give you a lot of advice, based on my experience of winning political debates. But I don't have that experience. My only experience is at losing them"
by Richard Nixon
"I wouldn't bet the farm on it, but I'd bet the main house. I wouldn't even bet the outhouse on Mondale."
by Richard Milhous Nixon
"I would have made a good Pope."
by Richard M. Nixon
"I'd rather use the nuclear bomb...Does that bother you I just want you to think big, Henry, for Christ's sake. to Secretary of State Henry Kissinger on escalating the Vietnam War"
by Richard Milhous Nixon
"I'm glad I'm not Brezhnev. Being the Russian leader in the Kremlin. You never know if someone's tape recording what you say."
by Richard M. Nixon
"I've analyzed the best I can... and I have not found an impeachable offense, and therefore resignation is not an acceptable course."
by Richard M. Nixon
"I've never canceled a subscription to a newspaper because of bad cartoons or editorials. If that were the case, I wouldn't have any newspapers or magazines to read."
by Richard M. Nixon
"If we take the route of the permanent handout, the American character will itself be impoverished. (Proposal to reform welfare programs)"
by Richard Milhous Nixon
"If we take the route of the permanent handout, the American character will itself be impoverished."
by Richard M. Nixon
"If you take no risks, you will suffer no defeats. But if you take no risks, you win no victories."
by Richard M. Nixon
"In a free society no one can win all the time. No one can have his way all the time and no one is right all the time."
by Richard M. Nixon
"In the long term we can hope that religion will change the nature of man and reduce conflict. But history is not encouraging in this respect. The bloodiest wars in history have been religious wars."
by Richard M. Nixon
"In the television age, the key distinction is between the candidate who can speak poetry and the one who can only speak prose."
by Richard M. Nixon
"It I talked about Watergate, I was described as struggling to free myself from the morass. If I did not talk about Watergate, I was accused of being out of touch with reality."
by Richard M. Nixon
"It is not too strong a statement to declare that this is the way civilizations begin to die ... None of us has the right to suppose it cannot happen here."
by Richard Milhous Nixon
"Let us begin by committing ourselves to the truth to see it like it is, and tell it like it is, to find the truth, to speak the truth, and to live the truth."
by Richard M. Nixon
"Let us move from the era of confrontation to the era of negotiation."
by Richard M. Nixon
"Life isn't meant to be easy. It's hard to take being on the top - or on the bottom. I guess I'm something of a fatalist. You have to have a sense of history, I think, to survive some of these things... Life is one crisis after another."
by Richard M. Nixon
"Look at the Justice Department, it's full of Jews...The lawyers in government are damn Jews."
by Richard Milhous Nixon
"My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over. (On succeeding Richard M Nixon as president)"
by Gerald R. Ford


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