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Richard M. Nixon

Richard M. Nixon Quotes

37th U.S. President

Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. A Republican, he previously served as a U.S. representative and senator from California and as the 36th vice president under Dwight D. Eisenhower. Nixon is best known for his Cold War foreign policy, including the historic 1972 visit to China, détente with the Soviet Union, and the gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam. However, his presidency was overshadowed by the Watergate scandal, leading to his resignation—the only such case in U.S. history. His legacy remains complex, marked by significant diplomatic achievements and profound ethical failures.

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Famous Richard M. Nixon Quotes

“America will not tolerate being pushed around by anybody, anyplace.”

America Tolerate

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“My telephone calls and meetings and decisions were now parts of a prescribed ritual aimed at making peace with the past; his calls, his meetings and his decisions were already the ones that would shape America's future." (On transfer of power to Gerald R Ford)”

Art America Past Reading Peace Decision History Power Shapes Meetings Ritual Telephones Monarchy Transfers Making Peace Art History

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“When the strongest nation in the world can be tied up for years in a war with no end in sight, when the richest nation in the world can't manage its own economy, when the nation with the greatest tradition of the rule of law is plagued by unprecedented lawlessness, and when the President of the United States cannot travel abroad or to any major city at home without fear of a hostile demonstration - then it's time for new leadership for the United States of America.”

“We must always remember that America is a great nation today not because of what government did for people but because of what people did for themselves and for one another.”

People Government Today America Remember Nations Patriotism Patriotic 4th Of July Great Nations

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“If you think the United States has stood still, who built the largest shopping center in the world?”

Ifs Thinking World Stills States Earth America United United States Humorous Built Shopping Shopping Centers

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“Let us build bridges, my friends, build bridges to human dignity across that gulf that separates black America from white America.”

Humans America Black White My Friends Dignity Bridges Human Dignity Personal Dignity Black America

Author: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.”

Firsts Body America President Term Interest Tomorrow Office Instinct Presidency Noon Quitter

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“This Memorial Day should remind us of the greatness that past generations of Americans achieved from Valley Forge to Vietnam, and it should inspire us with the determination to keep America great and free by keeping America safe and strong in our own time, a time of unique destiny and opportunity for our Nation.”

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1974

“Nothing matters more to the future of this Nation than insuring that our young men and women learn to believe in themselves and believe in their dreams, and that they develop this capacitythat you develop this capacity, so that you keep it all of your lives. I believe one of Americas most priceless assets is the idealism which motivates the young people of America. My generation has invested all that it has, not only its love but its hope and faith, in yours.”

“Let historians not record that when America was the most powerful nation in the world we passed on the other side of the road and allowed the last hopes for peace and freedom of millions of people to be suffocated by the forces of totalitarianism. And so tonightto you, the great silent majority of my fellow AmericansI ask for your support.”

People World Lasts America Asks Force Nations Peace Sides Powerful Millions Support Records Fellows Majority Silent Most Powerful Historian Totalitarianism Silent Majority

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“But above all, what this Congress can be remembered for is opening the way to a new American revolutiona peaceful revolution in which power was turned back to the peoplein which government at all levels was refreshed and renewed and made truly responsive. This can be a revolution as profound, as far-reaching, as exciting as that first revolution almost 200 years agoand it can mean that just 5 years from now America will enter its third century as a young nation new in spirit, with all the vigor and the freshness with which it began its first century.”

“The peace we seek in the world is not the flimsy peace which is merely an interlude between wars, but a peace which can endure for generations to come. It is important that we understand both the necessity and the limitations of America's role in maintaining that peace. Unless we in America work to preserve the peace, there will be no peace. Unless we in America work to preserve freedom, there will be no freedom.”

World Important War America Peace Roles Generations Endure Limitation Preserves Maintaining

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“I would rather be a one-term President and do what I believe is right than to be a two-term President at the cost of seeing America become a second-race power and to see this Nation accept the first defeat in its proud 190-year history.”

Years Firsts Believe Two America I Believe Nations President Term Race Accepting Power Seeing Proud Cost Defeat

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“If, when the chips are down, the worlds most powerful nation, the United States of America, acts like a pitiful, helpless giant, the forces of totalitarianism and anarchy will threaten free nations and free institutions throughout the world.”

“They put the Jewish interest above America's interest and it's about goddamn time that the Jew in America realizes he's an American first and a Jew second.”

Firsts America Interest Realizing Jew

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“The 1970s must be the years when America pays its debt to the past by reclaiming the purity of its air, its waters, and our living environment. It is literally now or never.”

Years America Past Water Pay Environment Air Conservative Debt Purity Now Or Never

Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1970

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1970

“Never has so much military and economic and diplomatic power been used so ineffectively, and if after all of this time, and all of this sacrifice, and all of this support, there is still no end in sight, then I say the time has come for the American people to turn to new leadership not tied to the mistakes and policies of the past.”

People Ifs Stills War Ends America Past Used Turns Mistake Support Sacrifice Economic Military Policy Sight Tied Diplomatic

Author:Richard M. Nixon