Home / Authors / 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.

Filter quotes by topic

All Ifs People War Men Nations President Knows Government Should Way Politics States Thinking World Conservative America Political Presidential Want Years

Famous Richard M. Nixon Quotes

“When the President does it, that means that it's not illegal.”

Mean Doe Political President Republican Conservative Silly Illegal Dumb Liberal Funny Political Stupid Republican Stupid Conservative

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“The great question of the seventies is, shall we surrender to our surroundings, or shall we make our peace with nature and begin to make reparations for the damage we have done to our air, to our land, and to our water?”

Done Water Air Land Conservative Surrender Damage Seventies Surroundings Reparations

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

“Restoring nature to its natural state is a cause beyond party and beyond factions. It has become a common cause of all the people of this country. It is a cause of particular concern to young Americans, because they more than we will reap the grim consequences of our failure to act on programs which are needed now if we are to prevent disaster later.”

People Ifs Country States Young Causes Natural Party Common Particular Needed Consequence Concern Program Conservative Disaster Reap Grim Factions Restoring Failure To Act

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“Clean air, clean water, open spaces - these should once again be the birthright of every American.”

Should Water Space Air Clean Conservative Birthright Clean Water Open Spaces Clean Air

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

“We still think of air as free. But clean air is not free, and neither is clean water. The price tag on pollution control is high. Through our years of past carelessness we incurred a debt to nature, and now that debt is being called.”

Thinking Years Stills Past Water Air Clean Conservative Debt Pollution Tag Carelessness Clean Water Price Tag Clean Air Pollution Control

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

“As our cities and suburbs relentlessly expand, those priceless open spaces needed for recreation areas accessible to their people are swallowed up-often forever. Unless we preserve these spaces while they are still available, we will have none to preserve.”

People Stills Space Cities Forever Needed Areas Conservative Available Preserves Priceless Recreation Suburbs Open Spaces

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

“We can no longer afford to consider air and water common property, free to be abused by anyone without regard to the consequences. Instead, we should begin now to treat them as scarce resources, which we are no more free to contaminate than we are free to throw garbage into our neighbor's yard.”

Should Water Common Air Consequence Resources Treats Regard Property Environmental Conservative Neighbor Pollution Yards Garbage Scarce Air And Water Scarce Resources

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“Nothing is more priceless and more worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature lovers alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share as Americans.”

“...we must strike a balance so that the protection of our irreplaceable heritage becomes as important as its use. The price of economic growth need not and will not be deterioration in the quality of our lives and our surroundings.”

Needs Important Use Growth Quality Our Lives Economic Balance Conservative Protection Strikes Heritage Surroundings Economic Growth Irreplaceable Deterioration

Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1973

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1973

“...because there are no local or State boundaries to the problems of our environment, the Federal Government must play an active, positive role. We can and will set standards. We can and will exercise leadership.”

States Play Problem Government Roles Environment Exercise Standards Conservative Active Boundaries Locals Federal Government Our Environment

Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1973

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1973

“People should not have to pay for pollution they do not cause.”

People Should Causes Pay Conservative Pollution

Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1973

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1973

“The destiny of our land, the air we breathe, the water we drink is not in the mystical hands of an uncontrollable agent, it is in our hands. A future which brings the balancing of our resources-preserving quality with quantity - is a future limited only by the boundaries of our will to get the job done.”

Done Hands Jobs Water Quality Destiny Air Land Drink Resources Conservative Breathe Boundaries Agents Quantity Mystical Uncontrollable Get The Job Done

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

“Because the public lands belong to all Americans, this 1872 Mining Act should be repealed.”

Should Land Conservative Mining Public Lands

Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1973

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1973

“An important measure of our true commitment to environmental quality is our dedication to protecting the wilderness and its inhabitants. We must recognize their ecological significance and preserve them as sources of inspiration and education. And we need them as places of quiet refuge and reflection.”

Needs Important Inspiration Quality Source Quiet Reflection Commitment Environmental Conservative Preserves Wilderness Significance Dedication Refuge Ecological Source Of Inspiration Environmental Quality

Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1973

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1973

“As we work to expand our supplies of energy, we should also recognize that we must balance those efforts with our concern to preserve our environment. In the past, as we have sought new energy sources, we have too often damaged or despoiled our land.”

Should Past Energy Effort Environment Land Source Balance Concern Conservative Preserves Our Environment Supplies Energy Sources New Energy

Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1973

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1973

“The recent upsurge of public concern over environmental questions reflects a belated recognition that man has been too cavalier in his relations with nature. Unless we arrest the depredations that have been inflicted so carelessly on our natural systems-which exist in an intricate set of balances-we face the prospect of ecological disaster.”

Men Has Beens Faces Natural Balance Concern Relation Environmental Conservative Disaster Recognition Ecological Intricate Belated

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

“'Environment' is not an abstract concern, or simply a matter of aesthetics, or of personal taste - although it can and should involve these as well. Man is shaped to a great extent by his surroundings. Our physical nature, our mental health, our culture and institutions, our opportunities for challenge and fulfillment, our very survival - all of these are directly related to and affected by the environment in which we live. They depend upon the continued healthy functioning of the natural systems of the Earth.”