Home / Authors / Richard M. Nixon

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

“No president in history has been more vilified or was more vilivied during the time he was President than Lincoln. Those who knew him, his secretaries, have written that he was deeply hurt by what was said about him and drawn about him, but on the other hand, Lincoln had the great strength of character never to display it, always able to stand tall and strong and firm no matter how harsh or unfair the criticism might be. These elements of greatness, of course, inspire us all today.”

“I hereby resign this office of president of the United States.”

States President United United States Office

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.”

“When the death of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt thrust him suddenly into the Presidency in April of 1945 at one of the most critical moments of our history, he met that moment with courage and vision. His farsighted leadership in the postwar era has helped ever since to preserve peace and freedom in the world.”

World Moments President Vision Mets Critical Eras Preserves That Moment Presidency April Thrust Franklin Critical Moments Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1972

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1972

“Defeat doesn't finish a man, quit does. A man is not finished when he's defeated. He's finished when he quits.”

Men Doe President Failure Defeat Finished Quitting Presidential Defeated Tenacity Us President Great Presidents Us Presidential Inspiring Presidential Presidential Leadership

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“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

“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.”

Thinking Men Should Years Able Jobs Political Next President Can Do

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“Our chief justices have probably had more profound and lasting influence on their times and on the direction of the nation than most presidents.”

Nations President Justice Influence Profound Chiefs Lasting Lasting Love Chief Justice

Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1969

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1969

“The American people are entitled to see the president and to hear his views directly, and not to see him only through the press.”

People President Views Presses Entitled Hearing Loss

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“A president can ask for reconciliation in the racial conflict that divides Americans. But reconciliation comes only from the hearts of people.”

People Heart Asks President Conflict Divides Reconciliation

Author: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.”

People Knows Wells President Crooks Watergate

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“Unless a president can protect the privacy of the advice he gets, he cannot get the advice he needs.”

Needs President Advice Protect Privacy

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

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

“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.”

Ifs Believe Jobs President History Innocent Pursue Innocence Investigation Watergate

Author: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.”

Ifs Different President Subjects Stupid Office Suspects Tape Remarks Blunt Containing Candid Confidentiality Different Subjects

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

“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.”

Thinking Should Done Purpose President My Own Decision Views Conversation Should Have Historical Johnson Bad Decision

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“The memory of that scene for me is like a frame of film forever frozen at that moment: the red carpet, the green lawn, the white house, the leaden sky. The new president and his first lady.”

Firsts Moments Film House President Memories White Forever Sky Scene Red Green That Moment White House Frozen Carpet Lawns Red Carpet First Lady

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

“President Johnson and I have a lot in common. We were both born in small towns and we're both fortunate in the fact that we think we married above ourselves.”

Thinking Facts President Born Common Married Towns Fortunate Small Town Johnson President Johnson

Author: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.”

Government President Subjects Exercise Separation Doctrine Branches Executives Questioning Separation Of Powers Executive Branch Executive Power Branches Of Government

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

“Nothing would please the Kremlin more than to have the people of this country choose a second rate president.”

People Country Political Politics President Politician Please Rate Second Rate Kremlin

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“With all the power that a president has, the most important thing to bear in mind is this: You must not give power to a man unless, above everything else, he has character. Character is the most important qualification the president of the United States can have.”

Men Giving Mind Important States Character President Leadership United United States Bears Important Things Qualifications

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“I made my mistakes, but in all of my years in public life, I have never profited, never profited from public serviceI have earned every cent. And in all of my years of public life, I have never obstructed justice. And I think, too, that I could 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 am not a crook. I have earned everything I have got.”

People Thinking Knows Life Years Wells Kind Made President Justice Mistake Welcome Cents Examination Public Service Public Life My Mistakes Crooks

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

“I'm not going to be the first American president to lose a war.”

Firsts War President Loses Vietnam Vietnam War American President

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“The President wants me to argue that he is as powerful a monarch as Louis XIV, only four years at a time, and is not subject to the processes of any court in the land except the court of impeachment.”

Want Years Process President Powerful Four Land Subjects Court Arguing Four Years Want Me Monarchs Impeachment

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“They say it's the responsibility of the media to look at government - especially the President - with a microscope. I don't argue with that, but when they use a proctoscope, it's going too far.”

Looks Use Government Political President Responsibility Democracy Media Arguing Microscopes

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“We have been through, over these years, some difficult times. During the period that I have served as President of the United States, we have been through some difficult times together, and I can only say that the friendship that we have for this nation, the respect and the admiration we have for the people of this nation, their courage, their tenacity, their firmness in the face of very great odds, is one that makes us proud to stand with Israel, as we have in the past in times of trouble, and now to work with Israel in a better time, a time that we trust will be a time of peace.”

“If the President does it, it can't be illegal.”

Ifs Doe President Illegal Presidency

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“The Constitution supposes what the history of all governments demonstrates, that the executive is the branch of power most interested in war and most prone to it. It has accordingly with studied care, vested the question of war in the legislature. [If a president is successful in bypassing the Congress] it is evident that the people are cheated out of the best ingredients in the government, the safeguards of peace which is the greatest of their blessings.”

People Ifs War Government Care President Successful Blessing Constitution Congress Branches Executives Ingredients Evident Legislature Cheated

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“Why would anyone want to be President today? The answer is not one of glory, or fame; today the burdens of the office outweigh its privileges. Its not because the Presidency offers a chance to be somebody, but because it offers a chance to do something.”

Want Today President Chance Answers Offers Fame Office Glory Privilege Burden Presidency

Author:Richard M. Nixon