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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

“My view is that one should not break up a winning combination.”

Should Winning Views Break Combination Break Up Miscellaneous

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

“The Soviet Union began by banishing God. The United States began as a community of people who wanted to worship God as they chose. . . Man does not live by bread alone. Those in the United States whose desire to create a strictly secular society is as strong as Lenin's was should study this Cold War lesson closely. Communism was defeated by an alliance spearheaded by 'one nation under God.'”

“I believe in building bridges, but we should only build our end of the bridge.”

Should Believe Ends I Believe Building I Believe In Bridges Building Bridges

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“We should set goals within the limits of our resources while working to the limits of our powers.”

Should Goal Limits Resources Setting Goals

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“Law enforcement officers should use only the minimum force necessary in dealing with disorders when they arise. A human life-the life of a student, soldier, or police officer-is a precious thing, and the taking of a life can be justified only as a necessary and last resort.”

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

“Maybe New York shouldn't survive. Maybe it should go through a cycle of destruction.”

Should New York Destruction Cycles

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

“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

“Federal and state laws (should) be changed to no longer make it a crime to possess marijuana for private use.”

Should States Use Funny Law Crime Changed Drug Pot Weed Marijuana Prohibition Cannabis Hemp Smoke Weed Funny Marijuana Illegal Drugs Drug Laws Marijuana Prohibition

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

“The lesson of all history warns us that we should negotiate only when our military superiority is so convincing that we can achieve our objective at the conference table, and deny the aggressor theirs.”

Should War Peace Achieve Military Lessons Tables Deny Objectives Superiority Negotiation Conferences Convincing Negotiating Aggressors

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“I also believe that academic freedom should protect the right of a professor or student to advocate Marxism, socialism, communism, or any other minority viewpoint - no matter how distasteful to the majority, provided...”

Should Believe Matter Students Protect Majority Socialism Communism Minorities Professors Academic Marxism Viewpoints Distasteful Academic Freedom

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“It is sad that it was necessary that Santa Barbara should be the example that had to bring it to the attention of the American people. What is involved is the use of our resources of the sea and of the land in a more effective way and with more concern for preserving the beauty and the natural resources that are so important to any kind of society that we want for the future. The Santa Barbara incident has frankly touched the conscience of the American people.”

“Our idea is to create a situation in which those lands to which we have obligations or in which we have interests, if they are ready to fight a fire, should be able to count on us to furnish the hose and water.”

Ifs Should Ideas Able Fighting Interest Water Situation Fire Land Ready Obligation

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“I don't think a woman should be in any government job whatever. I mean, I really don't. The reason why I do is mainly because they are erratic and emotional.”

Thinking Should Mean Reason Government Jobs Emotional Reason Why Erratic Government Jobs

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“You have my assurance that we will respond with full force should the settlement be violated by North Vietnam.”

Should War Force Vietnam Assurance Vietnam War Settlement

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 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

“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

“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

“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

“'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.”