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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

“I want to be sure...that nothing is done on these veterans. Is that understood?...Is the word out? That they are not to touch em, they are not to do a thing?...Get a hold of the district police; they're not to touch them, they're to do nothing: Just let em raise Hell.”

Want War Done Hell Understood Police Raises Ems Veteran Vietnam War

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“And I want you to know that I have no intention whatever of ever walking away from the job that the people elected me to do for the people of the United States.”

People Knows Want States Jobs United United States Walking Intention I Want You Walking Away

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

“I'm not for women, frankly, in any job. I don't want any of them around. Thank God we don't have any in the Cabinet.”

Want Jobs Thank God Cabinets

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“I want a Goddamn strong statement on marijuana, I mean one that just tears the ass out of them. You know, its a funny thing, every one of the bastards that are out for legalizing marijuana is Jewish.”

Knows Want Mean Strong Tears Statements Ass Marijuana Funny Things Legalizing Marijuana

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“Now that all the members of the press are so delighted I lost, I'd like to make a statement. As I leave you I want you to know -just think how much you'll be missing. You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore because, gentlemen, this is my last press conference.”

Thinking Knows Want Lasts Lost Missing Politician Members Presses Statements Gentleman Kicks I Want You Conferences Delighted Press Conferences

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“Let me just say this, and I want to say this to the televison audience: I made my mistakes, but in all of my years of public life, I have never profited, never profited from public service”

Want Years Made Mistake Audience Let Me Public Service Public Life My Mistakes

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“Anybody who wants to be an ambassador, wants to pay at least $250,000.”

Want Pay Ambassadors

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“When I grow up, I want to be an honest lawyer so things like that can't happen.”

Want Happens Grows Growing Up Honest Lawyer

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“You want a wife who is intelligent, but not too intelligent.”

Want Wife Intelligent

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“If you want to make beautiful music, you must play the black and the white notes together.”

Ifs Want Play Together Beautiful Black White Music Prejudice Harmony Notes Equality Togetherness Beautiful Music

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“If an individual wants to be a leader and isn't controversial, that means he never stood for anything.”

Ifs Want Mean Individual Leader Controversial

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“Black Americans, no more than white Americans, they do not want more government programs which perpetuate dependency. They don't want to be a colony in a nation.”

Want Government Nations Black White Program Colony Dependency Government Programs

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.”

“The only place you and I disagree is with regard to the bombing. You're so goddamned concerned about the civilians, and I (in contrast) don't give a damn. I don't care.". . . "I'd rather use the nuclear bomb. . . Does that bother you? I just want you to think big.”

“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

“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