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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

“Let us build a structure of peace in the world in which the weak are as safe as the strong in which each respects the right of the other to live by a different system in which those who would influence others will do so by the strength of their ideas, and not by the force of their arms. Let us accept that high responsibility not as a burden, but gladly gladly because the chance to build such a peace is the noblest endeavor in which a nation can engage.”

World Ideas Different Strong Force Nations Peace Chance Responsibility Accepting Influence Arms Safe Weak Structure Burden Live By Endeavor

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“What we do with this peace-whether we preserve it and defend it, or whether we lose it and let it slip away-will be the measure of our worthiness of the spirit and sacrifice of the hundreds of thousands who gave their lives in two World Wars, Korea, and in Vietnam.”

World Two War Spirit Loses Sacrifice Preserves War Of The Worlds Vietnam Slips Korea Worthiness Two Worlds

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“The only time in the history of the world that we have had any extended periods of peace is when there has been a balance of power. It is when one nation becomes infinitely more powerful in relation to its potential competitors that the danger of war arises.”

World Has Beens War Nations Powerful Danger Balance Periods Relation Arise Competitors Only Time World History Balance Of Power

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“To me, the most unhappy people in the world are the people ... in Palm Beach- Going to parties every night. Playing golf every afternoon, then bridge. [They have] no purpose.”

People World Purpose Night Party Golf Unhappy Beach Bridges Afternoon Every Night Palms Happy People Playing Golf Unhappy People Palm Beach

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“We, this nation of ours, could be the richest nation in the world. We could be the freest nation in the world - but only if the arts are alive and flourishing can we experience the true meaning of our freedom, and know the full glory of the human spirit.”

Ifs Knows World Humans Art Spirit Nations Alive Glory Human Spirit Flourishing True Meaning

Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1971

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1971

“We must never forget that if the war in Vietnam is lost ... the right of free speech will be extinguished throughout the world.”

Ifs World War Lost Forget Speech Never Forget Vietnam Free Speech

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“You find out who your true friends are not when you are on top of the world, but when the world is on top of you.”

World True Friend Top Of The World

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

“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

“The only way to achieve a practical, livable peace in a world of competing nations is to take the profit out of war.”

World Way War Nations Democracy Achieve Profit Practicals Competing

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“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

“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

“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.”

“This is the greatest week in the history of the world since the Creation, because as a result of what happened in this week, the world is bigger, infinitely.”

World Results History Happened Week Creation Bigger World History

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

“What kind of nation we will be, what kind of world we will live in, whether we shape the future in the image of our hopes, is ours to determine by our actions and our choices.”

World Kind Action Choices Nations Shapes Determine Presidential Our Actions Our Choices

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

“It has been said that Canada is bounded 'on the north by gold, on the west by the East, on the east by history - and on the south by friends'.* We hope that will always be the case and we hope it will be the case not only with respect to the United States, your immediate neighbor to the south, but with respect to all your southern neighbors - and ours - who are bound by the great forces of geography and history which are distinctive to the New World.”

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

“The developing coherence of Asian regional thinking is reflected in a disposition to consider problems and loyalties in regional terms, and to evolve regional approaches to development needs and to the evolution of a New World Order.”

“Neil and Buzz, I am talking to you by telephone from the Oval Office at the White House, and this certainly has to be the most historic telephone call ever made. . . . Because of what you have done, the heavens have become a part of man's world. As you talk to us from the Sea of Tranquility, it inspires us to redouble our efforts to bring peace and tranquility to Earth.”