A biography for Richard M. Nixonhasn’t been written yet.
“A president can ask for reconciliation in the racial conflict that divides Americans. But reconciliation comes only from the hearts of people.”
“People react to fear, not love; they don't teach that in Sunday School, but it's true.”
“I don't think that a leader can control, to any great extent, his destiny. Very seldom can he step in and change the situation if the forces of history are running in another direction.”
“Once you get into this great stream of history, you can't get out.”
“We must always remember that America is a great nation today not because of what government did for people but because of what people did for themselves and for one another.”
“Remember, always give your best. Never get discouraged. Never be petty. Always remember, others may hate you. But those who hate you don't win unless you hate them. And then you destroy yourself.”
“My concern today is not with the length of a person's hair but with his conduct.”
“Well, I screwed it up real good, didn't I?”
“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.”
“It is necessary for me to establish a winner image. Therefore, I have to beat somebody.”
“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.”
“I reject the cynical view that politics is a dirty business.”
“As this long and difficult war ends, I would like to address a few special words to the American people: Your steadfastness in supporting our insistence on peace with honor has made peace with honor possible.”
“I see the face of a child. He lives in a great city. He is black. Or he is white. He is Mexican, Italian, Polish. None of that matters. What matters, he's an American child.”
“I've never canceled a subscription to a newspaper because of bad cartoons or editorials. If that were the case, I wouldn't have any newspapers or magazines to read.”
“I let the American people down.”
“If you want to make beautiful music, you must play the black and the white notes together.”
“I'm glad I'm not Brezhnev. Being the Russian leader in the Kremlin. You never know if someone's tape recording what you say.”
“To write a novel, you need an iron butt.”
“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.”