Nixon by Nixon: In His Own Words Page #5

which we began,

could save lives, that would be

worth all the rest put together.

Nixon:

One subject that Henry brought up

was that Reston

was in to see him.

Haldeman:
You're kidding!

Nixon:
Yeah.

And I want the goddamn staff

to understand,

and he must not have

understood this,

that the blackout

on the "Times" is total.

Haldeman:
Well, he understood it.

He stood in your office

when we talked about this and you made the

point to him that he was not to see Reston,

that you would not see Reston.

Nixon:
That's right, that's right.

I want you to tell Henry

he should not talk to Reston.

Nixon:
I invite the press in

because I feel very honored

to make this presentation. Reasoner:

The president's relations with the press

are more restricted

and controlled in his behalf

than those of any other

modern-day president.

If you already have one,

that makes two.

We just give you little

trinkets for coming in.

Operator:
Mr. Colson, sir.

Yeah.

Chancellor:

Daniel Schorr is a correspondent for CBS News

in Washington, who is,

like many reporters,

occasionally at odds

with the White House.

It was disclosed today

that the White House ordered

an FBI investigation

of Schorr just after

he had written a story

unflattering to the president.

To a great many citizens

of this country

it is no longer an honorable

thing to be a news broadcaster.

The administration has

set the country against us,

apparently by some design.

Because if you can

discredit the press

then it doesn't matter

much more what they say.

Mr. President, as you

enter this election year,

public-opinion polls indicated

that the American people...

about 50%...

said that you lacked

personal warmth

and compassion.

Why do you suppose

that is?

Without trying to psychoanalyze myself,

because that's your job,

I would simply answer

the question by saying that...

my strong point

is not rhetoric,

it isn't showmanship,

it isn't big promises.

My strong point,

if I have a strong point, is performance.

Nixon:
Rather is just a son of a b*tch,

don't you think?

Colson:

He's going to always be a son of a b*tch.

He's just a bastard period.

Nixon:
Be sure Rather gets a few

nasty notes on his reporting.

I don't know

whether it helps or not.

Colson:
Yeah,

he's very sensitive to that.

Nixon:
Well, have you...

have you arranged that?

Colson:
Yes, sir. And...

Nixon:
I'd hit him hard.

I have a temper.

I control it publicly

rather well.

Reasoner:

He's a very complicated man.

His confidence results from an

intellectual analysis of himself

in relation to all

the factors of his life.

This explains his ability

to make quick accommodations

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