The Quote:
"When the President does it, that means it's not illegal."
Context:
Former President Richard Nixon made this remark to British Journalist, David Frost during a series of televised interviews in 1977. It was Nixon's justification for illegal actions he took a few years prior during the Watergate scandal that ultimately led to his resignation.
The infamous quote came during a discussion about the Huston Plan, a proposal during Nixon's administration to authorize illegal surveillance tactics against anti-war protestors, including burglaries, wiretaps, and mail openings.
Frost asked Nixon whether a president could authorize something illegal if he deemed it to be in the nation's best interest.
Nixon replied, "Well, when the President does it...that means that it is not illegal".
The Claim of Inherant Power
While the short quote is often cited, a broader look at the exchange reveals Nixon's attempt to justify his actions by invoking the concept of executive power in times of crisis. He referenced Abraham Lincoln's actions during the Civil War, suggesting that some acts that might seem unconstitutional could be lawful if done to preserve the nation.
Nixon's assertion was widely and immediately condemned by the public and legal experts. The statement was seen as a brazen admission of his belief that he was above the law.
Who Said It?
Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a U.S. representative, senator from California, and the 36th vice president under Dwight D. Eisenhower. Nixon played a pivotal role in opening diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China and in initiating détente with the Soviet Union. Domestically, he establisfed the Environmental Protection Agency.
Nixon’s presidency, however, was overshadowed by the Watergate scandal, a major political crisis stemming from a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and the subsequent cover-up. Facing almost certain impeachment, he resigned from office in 1974, becoming the only U.S. president to do so.
