patriotismBelow is an excerpt of a conversation of President Nixon's, from the White House Tapes October 19, 1972.
Watergate was proof positive that the title of "President of The United States" does not inherently mean "Man of Honor", that - in fact - every Presidents' action, conversation and life must be watched like a hawk and ethically questioned every single minute they are in our service.
Reminding everyone that Nixon was a bigot, as well, in just another hint at this monumental truth that has fallen by the wayside.
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Nixon: Well, if they've got a leak down at the FBI, why the hell can't
Gray tell us what the hell is left? You know what I mean?...
Haldeman: We know what's left, and we know who leaked it.
Nixon: Somebody in the FBI?
Haldeman:
Yes, sir. Mark Felt. You can't say anything about this because it will
screw up our source and there's a real concern. Mitchell is the only
one who knows about this and he feels strongly that we better not do
anything because--
Nixon: Do anything? Never.
Haldeman:
If we move on him, he'll go out and unload everything. He knows
everything that's to be known in the FBI. He has access to absolutely
everything ...
Nixon: What would you do with Felt?
Haldeman: Well, I asked Dean ...
Nixon: You know what I'd do with him, the bastard? Well that's all I want to hear about it.
Haldeman: I think he wants to be in the top spot.
Nixon: That's a hell of a way for him to get to the top.
Haldeman:
You can figure a lot of--maybe he thought--first of all, he has to
figure that if you stay in as president there's a possibility or
probability Gray will stay on. If McGovern comes in, then you know
Gray's going to be out ...
Nixon: Is he Catholic?
Haldeman: (unintelligible) Jewish.
President Nixon: Christ, put a Jew in there?
Haldeman: Well, that could explain it too.
