Richard Nixon on Nightline with Ted Koppel | FULL INTERVIEW January 7, 1992 

I cried my eyes out when Nixon died. I was 11, but when I was 10 I wrote him a letter and he ACTUALLY wrote me back. It was hand written. I still have it. I asked him if he was friends with the other (at the time) living presidents and what was China like. It was November of '93 when I wrote the letter so I wished him the best in the holiday season. He wrote back that while ex-presidents of the United States are not typically friends in the sense that children think of it, being an ex-president is like being in a very special club and all of the members understand and appreciate how special it is. He also wrote that despite being in a different political party, he really enjoyed the company of Jimmy Carter and said he was the most honest person he had ever met. He said going to China was like going to some bygone era where Farmers still tilled the Earth with simple tools and their hands but the place itself he said was very beautiful.

The passage of time will continue to improve President Nixon’s legacy in my opinion.

Nice to see what journalism used to be...

In this clip, Richard Nixon (78-2 days shy of his 79th birthday) is actually YOUNGER than current first-term president Joe Biden (80). When Biden was first sworn in as senator, Nixon was still the president.

What a great person President Nixon was , just finished one of his books and going out to get another. We need leaders like him today.

Back when interviewers didn’t interrupt because they’re not trying to push an agenda and not trying to make the guest look dumb !

When Nixon was told that most Americans felt they did not know him even at the end of his career, he replied, "Yeah, it's true. And it's not necessary for them to know." A misundersttod and complex man with a very sharp brain .

He was a larger-than-life figure in the arena of foreign policy.

What a brilliant but complicated man. I was a teenager when he left office. He destroyed himself (his own words). But I would vote for him right now, over any politician, and my community college students say the same thing. And imagine this being on late night in America back then. Compare it to what we have now. If there is a disgrace, it is what the media has become.

Ted Koeppel was a brilliant journalist and skilled interviewer. He knew his subject (interviewee) and his subjects (topics). Miss his style and effectiveness!

I am 70 years old and remember Watergate vividly. When Nixon was president, the WORLD knew where AMERICA stood. Nixon was brilliant at foreign affairs. He also had Kissinger to answer what he might miss. I was a proud Nixon backer then as I am now. He should have NEVER been forced out of office.

Name me an American politician today who speaks with the quick, keen, informed, and articulate flow of Nixon.

Nixon was very underrated, and I wish we could have him and his experience in international affairs back today

I gotta say Nixon has gone up tremendously in my estimation. Terrific interview….

I’m going to state my personal opinion of president Nixon: I was in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969 when he came into office. Early in 1969 we g. I.s got a general pay raise which was a very good morale boost. Also he announced that he was going to start bringing the boys back home which was another boost. Later that year the 1st division started to rotate back to the u. S. Well the issue with me was that unit was based at lai khe which was further north from us. Well the rumor was that we were going up there to replace that unit. Well I was getting short at this point but I thinking about staying longer. 2 things happened-first a sniper put a round about 2 feet from my head and second I had already been in combat and I knew going up north would further be bad for my health. So I came home. Richard Nixon was directly and indirectly brought me home safely. I hated Lyndon Johnson because he was responsible for sending us over in the beginning. He was an old has been when he took office and basically the same old has beens are still in office today. I felt Richard Nixon looked out for us and brought us home. If it wasn’t for him, we would have been over there many years longer. I have nothing but respect for him. James jones-u s army-Vietnam 1968-1970.

Nixon, the original victim of cancel culture 😂

It’s fascinating how Nixon essentially predicted quite a few of the international crises that would develop in the decades following his presidency.

Nixon was a misunderstood genius.

Koppel was the master of his craft. A credit to the field

RMN has forgotten more than any of the current politicians will ever know

Nixon was a true American and a highly intelligent man.

He sure can take criticism and deal with it with class.

I'm 64, And President Nixon Was A Part Of My Childhood As An Adult , I Appreciate How Brilliant He Was

Nixon took the time to become an excellent elder statesman and gave great commentary on many topics. Very well spoken and far from perfect and he knew that. Don't see those qualities in any of those in office or running for office today.

Sitting here in 2023 and loving Nixon... Jesus what have we become?

President Nixon was a great president

in reality President NIxon was a great president and was wicked smart, maybe the smartest president ever

Nixon is probably the most well spoken President of all time.

Richard Nixon is the only politician that I have an inkling of respect for.

Despite some flaws, like every president in history, this man was one of the smartest, best foreign policymakers, and most pro American Presidents in our country’s history! R.I.P. Mr. Nixon and thank you for your service to our nation as President, and for sharing your vast knowledge and experience in the years that followed!

A great statesman, intelligent, articulate, and musician. He actually sent my Grandmother a letter thanking her for her sons that are and were true American Veterans.

I'm from The Netherlands/Holland and mr. Nixon was always my favourite American President.

Nixon was a great President. He had his flaws but no US President understood Geopolitics and Geo-economics better than him. After leaving office, future Presidents would ask him for advice on foreign policy issues

Nixon was the most articulate President in my lifetime and i was born when Kennedy was President.

I graduated from High School in 1972. My opinion of Nixon was low back then. Now, as the years have gone by, I understand the true nature of Nixon. What a great foreign policy President. He was sharp in so many ways. Probably one of the smartest and most articulate Presidents we ever had. I would feel safe with him in the White House. What a great leader he was.

I wish we had him for a leader today, Confident, articulate, informed, and Pro-American.

I had a chance to meet Nixon once a few years before he passed. He was as kind and gracious as could be. It was really a great experience.

A great man and true patriot. 🇺🇸

Smart man. Incredibly articulate and sharp. RIP Mr President. Excellent interview, Ted Koppel was always great.

Total respect.

What a strong gentleman at the age of 79…..sadly his prediction was right that he didn’t have much time left….2 years to be exact.

I had cast President Nixon aside as a teenager. Now, in my sixties, I actually enjoy listening to his ibrilliant intellect. It’s very unfortunate that our current leaders are not as articulate, informed, as Nixson.

Nobody knew world leaders and the situation of the world better than Nixon. Nobody then, nobody now.

Thank you Nixon Foundation for posting this.

I liked Nixon.

Nixon was one of the great Presidents of the United states no matter what some critics say.His penetrating mind and his love for his country, are terribly missing today.

Many forgot Koppel, but none forget Richard Nixon, the last intelligent masterful world leader to represent the US.

Like him or not, nobody can deny Nixon was a cunning and brilliant man.

From what I can recall he didn't take any pay for his speaking engagements.

Hunter Thompson bad mouthed him ad nauseum but upon taking a limo ride with him soon got on a rapport discussing football and came away with a positive impression.

Thank you for sharing! This is honestly so profound! Regardless of the fact that Nixon made significant errors in judgment, he is without a doubt absolutely brilliant. His opinions should be considered now and in the future. Everybody benefits from his commitment to the United States and more importantly to the morals and values of the United States.

If you want to understand his greatness, his prestige, his influence, look at who attended his funeral. All the heavyweights were in attendance. Let's not forget that. He had a large political scrotum. He was the most successful and most intelligent president of that century.

He died the next year; it is remarkable that his intellect remained so in tact and so sharp, impressive, until the end. Made his mistakes as present, but a good, nice gentleman, without doubt.

I hope today’s younger people understand how intelligent Richard Nixon was. Exceptionally knowledgeable on foreign affairs and politics. His wisdom holds up today, and will for generations to come.

I miss the days when Americans admired character and intellect in their leaders. It is now a perpetual, classless rerun of Jerry Springer.

This was an excellent interview and it shows that not much has changed

As a small child I lived in Ecuador where my parents were Born. As a naturally born US citizen, I felt pride and gratitude that, as reported on the news, US President Nixon had released a significant amount of milk products to assist the poor sectors of Ecuador, which, at the time had a dismally failing economy. Everything we do has an effect. That action had a deep effect on me. That is why, as an young adult, to have learned about some of the awful things he engaged in leave me conflicted and, certainly, with a pain in my heart. But, I refuse to forget. RIP it up, Mr. President.

In 1993, I saw Ted Koppel on a plane as I walked back to my seat. He was in first class. We made eye contact and nodded at one another. The time before the internet was a great time. Smart people who weren’t compromised were in charge. As a young Marine we felt safe until 1992 and the craziness we see now started in 1992. I saw it first hand.

The man had been around since before Kennedy. Had seen and dealt with most important things of the 20th century. His knowledge would have been greatly appreciated if he was still around at this day and age.

I saw him in person once around 1970 in a parade in San Diego with the President of Mexico. He was smiling and waving.

Rest in heaven, President Nixon

This may be the only forum where I can say this without too much fear of contradiction. Richard M. Nixon was one of the greatest politicians, and also one of our greatest statesman, in the last century or so. But, as a character from Shakespeare so rightly pointed out: "The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones." So it has been with Nixon, alas. He deserved better than he got.

My father met President Nixon and I did too! A true expert at foreign policy. Ted Kopple was just a preview of what the liberal media was

Two statesman, one asking questions and the other answering them. Both concise and to the point.

One of the greatest Presidents of all time. Mount Rushmore he should be on.

Anyone watching this interview regardless of political ideology can't help but be struck by the stark difference in 79-year-old Nixon seen here vs. 80-year-old Biden. The knowledge, confidence, persona, delivery, and lucidity disparity between these two men is as clear as a neon light. Simply put, the Nixon persona vs. the Biden persona is the same difference as chicken salad vs. chicken shit.

Great President!

His analysis was so spot on.

Granted I'm biased towards him (he is from Southern California) but you can't deny the fact he is a smart driven man. Poor kid from Yorba Linda reaches the White House, gotta respect that.

Such a brilliant man in so many regards.

Honored to say that back in 1972, I shook hands with President Nixon at one of his campaign events.

One of the great political minds of his time. A master of domestic as well as international politics. A real genius!

Imagine Biden trying to get through an interview like this.

A survivor… RIP MR PRESIDENT….

Incredible performance by President Nixon. Terrific job here by Ted Koppel.

Greetings from Srilanka ! We respect thee inspite of Watergate !Thanks.

Nixon was a heavyweight. Very bright.

Nixon's prediction was prior to Ross Perot taking a whiz in the corn flakes.

I remember my mom cried when he resigned. It was sad.

Being a democrat this guy is brilliant Ronald Reagan would be his shoe shine boy

After Clinton was elected, he was the first President since Nixon's resignation to return his phone calls. Nixon did have a deep depth of knowledge concerning foreign policy, his criminality notwithstanding.

Nixon was right about Bohemian Grove. Nixon was right about a lot of things.

Great man. RIP Mister President.

I miss both of these two. Ted Koppel was such a professional journalist. I used to watch him almost every night. I was a democrat at the time, but I have to say Nixon sounds very refreshing, especially in comparison to some of our politicians since his time in office.

I never voted for the man but his Grasp of international issues is remarkable.

History will progressively look at him in a kinder fashion as time passes.

This is the man we need today, America was VERY BLESSED to have a good Quaker like Richard Nixon, FAR too rare today! Trump certainly still has some learning to do when it comes to being "civil", but he definitely evokes the "spirit" of Nixon, and that's good enough for me in these troubled times!

❤Very very smart, intelligent man. Love from Finland❤

I've always liked Richard and Ronald Reagan.

"The Media can make a (Democrat) lightweight into a heavyweight"- The absurdities of American politics.

There's one distinct quality in president Nixon that I wholly appreciate and see as a defining characteristic of a man using his speech in an intelligent and honest manner. And that is observed by him not breaking up every sentence he utters by trying to string a story together using the expletive "uh". If you can't speak to me without "uh" being used as a pause in speech to form the next part of what you're trying to get across, I have no reason to believe that you're not lying to me and making it up as you go along.

He knew the truth about people who wear small hats.

if President Nixon saw what had become of the country for which he worked so hard...

Great President and an even greater man.

As A 70 Year Old Woman I Can Honestly Say That Richard Milhouse Nixon Was One Of The Greatest President's That We've Ever Had!!! He Came From Humble Beginning's And A Lot Of The Elite's Absolutely Hated Him For That!!! May GOD Almighty Father Richly Bless You Richard Milhouse Nixon And Your Family And Descendants As Well In Yeshua Jesus Christ's Precious Saviour's Name Shalom And Amen!✝️✝️🛐🛐📛🕊️🕊️🕊️❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥🤰🤱🧬🤰🤱✨👑✨🦁🦁🦁❣️❣️❣️🌺🌺🌺😇🌟🤗🙏🙏🙏🇨🇦🇮🇱♾️🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🗽🦅‼️

Just imagine. This interview was 17 years and 5 months after he was forced out of power. And today it's 31 years and 11 months after the interview. Not too far from twice the length of time.

Nixon is fantastic here, as always.

"Why put this man on TV"? ABC was bugging him to come on! Nixon wasn't asking to come on! Maybe you could answer your own question Ted.

Gracias. Un gran político. Un saludo desde Chile.

Nixon, the best modern President. A true American hero.