--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nixon had some large achievements in…" description: "\"Nixon had some large achievements in foreign affairs. They will be remembered. But a president probably gets remembered for one thing, and Watergate wi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/bob-woodward-5424_foreign-affairs_nixon-had-some-large-achievements-in-for_1008443.jpg" --- # Nixon had some large achievements in foreign affairs. They… ![“Nixon had some large achievements in foreign affairs. They will be remembered. But a president probably gets remembered for one thing, and Watergate will head the Nixon list, I suspect.” quote by Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/bob-woodward-5424_foreign-affairs_nixon-had-some-large-achievements-in-for_1008443.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/bob-woodward-5424_foreign-affairs_nixon-had-some-large-achievements-in-for_1008443.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/bob-woodward-5424_foreign-affairs_nixon-had-some-large-achievements-in-for_1008443.jpg) > “Nixon had some large achievements in foreign affairs. They will be remembered. But a president probably gets remembered for one thing, and Watergate will head the Nixon list, I suspect.” [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nixon’s foreign successes are noted, but Watergate dominates his legacy. **In simple terms:** One major scandal overshadows other achievements. Key Takeaway Recognize how scandals shape history. Themes politics legacy media history Mood critical reflective Type historical analytical When to use this quote - career analysis - public relations - ethical leadership Key Concepts public perception historical narrative Questions to Reflect On - How do we fairly assess a leader’s full record? - What role does media play in shaping legacy? A Different Perspective Complex legacies can be reduced to single events. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Foreign affairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreign-affairs/) [Head Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/head-nixon-2174338/) [Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nixon/) [Nixon List](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nixon-list-2174337/) [One thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-thing/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President Probably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-probably-624040/) [Remembered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remembered/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Thing Watergate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-watergate-1680115/) [Watergate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watergate/) ## Related quotes > [The great thing about Watergate is, is that the system worked. The American system worked. The press did its job. We did what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-bernstein/the-great-thing-about-watergate-is-is-that-the-system-worked-the/) [Carl Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-bernstein/) > [I learned one thing in Watergate: I was well-intentioned but rationalized illegal behavior. You cannot live your life other than walking in the truth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-learned-one-thing-in-watergate-i-was-well-intentioned-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My 1974 album 'Mind Over Matter' was a detailed thing about Watergate. I always had some righteous indignation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-klein/my-1974-album-mind-over-matter-was-a-detailed-thing-about-watergate-i/) [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) > [Way before Watergate, senior administration officials hid behind anonymity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/way-before-watergate-senior-administration-officials-hid-behind/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [The source known as Deep Throat provided a kind of road map through the scandal. His one consistent message was that the Watergate burglary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/the-source-known-as-deep-throat-provided-a-kind-of-road-map-through/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [Suppose Watergate had not been uncovered? I'd still be on the City Desk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/suppose-watergate-had-not-been-uncovered-i-d-still-be-on-the-city-desk/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [There may yet be another Watergate book. I have thought a book about the aftermath of Watergate and its impact could be done, perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/there-may-yet-be-another-watergate-book-i-have-thought-a-book-about/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [Watergate is an immensely complicated scandal with a cast of characters as varied as a Tolstoy novel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/watergate-is-an-immensely-complicated-scandal-with-a-cast-of/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [I suspect there have been a number of conspiracies that never were described or leaked out. But I suspect none of the magnitude and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/i-suspect-there-have-been-a-number-of-conspiracies-that-never-were/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [It would seem that the Watergate story from beginning to end could be used as a primer on the American political system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/it-would-seem-that-the-watergate-story-from-beginning-to-end-could-be/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [The fact of the Watergate cover-up is not nearly as interesting as the step into making the cover-up. And when you understand the step,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/the-fact-of-the-watergate-cover-up-is-not-nearly-as-interesting-as/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [We're not going to have another Watergate in our lifetime. I'm sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/we-re-not-going-to-have-another-watergate-in-our-lifetime-i-m-sure/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [Lawyers didn't seriously get involved in the Watergate stories until quite late, when we realized we were on to something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/lawyers-didn-t-seriously-get-involved-in-the-watergate-stories-until/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [The biggest rap on me is that I don't find a Watergate every couple of years. Well, Watergate was unique. It's not something Carl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/the-biggest-rap-on-me-is-that-i-don-t-find-a-watergate-every-couple/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [Watergate provides a model case study of the interaction and powers of each of the branches of government. It also is a morality play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/watergate-provides-a-model-case-study-of-the-interaction-and-powers/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) ## More by Bob Woodward > [Certain political figures think when you call them and ask them for a comment; that you are somehow doing something that you shouldn't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/certain-political-figures-think-when-you-call-them-and-ask-them-for-a/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [“Maybe that would be less crucial under Obama, Podesta thought, because Obama's approach was so intellectual. He compared Obama to Spock from Star Trek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/maybe-that-would-be-less-crucial-under-obama-podesta-thought-because/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [Way before Watergate, senior administration officials hid behind anonymity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/way-before-watergate-senior-administration-officials-hid-behind/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [Not a season passes without new disclosures showing Nixon's numerous attempts at criminal use of his presidential powers and in fact the scorn he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/not-a-season-passes-without-new-disclosures-showing-nixon-s-numerous/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [The cloud of doubt that surrounds political figures tends to remain and never dissipate or be clarified.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/the-cloud-of-doubt-that-surrounds-political-figures-tends-to-remain/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [Sometimes,doing nothing is the best reaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/sometimes-doing-nothing-is-the-best-reaction/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [Getting up in the morning and having work you love is what makes life different for people. If you get into a position where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/getting-up-in-the-morning-and-having-work-you-love-is-what-makes-life/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [The number of illegal activities were so large that one was bound to come out and lead to the uncovering of the others. Nixon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/the-number-of-illegal-activities-were-so-large-that-one-was-bound-to/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [The failure of the system to deal quickly was attributable to Nixon's lying, stonewalling and refusal to come clean. So it took 26 months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/the-failure-of-the-system-to-deal-quickly-was-attributable-to-nixon-s/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [The biggest rap on me is that I don't find a Watergate every couple of years. Well, Watergate was unique. It's not something Carl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/the-biggest-rap-on-me-is-that-i-don-t-find-a-watergate-every-couple/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [There are people who take rumors and embellish them in a way that can be devastating. And this pollution has to be eradicated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/there-are-people-who-take-rumors-and-embellish-them-in-a-way-that-can/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [“I'm done doing this!' Obama said, finally erupting. 'We've all agreed on a plan. And we're all going to stick to that plan. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/i-m-done-doing-this-obama-said-finally-erupting-we-ve-all-agreed-on-a/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [“He never really voice pure, raw outrage to me about Watergate or what it represented. The crimes and abuses were background music. Nixon was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/he-never-really-voice-pure-raw-outrage-to-me-about-watergate-or-what/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [It was accountability that Nixon feared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/it-was-accountability-that-nixon-feared/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [Lawyers didn't seriously get involved in the Watergate stories until quite late, when we realized we were on to something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/lawyers-didn-t-seriously-get-involved-in-the-watergate-stories-until/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) [Explore all 100 Bob Woodward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) ## More Foreign affairs quotes > [I don't believe I'll ever get credit for anything I do in foreign affairs, no matter how successful it is, because I didn't go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/i-don-t-believe-i-ll-ever-get-credit-for-anything-i-do-in-foreign/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [German predominance is not all-encompassing. In foreign affairs and military matters, for instance, France and Britain still play a much bigger role. But across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zanny-minton-beddoes/german-predominance-is-not-all-encompassing-in-foreign-affairs-and/) [Zanny Minton Beddoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zanny-minton-beddoes/) > [The success of this Government, and thus the success of our Nation, depends in the last analysis upon the quality.of our career services. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-success-of-this-government-and-thus-the-success-of-our-nation/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [People are always asking me in interviews, 'What do you think of foreign affairs?' I just say, 'I've had a few.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/people-are-always-asking-me-in-interviews-what-do-you-think-of/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [“Thomas Friedman, the New York Times foreign affairs columnist, in his typical fashion, trivialized—and did much to popularize—the “dictator’s dilemma” fallacy by coining a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeny-morozov/thomas-friedman-the-new-york-times-foreign-affairs-columnist-in-his/) [Evgeny Morozov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeny-morozov/) > [As a former Assistant Secretary of State, Senior Director on the National Security Council, and Washington Director for Human Rights Watch, I hope to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-malinowski/as-a-former-assistant-secretary-of-state-senior-director-on-the/) [Tom Malinowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-malinowski/) > [Neville Chamberlain looked at foreign affairs through the wrong end of a municipal drainpipe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/neville-chamberlain-looked-at-foreign-affairs-through-the-wrong-end/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The House Foreign Affairs Committee can and should become the principal institution in Washington exercising foreign policy oversight and serving as an alternative voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-malinowski/the-house-foreign-affairs-committee-can-and-should-become-the/) [Tom Malinowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-malinowski/) > [I studied political science and international relations and had the intention of becoming a journalist or work in foreign affairs. I had no intention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-falardeau/i-studied-political-science-and-international-relations-and-had-the/) [Philippe Falardeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-falardeau/) > [It would be the irony of fate if my administration had to deal chiefly with foreign affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/it-would-be-the-irony-of-fate-if-my-administration-had-to-deal/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [“Now, my dear Mr. Douglas, don't go off on those tiresome foreign affairs. What can it signify which conquers which, or who dethrones who,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-eden/now-my-dear-mr-douglas-don-t-go-off-on-those-tiresome-foreign-affairs/) [Emily Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-eden/) > [John Kerry is going to have a rough tenure as secretary of state. But let's face it: whoever came after Hillary Clinton was going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-grenell/john-kerry-is-going-to-have-a-rough-tenure-as-secretary-of-state-but/) [Richard Grenell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-grenell/) > [“The overall U.S. homeownership rate increased from 64 percent in 1994 to a peak in 2004 with an all-time high of 69.2 percent. Real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilad-atzmon/the-overall-u-s-homeownership-rate-increased-from-64-percent-in-1994/) [Gilad Atzmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilad-atzmon/) > [ None of what we \[as country\] have done is credited. None of the good works. Our foreign affairs budget, foreign aid budget, none of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/none-of-what-we-as-country-have-done-is-credited-none-of-the-good/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“That was very good of him. 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