--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Eventually, Nixon ran a very centrist…" description: "\"Eventually, Nixon ran a very centrist presidency, not a Goldwater conservative presidency.\" — Pat Buchanan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d3/pat-buchanan-2005_centrist_eventually-nixon-ran-a-very-centrist-pre_2600173.jpg" --- # Eventually, Nixon ran a very centrist presidency, not a… ![“Eventually, Nixon ran a very centrist presidency, not a Goldwater conservative presidency.” quote by Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d3/pat-buchanan-2005_centrist_eventually-nixon-ran-a-very-centrist-pre_2600173.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d3/pat-buchanan-2005_centrist_eventually-nixon-ran-a-very-centrist-pre_2600173.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d3/pat-buchanan-2005_centrist_eventually-nixon-ran-a-very-centrist-pre_2600173.jpg) > “Eventually, Nixon ran a very centrist presidency, not a Goldwater conservative presidency.” [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) ## 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 presidency was moderate, not aligned with Goldwater’s conservatism. **In simple terms:** Nixon was centrist. Key Takeaway Recognize political nuance. Themes politics ideology moderation Mood analytical critical Type political historical When to use this quote - elections - legislative strategy - public discourse Key Concepts party realignment policy shifts Questions to Reflect On - How do centrist policies affect party identity? - What defines true conservatism today? A Different Perspective Labeling can oversimplify complex policies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Centrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/centrist/) [Centrist Presidency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/centrist-presidency-1937818/) [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Eventually Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eventually-nixon-1937820/) [Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nixon/) [Nixon Ran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nixon-ran-1937819/) [Presidency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidency/) [Ran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ran/) ## Related quotes > [I'm really curious about the memory of Nixon for people who grew up under Clinton. What do people remember of him? In his day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-grossman/i-m-really-curious-about-the-memory-of-nixon-for-people-who-grew-up/) [Austin Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-grossman/) > [In the post-Watergate atmosphere of 1975 and 1976, the just-plain-folks personalities of both Ford and Carter seemed the perfect antidote to Nixon's arrogant, isolated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-greenfield/in-the-post-watergate-atmosphere-of-1975-and-1976-the-just-plain/) [Jeff Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-greenfield/) > [Presidents are always also storytellers, purveyors of useful national mythologies. And surprisingly enough, Richard Nixon, this awkward man who didn't even really like people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/presidents-are-always-also-storytellers-purveyors-of-useful-national/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [Richard Nixon built his presidency on his notorious 'Southern strategy.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kornacki/richard-nixon-built-his-presidency-on-his-notorious-southern-strategy/) [Steve Kornacki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kornacki/) > [Nixon identified himself as a crisis-laden man. He'd reach levels of victory and then he'd plunge into defeat. He was vice president, then he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/nixon-identified-himself-as-a-crisis-laden-man-he-d-reach-levels-of/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [Funny that all of Nixon's crimes - anonymous campaign cash, wiretapping, undeclared wars - are all legal now. Discuss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/funny-that-all-of-nixon-s-crimes-anonymous-campaign-cash-wiretapping/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [I once told Nixon that the Presidency is like being a jackass caught in a hail storm. You've got to just stand there and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/i-once-told-nixon-that-the-presidency-is-like-being-a-jackass-caught/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [You have an imperial presidency that makes Richard Nixon look like a boy scout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/you-have-an-imperial-presidency-that-makes-richard-nixon-look-like-a/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [I know that given great responsibility men sometimes change, but Mr. Nixon's Presidency would worry me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/i-know-that-given-great-responsibility-men-sometimes-change-but-mr/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [By disgracing and degrading the presidency of the United States, by fleeing the White House like a diseased cur, Richard Nixon broke the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/by-disgracing-and-degrading-the-presidency-of-the-united-states-by/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [The Republican Party of Richard Nixon was called to power in 1968 to bring an honorable end to the war in Vietnam and restore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/the-republican-party-of-richard-nixon-was-called-to-power-in-1968-to/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [We need to do more than win an election or win the House or win the presidency, my friends: we need to make this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/we-need-to-do-more-than-win-an-election-or-win-the-house-or-win-the/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [I'm a true centrist: my beliefs put me in the middle... You know what happens to people who drive in the middle of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-m-a-true-centrist-my-beliefs-put-me-in-the-middle-you-know-what/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [Within the paradigm of Democratic politics, even though people probably think I'm a centrist, I'm more a liberal, except for abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/within-the-paradigm-of-democratic-politics-even-though-people/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [How is it that labels like 'centrist' and 'moderate,' which common sense tells us should reflect the views of a majority of Americans, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/how-is-it-that-labels-like-centrist-and-moderate-which-common-sense/) [Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/) ## More by Pat Buchanan > [If U.S. air, naval, missile, and ground forces were not in and around Korea, and if we were not treaty-bound to fight alongside South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/if-u-s-air-naval-missile-and-ground-forces-were-not-in-and-around/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [On the McLaughlin Report, August 26, 1990: 'There are only two groups that are beating the drums for war in the middle East, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/on-the-mclaughlin-report-august-26-1990-there-are-only-two-groups/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [While our bipartisan establishment worships diversity, Trump saw Middle America recoiling from the demographic change brought about by Third World invasions. And he promised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/while-our-bipartisan-establishment-worships-diversity-trump-saw/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [Candidate Trump held out his hand to Vladimir Putin. He rejected further U.S. intervention in Syria other than to smash ISIS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/candidate-trump-held-out-his-hand-to-vladimir-putin-he-rejected/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [There has been sort of, if you will, a moral interventionism on the part of the United States trying to reshape countries in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/there-has-been-sort-of-if-you-will-a-moral-interventionism-on-the/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [Our culture is superior. Our culture is superior because our religion is Christianity and that is the truth that makes men free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/our-culture-is-superior-our-culture-is-superior-because-our-religion/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [I think Trump is a very interesting candidate in this sense: I think he has cross-party appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/i-think-trump-is-a-very-interesting-candidate-in-this-sense-i-think/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [Stop exporting American jobs. Stop exporting American factories, and stop exporting American sovereignty and independence to global institutions like the World Trade Organization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/stop-exporting-american-jobs-stop-exporting-american-factories-and/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [I think that in the minds of many, the press is being seen less and less as a neutral observer in the impeachment enterprise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/i-think-that-in-the-minds-of-many-the-press-is-being-seen-less-and/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [By threatening war against Iran, Iraq and North Korea in his now-famous "Axis of Evil" address, the president painted himself into a corner. Either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/by-threatening-war-against-iran-iraq-and-north-korea-in-his-now/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [I opposed NAFTA in 1993 and '94.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/i-opposed-nafta-in-1993-and-94/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [That a district judge would overrule the president of the United States on a matter of border security in wartime is absurd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/that-a-district-judge-would-overrule-the-president-of-the-united/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [ \[The courts and the media elite\] are abolishing America, they are deconstructing our country ... they have dethroned our God. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/the-courts-and-the-media-elite-are-abolishing-america-they-are/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [Anti-Catholicism is the anti-Semitism of the intellectual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/anti-catholicism-is-the-anti-semitism-of-the-intellectual/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [Russia and China, which have embraced autocratic capitalism, have attracted admirers and emulators by the seeming success of their strongman rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/russia-and-china-which-have-embraced-autocratic-capitalism-have/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) [Explore all 192 Pat Buchanan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) ## More Centrist quotes > [How is it that labels like 'centrist' and 'moderate,' which common sense tells us should reflect the views of a majority of Americans, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/how-is-it-that-labels-like-centrist-and-moderate-which-common-sense/) [Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/) > [Within the paradigm of Democratic politics, even though people probably think I'm a centrist, I'm more a liberal, except for abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/within-the-paradigm-of-democratic-politics-even-though-people/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [I'm a true centrist: my beliefs put me in the middle... You know what happens to people who drive in the middle of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-m-a-true-centrist-my-beliefs-put-me-in-the-middle-you-know-what/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [We're living in a world that's divided into two economies: the economy of the 1%, and the economy of the bottom 99%. I guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/we-re-living-in-a-world-that-s-divided-into-two-economies-the-economy/) [Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/) > [Obama behaves like a centrist who leans tentatively left on certain social programs but boldly right on military force and civil liberties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-k-shipler/obama-behaves-like-a-centrist-who-leans-tentatively-left-on-certain/) [David K. Shipler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-k-shipler/) > [I am not a centrist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-abzug/i-am-not-a-centrist/) [Bella Abzug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-abzug/) > [What I want to try to do is unify the two wings of the Democratic Party. What's considered the more progressive wing of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-i-want-to-try-to-do-is-unify-the-two-wings-of-the-democratic/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Only in Washington can the pursuit of a conservative agenda, with centrist policies, be depicted as liberal reform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/only-in-washington-can-the-pursuit-of-a-conservative-agenda-with/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [My lesson from history is that if there is a strong moderate centrist party which can lead the country, there is no room for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-orban/my-lesson-from-history-is-that-if-there-is-a-strong-moderate-centrist/) [Viktor Orban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-orban/) > [I'm getting a little tired of politicians trying to prove how 'moderate' and 'centrist' they are by taking more of my money and freedom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/i-m-getting-a-little-tired-of-politicians-trying-to-prove-how/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [My audience is much more center right, or centrist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/my-audience-is-much-more-center-right-or-centrist/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [I think that what's actually happening is the collapse of the Center - the centrist semi-coalitions, mildly social-democrat, mildly conservative, that have been running…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-think-that-what-s-actually-happening-is-the-collapse-of-the-center/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Centrist voters typically decide general elections, so hard-left or hard-right platforms don't help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-daley/centrist-voters-typically-decide-general-elections-so-hard-left-or/) [William M. Daley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-daley/) > [I feel like a centrist, an issue-specific person. I'm pretty conservative fiscally and pretty liberal on social issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gordon/i-feel-like-a-centrist-an-issue-specific-person-i-m-pretty/) [Howard Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gordon/) > [I consider my voice to be a centrist moderate voice among the nine Democratic candidates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-graham/i-consider-my-voice-to-be-a-centrist-moderate-voice-among-the-nine/) [Bob Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-graham/) [Browse all 55 Centrist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/centrist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Eventually, Nixon ran a very centrist presidency, not a Goldwater conservative presidency.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pat Buchanan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/eventually-nixon-ran-a-very-centrist-presidency-not-a-goldwater/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Centrist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/eventually-nixon-ran-a-very-centrist-presidency-not-a-goldwater/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d3/pat-buchanan-2005_centrist_eventually-nixon-ran-a-very-centrist-pre_2600173.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d3/pat-buchanan-2005_centrist_eventually-nixon-ran-a-very-centrist-pre_2600173.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d3/pat-buchanan-2005_centrist_eventually-nixon-ran-a-very-centrist-pre_2600173.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Eventually, Nixon ran a very centrist presidency, not a Goldwater conservative presidency.” — Pat Buchanan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Pat Buchanan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Eventually, Nixon ran a very centrist...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/eventually-nixon-ran-a-very-centrist-presidency-not-a-goldwater/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/eventually-nixon-ran-a-very-centrist-presidency-not-a-goldwater/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```