--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would rather be a one-term President…" description: "\"I would rather be a one-term President and do what I believe is right than to be a two-term President at the cost of seeing America become a second-rac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/richard-m-nixon-727_accepting_i-would-rather-be-a-one-term-president-a_1458139.jpg" --- # I would rather be a one-term President and do what I… ![“I would rather be a one-term President and do what I believe is right than to be a two-term President at the cost of seeing America become a second-race power and to see this Nation accept the first defeat in its proud 190-year history.” quote by Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/richard-m-nixon-727_accepting_i-would-rather-be-a-one-term-president-a_1458139.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/richard-m-nixon-727_accepting_i-would-rather-be-a-one-term-president-a_1458139.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/richard-m-nixon-727_accepting_i-would-rather-be-a-one-term-president-a_1458139.jpg) > “I would rather be a one-term President and do what I believe is right than to be a two-term President at the cost of seeing America become a second-race power and to see this Nation accept the first defeat in its proud 190-year history.” [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing short-term power over principle leads to national decline. **In simple terms:** Short-term ambition harms a nation's future. Key Takeaway Prioritize integrity over tenure. Themes politics ethics leadership Mood cautious determined Type political motivational When to use this quote - election strategy - policy decisions - public statements Key Concepts short-termism national identity political risk Questions to Reflect On - What values guide your leadership? - How to balance ambition with principle? A Different Perspective Short-term gains can cause long-term damage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) ## Related quotes > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [We are America, second to none, and we own the finish line. Don't forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/we-are-america-second-to-none-and-we-own-the-finish-line-don-t-forget/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [It seems to be typical of life in America ... that the second generation has no time to talk to the first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-baldwin/it-seems-to-be-typical-of-life-in-america-that-the-second-generation/) [James A. Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-baldwin/) > [If I were to run for president, it's because I believe in our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/if-i-were-to-run-for-president-it-s-because-i-believe-in-our-country/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [It was a privilege to be president and it is a privilege to be a former president and I believe that I have got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/it-was-a-privilege-to-be-president-and-it-is-a-privilege-to-be-a/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Mr. President, I believe your real problem is that you have somehow been unable to realize that you have won, not only won, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliot-richardson/mr-president-i-believe-your-real-problem-is-that-you-have-somehow/) [Elliot Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliot-richardson/) > [“As president, I believe that robotics can inspire young people to pursue science and engineering. And I also want to keep an eye on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-president-i-believe-that-robotics-can-inspire-young-people-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ I believe Hillary \[Clinton\] should be the president. I believe having her and her husband in the White House is what the country needs . ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-karan/i-believe-hillary-clinton-should-be-the-president-i-believe-having/) [Donna Karan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-karan/) > [I run for president because I believe that we can't just save the American dream; we can expand it to reach more people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/i-run-for-president-because-i-believe-that-we-can-t-just-save-the/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [I am honored to have served. I'm glad I ran. It is a huge honor to be able to be a two-term president. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-am-honored-to-have-served-i-m-glad-i-ran-it-is-a-huge-honor-to-be/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Every first-term president has to learn something after he comes into office. Nobody can be completely ready for the inevitable crises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kissinger/every-first-term-president-has-to-learn-something-after-he-comes-into/) [Henry Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kissinger/) > [It's impossible to overstate the degree to which the '94 GOP revolution shook the political class. Bill Clinton was immediately dismissed as a one-term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kornacki/it-s-impossible-to-overstate-the-degree-to-which-the-94-gop/) [Steve Kornacki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kornacki/) > [I think President Obama is going to be a one-term president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-think-president-obama-is-going-to-be-a-one-term-president/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I see The Rock running in 2020 and being a two-term president. I think he would be great, and I'm joking when I say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-foley/i-see-the-rock-running-in-2020-and-being-a-two-term-president-i-think/) [Mick Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-foley/) > [“The Federal Reserve has always advertised itself as being above politics, impervious to outside influence. This is, of course, nonsense. The chairman is appointed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-dimartino-booth/the-federal-reserve-has-always-advertised-itself-as-being-above/) [Danielle DiMartino Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-dimartino-booth/) ## More by Richard M. Nixon > [I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is opposed to every instinct in my body. But as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-have-never-been-a-quitter-to-leave-office-before-my-term-is/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [I have earned every cent. And in all of my years of public life I have never obstructed justice,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-have-earned-every-cent-and-in-all-of-my-years-of-public-life-i-have/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [Restoring nature to its natural state is a cause beyond party and beyond factions. It has become a common cause of all the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/restoring-nature-to-its-natural-state-is-a-cause-beyond-party-and/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [What kind of nation we will be, what kind of world we will live in, whether we shape the future in the image of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/what-kind-of-nation-we-will-be-what-kind-of-world-we-will-live-in/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [Once you get into this great stream of history you can't get out. You can drown. Or you can be pulled ashore by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/once-you-get-into-this-great-stream-of-history-you-can-t-get-out-you/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [The ultimate test of a nation's character is not how it responds to adversity in war but how it meets the challenge of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/the-ultimate-test-of-a-nation-s-character-is-not-how-it-responds-to/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [History is a pathetic junkyard of broken treaties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/history-is-a-pathetic-junkyard-of-broken-treaties/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [I refuse to make a decision that somebody else can make. The first rule of leadership is to save yourself for the big decision.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-refuse-to-make-a-decision-that-somebody-else-can-make-the-first/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [Those who hate you don't win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/those-who-hate-you-don-t-win-unless-you-hate-them-and-then-you/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [I made my mistakes, but in all of my years in public life, I have never profited, never profited from public serviceI have earned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-made-my-mistakes-but-in-all-of-my-years-in-public-life-i-have-never/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [I know you heard what you thought I said, but what I said isn't what I meant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-know-you-heard-what-you-thought-i-said-but-what-i-said-isn-t-what-i/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [I want to be sure...that nothing is done on these veterans. Is that understood?...Is the word out? That they are not to touch em,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-want-to-be-sure-that-nothing-is-done-on-these-veterans-is-that/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [“Nations not possessing great power can indulge in the luxury of criticism of others; those possessing it have the responsibility of decision. Faced with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/nations-not-possessing-great-power-can-indulge-in-the-luxury-of/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [The peace we seek in the world is not the flimsy peace which is merely an interlude between wars, but a peace which can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/the-peace-we-seek-in-the-world-is-not-the-flimsy-peace-which-is/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) [Explore all 388 Richard M. Nixon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would rather be a one-term President and do what I believe is right than to be a two-term President at the cost of seeing America become a second-race power and to see this Nation accept the first defeat in its proud 190-year history.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard M. 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