Henry A. Kissinger

EULOGY FOR RICHARD M. NIXON

April 27, 1994

AS DELIVERED

During the final week of Richard Nixon's life, I often imagined how he would have reacted to the tide of concern, respect, admiration, and affection evoked by his last great battle. His gruff pose of never paying attention to media comment would have been contradicted by a warm glow and the ever so subtle hint that another recital of the commentary would not be unwelcome. And without quite saying so, he would have conveyed that it would mean a lot to him if Julie and Tricia, David and Ed, were told of his friends' pride in this culmination to an astonishing life.

When I learned the final news, by then so expected yet so hard to accept, I felt a deep loss and a profound void. In the words of Shakespeare: "He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again."

In the conduct of foreign policy, Richard Nixon was one of the seminal Presidents. He came into office when the forces of history were moving America from a position of dominance to one of leadership. Dominance reflects strength; leadership must be earned. And Nixon earned that leadership role for his country with courage and skill.

When Nixon took his oath of office, 550,000 Americans were engaged in combat in a place as far away from the United States as it was possible to be; America had no contact with China, the world's most populous nation, or negotiations with the Soviet Union, the other nuclear superpower; most Moslem countries had broken diplomatic relations with the United States; and Middle East diplomacy was stalemated - all of this in the midst of the worst domestic crisis since the Civil War.

When Richard Nixon left office, an agreement to end the war in Vietnam had been concluded and the main lines of all subsequent policy were established: permanent dialogue with China; readiness without illusions to ease tensions with the Soviet Union; a peace process in the Middle East; the beginning, via the European Security Conference, of establishing human rights as an international issue, weakening the Soviet hold on Eastern Europe.

- 2 -

Richard Nixon's foreign policy goals were long-range, and he pursued them without regard to domestic political consequences. When he considered the national interest at stake, he dared confrontations in 1970 and 1972, despite the imminence of elections, and in 1973 in the midst of the worst crisis of his life. And he bore - if with pain - the disapproval of long-time friends and allies over relaxing tensions with China and the Soviet Union. He drew strength from a conviction he often expressed to me: "The price for doing things half-way is no less than for doing them completely. So we might as well do them properly." Then Nixon's greatest accomplishment was as much moral as it was political: to lead from strength at a moment of apparent weakness; to husband the nation's resilience and thus to lay the basis for victory in the Cold War.

Shy and withdrawn, Richard Nixon made himself succeed in the most gregarious of professions and steeled himself to conspicuous acts of extraordinary courage. He held fast in the face of wrenching controversy to his basic theme that the greatest free nation in the world had a duty to lead and no right to abdicate.

Richard Nixon would be so proud that President Clinton and all living former Presidents of the United States are here, symbolizing that his long and sometimes bitter journey had concluded in reconciliation.

I wish that in his final hours I could have told Richard Nixon about Brian McDonnell who, during the Cambodian crisis had been fasting on a bench in Lafayette Park across from the White House until, as he said, President Nixon had redeemed his pledge to withdraw American forces from that anguished country in two months - a promise which was in fact kept. Across the chasm of the decades, Brian called me the day Richard Nixon fell ill and left a message: "When you talk to President Nixon, tell him I am praying for him."

- 3 -

So let us now say goodbye to our gallant friend. He stood on
pinnacles that dissolved into precipices. He achieved greatly
and suffered deeply. But he never gave up. In his solitude, he
envisioned a new international order that would reduce
lingering enmities, strengthen historic friendships, and give
new hope to mankind - a vision where dreams and possibilities
conjoined.

Richard Nixon ended a war and he advanced the vision of
peace of his Quaker youth. He was devoted to his family, he
loved his country, and he considered service his honor. It was
a privilege to have been allowed to help him.

[Y]

2

THE STORY REPEATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND WITHOUT EVER QUITE SAYING SO, HE WOULD HAVE CONVEYED THAT IT

MEAN A LOT TO HIM IF WEKE WOULD BE NICE FOR JULIE AND TRICIA, FOR DAVID AND ED, TO BE OF HIS FRIENDS' PRIDE IN A TOLD BY HIS FRIENDS OF THIS CULMINATION TO AN

ASTONISHING LIFE.

WHEN I LEARNED THE FINAL NEWS, BY THEN SO LONG EXPECTED YET SO HARD TO ACCEPT, I FELT A DEEP LOSS AND A PROFOUND VOID. IN THE WORDS OF SHAKESPEARE: "HE WAS A MAN, TAKE HIM FOR ALL IN ALL, I SHALL NOT LOOK UPON HIS LIKE AGAIN."

3

IN THE CONDUCT OF FOREIGN POLICY, RICHARD NIXON WAS
ONE OF THE SEMINAL PRESIDENTS. HE CAME INTO OFFICE WHEN
THE FORCES OF HISTORY WERE MOVING AMERICA FROM A
POSITION OF DOMINANCE TO ONE OF LEADERSHIP. DOMINANCE
REFLECTS STRENGTH; LEADERSHIP MUST BE EARNED. AND NIXON
EARNED THAT LEADERSHIP ROLE FOR HIS COUNTRY WITH
COURAGE AND SKILL.

WHEN NIXON TOOK HIS OATH OF OFFICE, 550,000 AMERICANS
WERE ENGAGED IN COMBAT IN A PLACE AS FAR AWAY FROM THE
UNITED STATES AS IT WAS POSSIBLE TO BE; AMERICA HAD NO

[Y]

5

THE RELATIONSHIP; A PEACE PROCESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST; THE

ESTABLISHMENT VIA THE EUROPEAN SECURITY CONFERENCE OF

HUMAN RIGHTS AS AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE, WEAKENING THE
UNITED STATES OF EASTERN EUROPE

SOVIET HOLD ON EASTERN EUROPE, NIXON'S GREATEST

ACCOMPLISHMENT WAS AS MUCH MORAL AS IT WAS POLITICAL: TO
LEAD FROM STRENGTH AT A MOMENT OF APPARENT WEAKNESS;

TO HUSBAND THE NATION'S RESILIENCE THROUGHOUT THE

NIGHTMARE OF VIETNAM AND THUS TO LAY THE BASIS FOR

VICTORY IN THE COLD WAR.

[Y]

7

GREATEST FREE NATION IN THE WORLD HAD A DUTY TO LEAD
AND HAD NO RIGHT TO ABDICATE.

RICHARD NIXON WOULD BE SO PROUD THAT PRESIDENT
CLINTON AND ALL FORMER PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES
ARE HERE, SYMBOLIZING THAT HIS LONG AND SOMETIMES BITTER
JOURNEY HAD CONCLUDED IN THE RECONCILIATION HE HAD
ALWAYS CRAVED, EVEN WHEN HE FAILED TO FIND THE GRAMMAR
FOR EXPRESSING IT.

I WISH THAT IN HIS FINAL HOURS I COULD HAVE TOLD
RICHARD NIXON ABOUT BRIAN MCDONNELL WHO, DURING THE

[Y]

8

CAMBODIAN CRISIS HAD BEEN FASTING ON A BENCH IN
LAFAYETTE PARK UNTIL, AS HE SAID, NIXON HAD REDEEMED HIS
PLEDGE TO WITHDRAW AMERICAN FORCES FROM THAT
ANGUISHED COUNTRY IN TWO MONTHS - A PROMISE WHICH WAS
IN FACT KEPT. ACROSS THE CHASM OF THE DECADES, BRIAN
CALLED ME THE DAY RICHARD NIXON FELL ILL AND LEFT A
MESSAGE: "WHEN YOU TALK TO PRESIDENT NIXON, TELL HIM I
AM PRAYING FOR HIM."

SO LET US NOW SAY GOODBYE TO OUR GALLANT FRIEND. HE
STOOD ON PINNACLES THAT DISSOLVED INTO PRECIPICES. HE

1

EULOGY FOR RICHARD M. NIXON

Wednesday, April 27, 1994

When I learned the final news, by then so long expected yet
so hard to accept, I felt a deep loss and a profound void. In
the words of Shakespeare: "He was a man, take him for all in
all, I shall not look upon his like again."

2

When Richard Nixon left office, the main lines of all subsequent policy were established: permanent dialogue with China; readiness to ease tensions with the Soviet Union without illusions about the adversarial nature of the relationship; a peace process in the Middle East; the establishment via the European Security Conference of human rights as an international issue, weakening the Soviet hold on Eastern Europe. Nixon's greatest accomplishment was as much moral as it was political: to lead from strength at a moment of apparent weakness; to husband the nation's resilience through the nightmare of Vietnam and thus to lay the basis for victory in the Cold War.

The reason for Richard Nixon's foreign policy successes was that his goals were long-range and that he pursued them without regard to political consequences. When he considered the national interest at stake, he dared confrontations in 1970 and 1972, despite the imminence of elections, and in 1973 in the midst of the worst crisis of his life. And he bore - if with pain - the disapproval of long-time friends and allies over relaxing tensions with China and the Soviet Union.

Much has been said and written about Richard Nixon's driven quality. But there are two kinds of ambition: to be or to serve. Richard Nixon strove all his life to serve his society

3

and he derived from this his extraordinary self-discipline.
Shy and withdrawn, he made himself succeed in the most
gregarious of professions and steeled himself to conspicuous
acts of extraordinary courage. Far from outgoing, he held fast
- amidst wrenching turmoil - to his basic theme that the
greatest free nation in the world had a duty to lead and had
no right to abdicate.

Richard Nixon would be so proud that President Clinton and
all former Presidents of the United States are here,
symbolizing that his long and sometimes bitter journey had
concluded in the reconciliation he had always craved, even
when he failed to find the grammar for expressing it.

So let us now say goodbye to our gallant friend. He stood on
pinnacles that dissolved into precipices. He achieved greatly
and suffered deeply. But he never gave up. Enveloped in
solitude, he envisaged a new international order that would
reduce lingering enmities, strengthen historic friendships,
and give new hope to mankind - a vision where dreams and
possibilities conjoined.

Richard Nixon ended the war he had inherited and he advanced
the vision of peace of his Quaker youth. He was devoted to his
family, he loved his country, and considered service his
honor. It was a privilege to have been associated with him.

1

# EULOGY FOR RICHARD M. NIXON

## Wednesday, April 27, 1994

2

3

1

726 WORDS

EULOGY FOR RICHARD M. NIXON - 4/26/94

FINAL

DURING THE FINAL WEEK OF RICHARD NIXON'S LIFE, I OFTEN IMAGINED HOW HE WOULD HAVE REACTED TO THE TIDE OF CONCERN, RESPECT, ADMIRATION, AND AFFECTION EVOKED BY HIS LAST GREAT BATTLE. SURELY HE WOULD NOT HAVE ADMITTED TO FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC COMMENT WHILE, WITH SUBTLE INDIRECTION, STEERING THE CONVERSATION TOWARD HEARING THE STORY REPEATED OVER AND OVER

[Y]

2

AGAIN. AND WITHOUT EVER QUITE SAYING SO, HE WOULD HAVE
CONVEYED THAT IT WOULD BE NICE FOR JULIE AND TRICIA, FOR DAVID
AND ED, TO BE TOLD BY HIS FRIENDS OF THIS CULMINATION TO AN
ASTONISHING LIFE.

3

[Y]

WHEN NIXON TOOK HIS OATH OF OFFICE, 550,000 AMERICANS WERE ENGAGED IN COMBAT IN A PLACE AS FAR AWAY FROM THE UNITED STATES AS IT WAS POSSIBLE TO BE; AMERICA HAD NO CONTACT WITH CHINA, THE WORLD'S MOST POPULOUS NATION, OR NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SOVIET UNION, THE OTHER NUCLEAR SUPERPOWER; MOST MOSLEM COUNTRIES HAD BROKEN DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED

4

STATES; AND MIDDLE EAST DIPLOMACY WAS STALEMATED - ALL OF THIS
IN THE MIDST OF THE WORST DOMESTIC CRISIS SINCE THE CIVIL WAR.

WHEN RICHARD NIXON LEFT OFFICE, THE MAIN LINES OF ALL
SUBSEQUENT POLICY WERE ESTABLISHED: PERMANENT DIALOGUE WITH
CHINA; READINESS TO EASE TENSIONS WITH THE SOVIET UNION
WITHOUT ILLUSIONS ABOUT THE ADVERSARIAL NATURE OF THE
RELATIONSHIP; A PEACE PROCESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST; THE
ESTABLISHMENT VIA THE EUROPEAN SECURITY CONFERENCE OF HUMAN
RIGHTS AS AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE, WEAKENING THE SOVIET HOLD ON
EASTERN EUROPE. NIXON'S GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT WAS AS MUCH

[Y]

5

MORAL AS IT WAS POLITICAL: TO LEAD FROM STRENGTH AT A MOMENT OF APPARENT WEAKNESS; TO HUSBAND THE NATION'S RESILIENCE THROUGH THE NIGHTMARE OF VIETNAM AND THUS TO LAY THE BASIS FOR VICTORY IN THE COLD WAR.

Insert

A LOT HAS BEEN SAID AND WRITTEN ABOUT RICHARD NIXON'S DRIVEN QUALITY. BUT THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF AMBITION: TO BE OR TO SERVE. RICHARD NIXON STROVE ALL HIS LIFE TO SERVE HIS SOCIETY AND HE DERIVED FROM THIS HIS EXTRAORDINARY SELF-DISCIPLINE. SHY AND WITHDRAWN, HE MADE HIMSELF SUCCEED IN THE MOST GREGARIOUS OF PROFESSIONS AND STEELED HIMSELF TO CONSPICUOUS

6

ACTS OF EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE. FAR FROM OUTGOING, HE HELD FAST -
AMIDST WRENCHING TURMOIL - TO HIS BASIC THEME THAT THE
GREATEST FREE NATION IN THE WORLD HAD A DUTY TO LEAD AND HAD
NO RIGHT TO ABDICATE.

7

I WISH THAT IN HIS FINAL HOURS I COULD HAVE TOLD RICHARD NIXON ABOUT BRIAN MCDONNELL WHO, DURING THE CAMBODIAN CRISIS HAD BEEN FASTING ON A BENCH IN LAFAYETTE PARK UNTIL, AS HE SAID, NIXON HAD REDEEMED HIS PLEDGE TO WITHDRAW AMERICAN FORCES FROM THAT ANGUISHED COUNTRY IN TWO MONTHS - A PROMISE WHICH WAS IN FACT KEPT. ACROSS THE CHASM OF THE DECADES, BRIAN CALLED ME THE DAY RICHARD NIXON FELL ILL AND LEFT A MESSAGE: "WHEN YOU TALK TO PRESIDENT NIXON, TELL HIM I AM PRAYING FOR HIM."

8

SO LET US NOW SAY GOODBYE TO OUR GALLANT FRIEND. HE STOOD
ON PINNACLES THAT DISSOLVED INTO PRECIPICES. HE ACHIEVED GREATLY
AND SUFFERED DEEPLY. BUT HE NEVER GAVE UP. ENVELOPED IN
SOLITUDE, HE ENVISAGED A NEW INTERNATIONAL ORDER THAT WOULD
REDUCE LINGERING ENMITIES, STRENGTHEN HISTORIC FRIENDSHIPS, AND
GIVE NEW HOPE TO MANKIND - A VISION WHERE DREAMS AND
POSSIBILITIES CONJOINED.

RICHARD NIXON ENDED THE WAR HE HAD INHERITED AND HE
ADVANCED THE VISION OF PEACE OF HIS QUAKER YOUTH. HE WAS
DEVOTED TO HIS FAMILY, HE LOVED HIS COUNTRY, AND CONSIDERED

1

726 WORDS

DURING THE FINAL WEEK OF RICHARD NIXON'S LIFE, I OFTEN IMAGINED HOW HE WOULD HAVE REACTED TO THE TIDE OF CONCERN, RESPECT, ADMIRATION, AND AFFECTION EVOKED BY HIS LAST GREAT BATTLE. SURELY HE WOULD NOT HAVE ADMITTED TO FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC COMMENT WHILE, WITH SUBTLE INDIRECTION, STEERING THE CONVERSATION TOWARD HEARING THE STORY REPEATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND WITHOUT EVER QUITE SAYING SO, HE WOULD HAVE CONVEYED THAT IT WOULD BE NICE FOR JULIE AND TRICIA, FOR DAVID AND ED, TO BE TOLD BY HIS FRIENDS OF THIS CULMINATION TO AN ASTONISHING LIFE.

2

WHEN NIXON TOOK HIS OATH OF OFFICE, 550,000 AMERICANS WERE ENGAGED IN COMBAT IN A PLACE AS FAR AWAY FROM THE UNITED STATES AS IT WAS POSSIBLE TO BE; AMERICA HAD NO CONTACT WITH CHINA, THE WORLD'S MOST POPULOUS NATION, OR NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SOVIET UNION, THE OTHER NUCLEAR SUPERPOWER; MOST MOSLEM COUNTRIES HAD BROKEN DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES; AND MIDDLE EAST DIPLOMACY WAS STALEMATED - ALL OF THIS IN THE MIDST OF THE WORST DOMESTIC CRISIS SINCE THE CIVIL WAR.

3

WHEN RICHARD NIXON LEFT OFFICE, THE MAIN LINES OF ALL SUBSEQUENT POLICY WERE ESTABLISHED: PERMANENT DIALOGUE WITH CHINA; READINESS TO EASE TENSIONS WITH THE SOVIET UNION WITHOUT ILLUSIONS ABOUT THE ADVERSARIAL NATURE OF THE RELATIONSHIP; A PEACE PROCESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST; THE ESTABLISHMENT VIA THE EUROPEAN SECURITY CONFERENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AS AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE, WEAKENING THE SOVIET HOLD ON EASTERN EUROPE. NIXON'S GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT WAS AS MUCH MORAL AS IT WAS POLITICAL: TO LEAD FROM STRENGTH AT A MOMENT OF APPARENT WEAKNESS; TO HUSBAND THE NATION'S RESILIENCE THROUGH THE NIGHTMARE OF VIETNAM AND THUS TO LAY THE BASIS FOR VICTORY IN THE COLD WAR.

MUCH HAS BEEN SAID AND WRITTEN ABOUT RICHARD NIXON'S DRIVEN QUALITY. BUT THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF AMBITION: TO BE OR TO SERVE. RICHARD NIXON STROVE ALL HIS LIFE TO SERVE HIS SOCIETY AND HE DERIVED FROM THIS HIS EXTRAORDINARY SELF-DISCIPLINE.

[Y]

4

SHY AND WITHDRAWN, HE MADE HIMSELF SUCCEED IN THE MOST
GREGARIOUS OF PROFESSIONS AND STEELED HIMSELF TO CONSPICUOUS
ACTS OF EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE. FAR FROM OUTGOING, HE HELD FAST
- AMIDST WRENCHING TURMOIL - TO HIS BASIC THEME THAT THE
GREATEST FREE NATION IN THE WORLD HAD A DUTY TO LEAD AND HAD
NO RIGHT TO ABDICATE.

I WISH THAT IN HIS FINAL HOURS I COULD HAVE TOLD RICHARD
NIXON ABOUT BRIAN MCDONNELL WHO, DURING THE CAMBODIAN CRISIS
HAD BEEN FASTING ON A BENCH IN LAFAYETTE PARK UNTIL, AS HE
SAID, NIXON HAD REDEEMED HIS PLEDGE TO WITHDRAW AMERICAN
FORCES FROM THAT ANGUISHED COUNTRY IN TWO MONTHS - A PROMISE

5

RICHARD NIXON ENDED THE WAR HE HAD INHERITED AND HE ADVANCED THE VISION OF PEACE OF HIS QUAKER YOUTH. HE WAS DEVOTED TO HIS FAMILY, HE LOVED HIS COUNTRY, AND CONSIDERED SERVICE HIS HONOR. IT WAS A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH HIM.

THE REASON FOR RICHARD NIXON'S FOREIGN POLICY SUCCESSES
WAS THAT HIS GOALS WERE LONG-RANGE AND THAT HE PURSUED THEM
WITHOUT REGARD TO POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES. WHEN HE CONSIDERED
THE NATIONAL INTEREST AT STAKE, HE DARED CONFRONTATIONS IN
1970 AND 1972, DESPITE THE IMMINENCE OF ELECTIONS, AND IN 1973
IN THE MIDST OF THE WORST CRISIS OF HIS LIFE. AND HE BORE -
IF WITH PAIN - THE DISAPPROVAL OF LONG-TIME FRIENDS AND ALLIES
OVER RELAXING TENSIONS WITH CHINA AND THE SOVIET UNION.

1

726 WORDS

2

3

[Y]

Insert

A. MUCH HAS BEEN SAID AND WRITTEN ABOUT RICHARD NIXON'S DRIVEN QUALITY. BUT THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF AMBITION: TO BE OR TO SERVE. RICHARD NIXON STROVE ALL HIS LIFE TO SERVE HIS SOCIETY AND HE DERIVED FROM THIS HIS EXTRAORDINARY SELF-DISCIPLINE.

[Y]

4

[Y]

5

1

726 WORDS

FINAL

[Y]

2

3

4

[Y]

5

6

MUCH HAS BEEN SAID AND WRITTEN ABOUT RICHARD NIXON'S
DRIVEN QUALITY. BUT THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF AMBITION: TO
BE OR TO SERVE. RICHARD NIXON STROVE ALL HIS LIFE TO
SERVE HIS SOCIETY AND HE DERIVED FROM THIS HIS
EXTRAORDINARY SELF-DISCIPLINE. SHY AND WITHDRAWN, HE
MADE HIMSELF SUCCEED IN THE MOST GREGARIOUS OF
PROFESSIONS AND STEELED HIMSELF TO CONSPICUOUS ACTS OF
EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE. FAR FROM OUTGOING, HE HELD FAST
- AMIDST WRENCHING TURMOIL - TO HIS BASIC THEME THAT THE

7

8

9

726 WORDS

During the final week of Richard Nixon's life, I often imagined how he would have reacted to the tide of concern, respect, admiration, and affection evoked by his last great battle. Surely he would not have admitted to following the public comment while, with subtle indirection, steering the conversation toward hearing the story repeated over and over again. And without ever quite saying so, he would have conveyed that it would be nice for Julie and Tricia, for David and Ed, to be told by his friends of this culmination to an astonishing life.

2

[Y]

3

Much has been said and written about Richard Nixon's driven quality. But there are two kinds of ambition: to be or to serve. Richard Nixon strove all his life to serve his society and he derived from this his extraordinary self-discipline.

[Y]

4

I wish that in his final hours I could have told Richard Nixon about Brian McDonnell who, during the Cambodian crisis had been fasting on a bench in Lafayette Park until, as he said, Nixon had redeemed his pledge to withdraw American forces from that anguished country in two months - a promise

5

which was in fact kept. Across the chasm of the decades, he
called me the day Richard Nixon fell ill and left a message:
"When you talk to President Nixon, tell him I am praying for
him."

APR-26-1994 10:04

FROM GOLDHAMMER

TO

7590042 P.12

1

724 WORDS

EULOGY FOR RICHARD M. NIXON - 4/25/94 - FINAL

When I learned the final news, by then so long expected yet so hard to accept, I felt a deep loss and a profound void. A man had passed the likes of whom we would not see soon again.

APR-26-1994

10:04

FROM GOLDHAMMER

TO

7590042

[Y]

2

In the conduct of foreign policy, Richard Nixon was one of the seminal Presidents. He came into office when the forces of history were moving America from a position of dominance to one of leadership. Dominance reflects strength; leadership earned leadership skills for his country must be earned. And Nixon managed that transition with courage and skill.

HPR-26-1994

10:05

FROM GOLDHAMMER

TO

7590042

[Y]

political engagement with the Soviet Union; a peace process in
the Middle East; the establishment via the European Security
Conference of human rights as an international issue,
weakening the Soviet hold on Eastern Europe. Nixon's ultimate
accomplishment was as much moral as it was political: to lead
from strength at a moment of apparent weakness; to husband the
nation's resilience through the nightmare of Vietnam and thus
to lay the basis for victory in the Cold War.

Much has been said and written about Richard Nixon's driven
quality. But there are two kinds of ambition: to be or to
serve. Richard Nixon strove all his life to serve his society
and he derived from this his extraordinary self-discipline.
Shy and withdrawn, he made himself succeed in the most
gregarious of professions and steeled himself to conspicuous
acts of extraordinary courage. Far from outgoing, he held fast
- amidst wrenching turmoil - to his basic theme that the

APR-26-1994 10:05

FROM GOLDHAMMER

TO

7590042

[Y]

4

greatest free nation in the world had a duty to lead toward no right to abdicate, peace and progress.

and so

Richard Nixon

I wish that in his final hours I could have told him about Brian McDonnell who, during the Cambodian crisis had been fasting on a bench in Lafayette Park until, as he said, Nixon had redeemed his pledge to withdraw American forces from that anguished country in two months - a promise which was in fact kept. twenty-four years ago, Brian could not be convinced of Nixon's sincerity. But across the chasm of the decades, he called me the day Richard Nixon fell ill and left a message: "When you talk to President Nixon, tell him I am praying for him."

APR-26-1994

10:06

FROM GOLDHAMMER

TO

7590042

[Y]

So let us now say goodbye to our gallant friend. He stood on pinnacles that seemed to dissolve into precipices. He achieved greatly and suffered deeply. But he never gave up. Enveloped in solitude, he envisaged a new international order that would reduce lingering enmities, strengthen historic friendships, and give new hope to mankind - a vision of America and humanity, where dreams and possibilities conjoined.

Richard Nixon ended the war he had inherited and he advanced the dreams of peace of his Quaker youth. He was devoted to his family, he loved his country, and considered service his honor. It was a privilege to have been associated with him.

TOTAL P. 16

722 WORDS

1

[Y]

2

In the conduct of foreign policy, Richard Nixon was one of the seminal Presidents. He came into office when the forces of history were moving America from a position of dominance to one of leadership. Dominance reflects strength; leadership must be earned. And Nixon managed that transition with courage and skill.

When Richard Nixon left office, the main lines of all subsequent policy were established: dialogue with China;

X

[LYJ]

3

X

4

greatest free nation in the world had a duty to lead toward
peace and progress.

I wish that in his final hours I could have told him about
Brian McDonnell who, during the Cambodian crisis had been
fasting on a bench in Lafayette Park until, as he said, he had
redeemed Nixon's pledge to withdraw American forces from that
country in two months - a promise which was in fact kept.
Twenty-four years ago, Brian could not be convinced of Nixon's
sincerity. But across the chasm of the decades, he called me
the day Richard Nixon fell ill and left a message: "When you
talk to President Nixon, tell him I am praying for him."

[Y]

X

5

So let us now say goodbye to our gallant friend. He stood on
pinnacles that seemed to dissolve into precipices. He achieved
greatly and suffered deeply. But he never gave up. Enveloped
in solitude, he envisaged a new international order that would
reduce lingering enmities, strengthen historic friendships,
and give new hope to emerging nations - a vision of America
and humanity where dreams and possibilities conjoined.

APR-25-1994 18:33

RIVER HOUSE

APR-25-1994 16:41

PRUM GULUMMITEK

P.06

political engagement with the Soviet Union; a peace process in
the Middle East; the establishment via the European Security
Conference of human rights as an international issue,
weakening the Soviet hold on Eastern Europe. Nixon's ultimate
accomplishment was as much moral—as it was political: to
lead from strength at a moment of apparent weakness; to
husband the nation's resilience through the nightmare of
Vietnam and thus to lay the basis for victory in the Cold War.

APR-25-1994 18:33

APR-25-1994 16:41

RIVER HOUSE

FROM GOLDHAMMER

4

I wish that in his final hours I could have told him about
Brian McDonnell who, during the Cambodian crisis had been
fasting on a bench in Lafayette Park until, as he said, he said,
redeemed Nixon's pledge to well-being
American forces withdrew from that country, a promise that
was in fact kept. Twenty-four years ago, Brian could not be
convinced of Nixon's sincerity, in promising to withdraw within
two months. But across the chasm of the decades, he called me
the day Richard Nixon fell ill and left a message: "When you
talk to President Nixon, tell him I am praying for him."

TOTAL P.07

715 WORDS

EULOGY FOR RICHARD M. NIXON - 4/25/94 -FINAL

[Y]

2

[Y]

3

political engagement with the Soviet Union; a peace process in
the Middle East; the establishment via the European Security
Conference of human rights as an international issue,
weakening the Soviet hold on Eastern Europe. Nixon's ultimate
accomplishment was as much spiritual as it was political: to
lead from strength at a moment of apparent weakness; to
husband the nation's resilience through the nightmare of
Vietnam and thus to lay the basis for victory in the Cold War.

X

[Y]

4

I wish that in his final hours I could have told him about
Brian McDonnell who, during the Cambodian crisis had been
fasting on a bench in Lafayette Park until, as he said,
American forces withdrew from that country - a promise that
was in fact kept. Twenty-four years ago, Brian could not be
convinced of Nixon's sincerity in promising to withdraw within
two months. But across the chasm of the decades, he called me
the day Richard Nixon fell ill and left a message: "When you
talk to President Nixon, tell him I am praying for him."

X

5

[Y]

X

APR-25-1994 15:07

FROM GOLDHAMMER

TO

7590042 P.01

1

823 WORDS

EULOGY FOR RICHARD M. NIXON - 4/25/94 - Late PM

During the final week of Richard Nixon's life, I often imagined how he would have reacted to the tide of concern, respect, admiration, and affection ~~than his last great~~ *struggle evoked*. Surely he would not have admitted to following the public comment while, with subtle indirection, steering the conversation toward hearing the story repeated over and over again. And without ever quite saying so, he would have conveyed that it would be nice for Julie and Tricia, for David and Ed, to be told by his friends of this culmination to an astonishing life.

When I learned the final news, by then so long expected yet so hard to accept, I was seized by a profound sense of void. A

PR-25-1994

15:07

FROM GOLDHAMMER

TO

7590042 P.02

man had passed the like of whom, in Shakespeare's words, we
would not see again.

In the conduct of foreign policy, Richard Nixon was one of
the seminal Presidents of the United States. He came into
office when the forces of history were moving America from a
position of dominance to one of leadership. Dominance reflects
strength; leadership must be earned. And Nixon managed that
transition with courage and skill.

When Nixon took his oath of office, 550,000 Americans were
engaged in combat in a place as far away from the United
States as it was possible to be; when America had no contact
with China, the world's most populous nation, or negotiations
with the Soviet Union, the other nuclear superpower; when most
Moslem countries had broken diplomatic relations with the
United States; and Middle East diplomacy was stalemated - all

APR-25-1994 15:08

FROM GOLDHAMMER

TO

7590042 P.03

When Richard Nixon left office, the main lines of all
subsequent policy were established: dialogue with China;
political engagement with the Soviet Union; a peace process in
the Middle East; the establishment via the European Security
Conference of human rights as an international issue,
weakening the Soviet hold on Eastern Europe.

Nixon achieved these results because he was above all a strategist. His ultimate accomplishment was as much spiritual as it was political: to lead from strength at a moment of apparent weakness; to husband the nation's resilience through the nightmare of Vietnam and thus to lay the basis for victory in the Cold War. Nixon saw his ultimate task as keeping America's frustrations from turning into self-doubt and the conventional criticism of overextension from becoming an

APR-25-1994

15:08

FROM GOLDHAMMER

TO

7590042

excuse for abdication from America's global role. He was not ashamed to use the national interest as a lodestar to distinguish the circumstances in which America's role was indispensable from those in which it was merely helpful, and in enabling his society to sustain its duties without tearing itself apart.

Much has been said and written about Richard Nixon's driven quality [nature] But there are two kinds of ambition: to be or to serve. Richard Nixon strove all his life to serve his society and he derived from this his extraordinary self-discipline. Shy and withdrawn, he made himself succeed in the most gregarious of professions. Not by nature courageous, he and] steeled himself to conspicuous acts of extraordinary courage.

Far from outgoing, he held fast - amidst wrenching turmoil - to his basic theme that the greatest free nation in the world had a duty to lead toward peace and progress.

APR-25-1994 15:09

FROM GOLDHAMMER

TO

7590042 P.06

6

Richard Nixon ended the wars he had inherited and he advanced
the dreams of peace of his Quaker youth. He was devoted to his
family, he loved his country, and considered service his
honor. It was a privilege to have been associated with him.

TOTAL P.06

1

823 WORDS

# EULOGY FOR RICHARD M. NIXON - 4/25/94 - Late PM

During the final week of Richard Nixon's life, I often imagined how he would have reacted to the tide of concern, respect, admiration, and affection that his last great struggle evoked. Surely he would not have admitted to following the public comment while, with subtle indirection, steering the conversation toward hearing the story repeated over and over again. And without ever quite saying so, he would have conveyed that it would be nice for Julie and Tricia, for David and Ed, to be told by his friends of this culmination to an astonishing life.

2

man had passed the like of whom, in Shakespeare's words, we
would not see soon again.

[Y]

X

[4]

4

Much has been said and written about Richard Nixon's driven
[nature]. But there are two kinds of ambition: to be or to
serve. Richard Nixon strove all his life to serve his society
and he derived from this his extraordinary self-discipline.
Shy and withdrawn, he made himself succeed in the most
gregarious of professions. Not by nature courageous, he
steeled himself to conspicuous acts of extraordinary courage.
Far from outgoing, he held fast - amidst wrenching turmoil -
to his basic theme that the greatest free nation in the world
had a duty to lead toward peace and progress.

X

5

I wish that in his final hours I could have told him about
Brian McDonnell who, during the Cambodian crisis had been
fasting on a bench in Lafayette Park until, as he said,
American forces withdrew from that country. Twenty-four years
ago, Brian could not be convinced of Nixon's sincerity in
promising to withdraw within two months. But across the chasm
of the decades, he called me the day Richard Nixon fell ill
and left a message: "When you talk to President Nixon, tell
him I am praying for him."

Richard Nixon would be so proud that all former Presidents
of the United States are here, and honored by the presence of
President Clinton, a fervent opponent of yesteryear whose
participation in this ceremony symbolizes that Richard Nixon's
long and sometimes bitter journey has concluded in the
reconciliation he had always craved, even when he did not
always find the grammar for expressing it.

[Y]

X

[Y]

6

X

APR-25-1994 22:46

RIVER HOUSE

APR-25-1994 17:52

FROM GOLDHAMMER

10

46. 0001 -w

P.01

3

APR-25-1994 22:46

RIVER HOUSE

APR-25-1994 17:52

FROM GOLDHAMMER

I wish that in his final hours I could have told him about
Brian McDonnell who, during the Cambodian crisis had been
fasting on a bench in Lafayette Park until, as he said, he had
redeemed Nixon's pledge to withdraw American forces from that
country in two months - a promise which was in fact kept.

1

724 WORDS

[Y]

2

X

[Y]

3

X

[Y]

4

I wish that in his final hours I could have told him about
Brian McDonnell who, during the Cambodian crisis had been
fasting on a bench in Lafayette Park until, as he said, Nixon
had redeemed his pledge to withdraw American forces from that
anguished country in two months - a promise which was in fact
kept. Twenty-four years ago, Brian could not be convinced of
Nixon's sincerity. But across the chasm of the decades, he
called me the day Richard Nixon fell ill and left a message:
"When you talk to President Nixon, tell him I am praying for
him."

X

[4J]

5

X

APR-25-1994 15:07 FROM GOLDHAMMER

TO

7590042 P.01

1

823 WORDS

During the final week of Richard Nixon's life, I often imagined how he would have reacted to the tide of concern, respect, admiration, and affection ~~than his last great struggle evoked.~~ Surely he would not have admitted to following the public comment while, with subtle indirection, steering the conversation toward hearing the story repeated over and over again. And without ever quite saying so, he would have conveyed that it would be nice for Julie and Tricia, for David and Ed, to be told by his friends of this culmination to an astonishing life.

When I learned the final news, by then so long expected yet so hard to accept, I was[illegible] by a profound sense of void. A

7590042

APR-25-1994 15:08

FROM GOLDBAMMER

TO

7590042 P.04

Much has been said and written about Richard Nixon's driven [nature] quality But there are two kinds of ambition: to be or to serve. Richard Nixon strove all his life to serve his society and he derived from this his extraordinary self-discipline. Shy and withdrawn, he made himself succeed in the most gregarious of professions. Not by nature, but by [and] he steeled himself to conspicuous acts of extraordinary courage. Far from outgoing, he held fast - amidst wrenching turmoil - to his basic theme that the greatest free nation in the world had a duty to lead toward peace and progress.

APR-25-1994 15:09

FROM GOLDHAMMER

TO

7590042

[Y]

5

I wish that in his final hours I could have told him about
Brian McDonnell who, during the Cambodian crisis had been
fasting on a bench in Lafayette Park until, as he said,
- a promise that was in fact kept
American forces withdrew from that country. Twenty-four years
ago, Brian could not be convinced of Nixon's sincerity in
promising to withdraw within two months. But across the chasm
of the decades, he called me the day Richard Nixon fell ill
and left a message: "When you talk to President Nixon, tell
him I am praying for him."

Revering the President
Richard Nixon would be so proud that all former Presidents
of the United States are here, and honored by the presence of
President Clinton, a fervent opponent of yesterday whose
participation in this ceremony symbolizes that Richard Nixon's
long and sometimes bitter journey has concluded in the
reconciliation he had always craved, even when he did not
always find the grammar for expressing it.

6

TOTAL P.06

APR-23-1994 11:27 FROM

TO

12124213934 P.02

Around midnight, when I was at home, Nixon called from the Lincoln Sitting Room, where he was brooding alone. He was wondering whether the press would appreciate what had been done, probably not. But that was not what he really had on his mind. He knew that every success brings a terrific letdown, he said. I should not let it get to me. I should not be discouraged. There were many battles yet to fight if I should not weaken. In fact, I was neither discouraged nor did I feel let-down. Listening to him, I could picture the scene: Nixon would be sitting, solitary and withdrawn, deep in his brown stuffed chair with his legs on a settee in front of him, a small reading light breaking the darkness and a wood fire throwing shadows on the wall of the room. The loudspeakers would be playing romantic classical music, probably Tchaikovsky. He was talking to me, but he was really addressing himself.

APR-23-1994 11:27

FROM

TO

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2

What extraordinary vehicles destiny selects to accomplish
its design. This man, so lonely in his hour of triumph...
<u>ungenerous</u> in some of his motivations, had navigated our
nation through one of the most anguishing periods in its
history. Not by nature courageous, he had steeled himself to
conspicuous acts of rare courage. Not normally outgoing, he
had forced himself to rally his people to its challenge. He
had striven for a revolution in American foreign policy so
that it would overcome the disastrous oscillations between
overcommitment and isolation. Despised by the Establishment,
ambiguous in his human perceptions, he had yet held fast to a
sense of national honor and responsibility, determined to
prove that the strongest free country had no right to
abdicate. What would have happened had the Establishment about
which he was so ambivalent shown him some love? Would he have
<u>act of peace law</u> <u>liberated him from the</u>
<u>withdrew into the wilderness of his resentments</u>, or
<u>wildmen of his movements</u>?

APR-23-1994 11:28

FROM

TO

12124213934 P.04

3

would an act of grace have liberated him? By now it no longer
mattered. Enveloped in an intractable solitude, at the end of
a period of bitter division, he nevertheless saw before him a
vision of promise to which few statesmen have been blessed to
aspire. He could envisage a new international order that would
reduce lingering enmities, strengthen friendships, and give
new hope to emerging nations. It was a worthy goal for America
and mankind. He was alone in his moment of triumph on a
pinnacle that was soon to turn into a precipice. And yet with
all his insecurities and flaws, he had brought us by a
tremendous act of will to an extraordinary moment when dreams
and possibilities conjoined.

TOTAL P.02

TOTAL P.04