“I reject the cynical view that politics is a dirty business.”
- January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994
- American
- The 37th President of the United States, Lawyer, Politician
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Quote
“I reject the cynical view that politics is a dirty business.”
Explanation
In this quote, Richard Nixon defends the nobility and purpose of political life, pushing back against the widespread belief that politics is inherently corrupt or morally compromised. By stating “I reject the cynical view,” Nixon seeks to affirm that politics, at its best, is a necessary and honorable endeavor, one rooted in public service, democratic responsibility, and societal progress. The phrase “dirty business” captures the skepticism and disillusionment many people feel toward government—a sentiment Nixon acknowledges but ultimately challenges.
Ironically, this quote carries significant weight because of the context of Nixon’s own political career, which ended in scandal with his resignation in 1974 following the Watergate cover-up. Despite his accomplishments in foreign policy and domestic affairs, Watergate came to symbolize the very cynicism and ethical decay he here denies. As a result, the quote reads both as a personal ideal and a public contradiction, revealing the tension between Nixon’s vision of politics and the actions that led to his downfall.
In the modern era, Nixon’s words continue to spark reflection on how we perceive politics and those who engage in it. With public trust in government often low and partisanship high, the quote remains a reminder of what politics is supposed to be: a platform for shaping the common good. It challenges us to resist reducing politics to scandal and power plays, and instead to reclaim it as a space for principled leadership, civic responsibility, and meaningful change—a vision that remains worth striving for, even when it is difficult to uphold.
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