“Sure there are dishonest men in local government. But there are dishonest men in national government too.”
- January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994
- American
- The 37th President of the United States, Lawyer, Politician
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Quote
“Sure there are dishonest men in local government. But there are dishonest men in national government too.”
Explanation
In this quote, Richard Nixon offers a frank acknowledgment of corruption in government, asserting that dishonesty is not confined to any one level of authority. By stating, “Sure there are dishonest men in local government,” he concedes a common criticism, but quickly balances it by noting, “there are dishonest men in national government too.” This equalizing statement suggests that no tier of governance is immune to ethical failings, and that integrity—or the lack thereof—is a human issue, not merely a structural one.
Given Nixon’s own presidency, which ended in scandal and resignation due to the Watergate cover-up, the quote is both ironic and revealing. It reflects an awareness of public cynicism toward government and an attempt to demonstrate candor and realism. While not a defense of dishonesty, the remark seems to imply that corruption is an unfortunate but enduring part of the political landscape, and perhaps even an attempt to normalize it by spreading blame evenly across levels of authority.
In today’s context, Nixon’s quote still resonates amid ongoing concerns about political accountability, transparency, and ethics in public office. It underscores the importance of vigilance and reform at all levels of government, reminding us that corruption can exist anywhere—and that trust in democracy depends on addressing wrongdoing wherever it occurs, not just in the spotlight of national politics. The quote remains a sobering reflection on the universality of political fallibility.
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