Who said “When the President does it, that means that it is not illegal.”?

Verified

Richard M. Nixon. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceInterview with David Frost (May 19, 1977); printed in The New York Times (May 20, 1977), p. A16; also in "Nixon's Views on Presidential Power: Excerpts from an Interview with David Frost [Archive]", referring to the Huston Plan and views of presidential authority.

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

Source checked · Something wrong? Report a correction

Authors A–Z
“When the President does it, that means that it is not illegal.”
— Richard M. Nixon
VerifiedInterview with David Frost (May 19, 1977); printed in The New York Times (May 20, 1977), p. A16; also in "Nixon's Views on Presidential Power: Excerpts from an Interview with David Frost [Archive]", referring to the Huston Plan and views of presidential authority. · evidencePresident
Report

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Interview with David Frost (May 19, 1977); printed in The New York Times (May 20, 1977), p. A16; also in "Nixon's Views on Presidential Power: Excerpts from an Interview with David Frost [Archive]", referring to the Huston Plan and views of presidential authority..

APA

Nixon, R. M. (n.d.). When the President does it, that means that it is not illegal. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/34301-when-the-president-does-it-that-means-that/

MLA

Nixon, Richard M. “When the President does it, that means that it is not illegal.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/34301-when-the-president-does-it-that-means-that/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Nixon, Richard M. “When the President does it, that means that it is not illegal.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/34301-when-the-president-does-it-that-means-that/.

Related quotes

“To be President of the United States, sir, is to act as advocate for a blind, venomous, and ungrateful client; still, one must make the best of the case, for the purposes of Providence.”
— John Updike
VerifiedBuchanan Dying: A Play (1974), Act II · evidenceDetails & citePresident
Report
“From now on, I think it is safe to predict, neither the Democratic nor the Republican Party will ever nominate for President a candidate without good looks, stage presence, theatrical delivery, and a sense of timing.”
— James Thurber
Verifiedsaid of the Kennedy-Nixon TV debates in an unpublished manuscript, (dated 20 March 1961); Collecting Himself (1989). · evidenceDetails & citePresident
Report

More quotes by Richard M. Nixon

“Those who hate you don't win unless you hate them; and then you destroy yourself.”
VerifiedSpeech to the assembled White House staff before his final departure (August 9, 1974) · evidenceDetails & citeHatred
Report
“Always remember, others may hate you, but those who hate you don't win unless you hate them-and then you destroy yourself.”
VerifiedSpeech to the assembled White House staff before his final departure (August 9, 1974) · evidenceDetails & citeHatred
Report
“The sky is no longer the limit.”
Space
Report
All 34 Richard M. Nixon quotes →