or


[07/21/14 - 01:03 PM]
"Nixon by Nixon: In His Own Words," A Revealing Profile of the Former President, Debuts Aug. 4 on HBO
The film is presented in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of his resignation and features excerpts from his secretly recorded his private conversations.

[via press release from HBO]

"NIXON BY NIXON: IN HIS OWN WORDS," A REVEALING PROFILE OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT, DEBUTS AUG. 4 ON HBO

On Aug. 9, 1974, Richard Milhous Nixon became the first American president to resign from office. From 1971 to 1973, he had secretly recorded his private conversations, purportedly "for the purpose of historical record," but in the wake of the Watergate scandal the revelation of the tapes led to his downfall.

Presented in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of his resignation and featuring excerpts from the tapes, as well as original press reports and Nixon's reflections a decade after the tapes were revealed, the fascinating documentary NIXON BY NIXON: IN HIS OWN WORDS debuts MONDAY, AUG. 4 (9:00-10:15 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. Peter Kunhardt (HBO's Emmy(R)-winning "Teddy: In His Own Words") directs.

Other HBO playdates: Aug. 4 (5:00 a.m.), 7 (7:45 a.m., 3:15 p.m.), 9 (11:30 a.m.), 12 (5:45 p.m.), 17 (3:45 p.m.) and 22 (5:15 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Aug. 6 (8:00 p.m.), 11 (11:00 p.m.), 16 (7:10 a.m.) and 26 (11:30 a.m.)

Fearing that the blunt and candid remarks on the tapes would sully the presidency forever, Nixon sought to prevent their public release for the rest of his life after leaving office. However, after his death in 1994, the government began releasing the 3,700 hours of recordings. The final tapes were made public on Aug. 20, 2013.

In 1982, John Ehrlichman, Nixon's former chief domestic advisor, voiced concern about the Nixon tapes, noting, "The problem is that historians are going to grab an hour of tape... and if you listen to a snippet of tape, you're going to form an impression of this man that's going to be wrong. Sometime, hopefully, there will be a committee of historians who will listen to all the tapes and go into all the archives and then come out and say Richard Nixon was the strangest collection, the strangest paradoxical combination of any man I ever heard of. And they'll be right."

Only Chief of Staff H.R. "Bob" Haldeman, Deputy Assistant Alexander Butterfield and Special Assistant Stephen Bull knew of the recordings. Those who did not know included John Ehrlichman, National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger, Deputy National Security Advisor Andrew Haig, Attorney General John Mitchell and Secretary of State William Rogers, among others. "It was voice activated - everything was taped - which was probably stupid," Nixon conceded in 1983.

The declassified tapes revealed the President's opinions on a vast number of topics, including the Vietnam War, the Pentagon Papers leak, his Supreme Court appointments, and other matters of state. Nixon derided anti-war protesters in private conversations with Henry Kissinger, saying, "It really burns me up. We have no pride do we anymore, Henry?" He had equally harsh words for young Vietnam vet John Kerry, calling him "quite a phony." Years later, Nixon insisted that despite the anti-war sentiment in Congress and the media, "That was not the voice of America. The voice of America was the silent majority."

Nixon's angry reaction to the New York Times' publication of thousands of secret Pentagon documents detailing America's involvement in Vietnam revealed his growing hatred of the press. "This is treasonable action on the part of the bastards that put it out," he exclaimed to Henry Kissinger. Daniel Ellsberg of the Rand Corporation, who released the papers to the Times, became a target of his anti-Semitic outbursts. "The Jews are, are born spies," he said, and asked Chief of Staff Haldeman to "look at any sensitive areas around where Jews are involved."

With two vacancies open on the Supreme Court and pressure mounting to nominate a woman, Nixon told the press his list of candidates included Mildred Lillie and Sylvia Bacon. But behind closed doors, he told John Mitchell, "I would like to sorta get them off the woman kick if we can." Years later, Nixon called the appointment of the Supreme Court justices "the most important achievement" domestically of his presidency. Internationally, Nixon described his historic trip to China in 1972 as a "watershed moment," and cited his trip to Moscow to negotiate an arms control agreement, as another major foreign policy achievement.

"The press is the enemy. The press is the enemy. The press is the enemy," Nixon can be heard telling Henry Kissinger. "You must keep up the attack on the media. You've got to keep destroying their credibility," he told Special Counsel Charles Colson. Whether calling them "sons of bitches" or "bastards," Nixon's distaste of reporters was only thinly veiled in interviews, and entirely open behind closed doors.

After the Watergate break-in, Nixon discussed with Bob Haldeman bailing out the five men arrested saying, "Well, they took a hell of a risk. And they have to be paid." Later, he told speechwriter Pat Buchanan, "The Watergate thing - well, that's going to pass. That'll be over. They'll indict a few people, and then the goddam thing's over."

Despite Nixon's reelection landslide victory and the achievement of what he called, "peace with honor" in Vietnam, Watergate did not pass. At the Senate Watergate hearing on July 16, 1973, former Deputy Assistant Alexander Butterfield revealed the secret electronic listening devices in the office of the president. Facing certain impeachment, Nixon subsequently resigned.

NIXON BY NIXON: IN HIS OWN WORDS draws on the work of Ken Hughes and his team at the Presidential Recordings Program at the University of Virginia's Miller Center, as well as the work of Dr. Luke Nichter.

In addition to the Emmy(R)-winning "Teddy: In His Own Words," Kunhardt McGee Productions' previous HBO credits include the Emmy(R)-nominated "Gloria: In Her Own Words," the Emmy(R)-nominated "In Memoriam: New York City, 9/11/01," "Bobby Kennedy: In His Own Words" and the Emmy(R)-winning "JFK: In His Own Words."

NIXON BY NIXON: IN HIS OWN WORDS is produced and directed by Peter Kunhardt; edited by Phillip Schopper. For Kunhardt McGee Productions: executive producers, Peter Kunhardt and Dyllan McGee; co-producers, George Kunhardt and Teddy Kunhardt. For HBO: supervising producer, Jacqueline Glover; executive producer, Sheila Nevins.





  [july 2014]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[10/21/25 - 09:04 AM]
"Surviving Mormonism with Heather Gay" Premieres Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 9:15 P.M. ET/PT on Bravo
All three parts will drop exclusively on Peacock on November 12.

[10/21/25 - 09:01 AM]
The History Channel Honors Veterans Day with Two-Hour Event "The Warfighters: Battle Stories" Premiering Monday, November 10 at 8/7c
Blending raw first-person accounts from Army Rangers, Green Berets, Navy SEALs, and Marines with archival footage and cinematic recreations, these stories are told entirely in the voices of the men who lived them.

[10/21/25 - 08:12 AM]
Fulwell Entertainment's Uninterrupted, 4.4.Forty Media and State Farm Present "On the Rise: JuJu Watkins" Season 2 on NBC and Peacock
All four episodes will be available exclusively on Peacock after the premiere of Episodes 1 and 2 on Saturday, November 15, at 3:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. CT on NBC.

[10/21/25 - 08:08 AM]
Video: New Season Three Trailer for Acclaimed, BAFTA-Winning Drama "Blue Lights"
The season will premiere November 13 with episodes dropping weekly through on December 18.

[10/21/25 - 07:31 AM]
"Is It Cake? Holiday" Season 2 - First Look and Date Announcement
The series returns November 25 for another festive season with Mikey Day and six All-Star cake artists!

[10/21/25 - 07:05 AM]
Apple's Beloved Comedy "Shrinking" Returns for Season Three on January 28, 2026
In addition to the ensemble cast, season three brings back guest stars Goldstein, Damon Wayans Jr., Wendie Malick and Cobie Smulders, along with new additions Jeff Daniels and multi-award winner and activist Michael J. Fox.

[10/21/25 - 07:04 AM]
Video: "Old Dog, New Tricks" - Season 2 Announcement - Netflix
Cash-strapped vet Antón takes a job at a fancy pet store, going from treating rural farm animals to peddling premium treats for pampered pooches.

[10/21/25 - 06:40 AM]
Apple TV Announces "The First Snow of Fraggle Rock," An All-New Holiday Special
The special features a cameo appearance by musical artist and internet sensation Lele Pons that includes a harmonious duet of the classic, beloved "Fraggle Rock" song "Our Melody" with Gobo, along with two other holiday numbers.

[10/21/25 - 06:31 AM]
Video: "Selena y Los Dinos: A Family's Legacy" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Never-before-seen footage and intimate interviews celebrate the life and legacy of iconic Mexican American singer Selena Quintanilla and her family band.

[10/21/25 - 06:10 AM]
From Waco to the Rockies: Chip and Joanna Gaines Debut "Fixer Upper: Colorado Mountain House"
The brand-new three-part limited series debuts Tuesday, December 9 at 9pm ET/PT on Magnolia Network and HGTV.

[10/21/25 - 06:01 AM]
Video: Netflix Unveils Monster Mash in Trailer of "Troll 2" - The Highly Anticipated Sequel to the Global Sensation
Join Nora, Andreas, and Captain Kris as they embark on their most dangerous adventure yet.

[10/21/25 - 06:00 AM]
Disney+ Presents the EdgeofYour Seat This Huluween
Crafted to complement this year's Huluween on Disney+ lineup, this product leaves brave souls quite literally on the edge... with nowhere to hide from the scares on screen.

[10/21/25 - 03:01 AM]
Great American Media Greenlights Season 2 for Hit Original Series, "Crossroad Springs," Beloved Series Returns in 2026 to Great American Pure Flix, Great American Family, and GFAM+
The network also announced a brand-new original holiday music special, "Crossroad Springs Christmas," starring Jonathan Stoddard and Jillian Cardarelli.

[10/21/25 - 02:01 AM]
Video: "Love and Wine" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A prestigious wine farm heir trades lives with his down-to-earth childhood friend to prove that his luck with the ladies is more than wallet deep.

[10/21/25 - 01:01 AM]
Video: "Babo: The Haftbefehl Story" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Personal interviews with Haftbefehl and those closest to him reveal the story behind the German rap icon as he takes a brutally honest look at his life.