Way before Watergate, senior administration officials hid behind anonymity.

Certain political figures think when you call them and ask them for a comment; that you are somehow doing something that you shouldn't be doing.

I have found people don't want to be told. That they can figure it out.

I'm not going to name some of my colleagues who are very well-known for their television presentation, but they wouldn't know new information or how to report a story if it came up and bit them.

Because of Watergate in part, I am kind of a magnet for calls and information and suggestions.

The failure of the system to deal quickly was attributable to Nixon's lying, stonewalling and refusal to come clean. So it took 26 months for the final truth to be known.

Finally, the president added, 'The American people are idealists, but they also want their leaders to be realistic...'