Nixon on Reagan: Not ``pleasant to be around''

[PunkinPi]

SNIP <

Nixon on Reagan: Not ``pleasant to be around''
(12-10) 08:28 PST COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) --

President Nixon didn't think much of fellow Californian and Republican icon Ronald Reagan, calling him "strange" and not "pleasant to be around," newly released White House tapes show.

Talking politics with White House Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman at Camp David in August 1972, Nixon switched the conversation to two Republican governors, Reagan of California and Nelson Rockefeller of New York. Both men unsuccessfully sought the 1968 Republican presidential nomination that Nixon received.

"Reagan is not one that wears well," Nixon said.

"I know," Haldeman agreed.

"On a personal basis, Rockefeller is a pretty nice guy," Nixon said. "Reagan on a personal basis, is terrible. He just isn't pleasant to be around."

"No, he isn't," Haldeman said.

"Maybe he's different with others," Nixon said.

"No," Haldeman said.

"No, he's just an uncomfortable man to be around," Nixon said, "strange.">SNIP


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2003/12/10/national1128EST0597.DTL&type=printable

[SlavesandBulldozers]

1. damn

you got problems if Nixon feels uncomfortable around you.

[LiviaOlivia]

2. Dupe See LBN thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=262757&mesg_id=262757

[thebigidea]

3. boy, I had a laugh with that one

[LiviaOlivia]

4. yeah it was too good to pass on

[JackSwift]

5. Edmund Morris, Reagan's official biographer

had trouble pinning down Reagan's personality. I'd have rather had lunch with Nixon because he was evil, but interesting. But really, they were both quite odd.

And Haldeman is quite a yes man.