The Nation: The Private World of Richard Nixon

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"I have an absolute rule: I refuse to make decisions that somebody else can make. The first rule of leadership is to save yourself for the big decisions. Don't let your mind become cluttered with trivia. Don't let yourself become the issue."

Those views on delegating authority extend to the management of the White House. "Mrs. Nixon is in charge of the White House. I leave it to the experts. I try to stay out of it unless I have to. Sometimes, for an important state dinner, I'll pick a wine. I do know something about wines. At first I checked the guest lists for all the dinners, but now only sometimes. Rose Woods [Rose Mary Woods, the President's personal secretary] takes care of that. One thing, though: I back my staff totally. If Rose Woods invites somebody and someone else says he's a jerk, I say, 'Maybe he's a jerk, but he was invited.' If anybody does anything for me that I've asked him to do, I back him totally. Nobody is ever dressed down for making a mistake.

"I couldn't get excited about going to a good restaurant night after night. Sometimes I pick a good wine. I don't have wines unless they are the best. During the week my relaxation may be a glass of wine or a drink, but I couldn't have a couple of belts and work well. I relax on a weekend when there is nothing to do the next day, but never at a public event. As President, an individual is expected to maintain a quality of dignity. A quality of aloofness. Yes, of course, to be friendly too, but people don't want the President of the United States to be a little sloppy or lewd or vulgar. They want to think he is one of them but not too much so. If they see the President kicking up his heels, eating too much or drinking too much, the confidence factor is weakened. People want to think that if there is a crisis, he will be cool and sober. They also want to think that he's a human guy who likes his wife and kids and a good time."

From the Oval Office the President moves through the West Wing past his staff offices, then down the back stairs and into the basement. Secret Service men and White House policemen stir. Nixon stops to say a few words to Henry Kissinger's staff in the corner basement office. "How's everyone in the sweatshop? Is he still working you hard?"

"Yes," replies a secretary, "but don't tell him we said so."

"I won't," says the President. "Does he come down and say hello?"

Then it is a brisk walk in the evening coolness over to the Executive Office Building, where the President sprints up the long steps. "I usually work here from 3 to 6 in the afternoon," he explains. "When important decisions are to be made, I have to withdraw sometimes."

Inside, his E.O.B. office is both practical and elegant. There is a large anteroom with a conference table. One wall is decorated with campaign cartoons. His inner sanctuary has a comfortable warmth. On the President's desk is a copy of Herman Wouk's new novel The Winds of War, a gift from the author. "Pat Moynihan and Bill Safire pick books for me. In the reading field I am basically a history buff—history and biography. If I pick out anything to reread, such as Sandburg's Lincoln, I mark pages I like. It's poetry, of course."