President Nixon would be able to empathize with President Obama about leaks. The Nixon administration was plagued by them.
Would Nixon give Obama any advice? Well here’s what he said when he heard the Pentagon Papers had been leaked:
I’d just start right at the top and fire some people. I mean whoever – whatever department it came out of I’d fire the top guy.
Nixon phone call with Alexander Haig, 13 June 1971, 12:18 p.m.
Definitely worth a full listen. Here’s a transcription.
In Obama’s case, it would be the top gal, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Nixon agreed with Kissinger that, “it’s [the Pentagon Papers leak was] treasonable, there’s no question – it’s actionable.” Kissinger was “absolutely certain that this violates all sorts of security laws.”
Nixon phone call with Henry Kissinger, 13 June 1971, 3:09 p.m.
Here’s a transcription.
(Of course, one must be an American to be found guilty of treason under American law.)
