"I gave 'em a sword. And they stuck it in, and they twisted it with relish. And I guess if I had been in their position, I'd have done the same thing"

Richard M. Nixon’s remark, delivered during a televised interview after his resignation, is a striking metaphor that encapsulates the betrayal and accountability he experienced amid the Watergate scandal. His phrase, “I gave ’em a sword,” acknowledges personal responsibility; Nixon recognizes that his own actions and decisions, whether through complicity, oversight, or direct misjudgment, provided his political adversaries and the press with the necessary ammunition to force his downfall. The “sword” represents evidence of wrongdoing, missteps, secrecy, or abuse of power, which, once revealed, could be used against him decisively.

By saying, “And they stuck it in, and they twisted it with relish,” Nixon not only illustrates the sense of being attacked but also highlights the fervor with which his opponents and the media pursued the scandal. The vivid imagery goes beyond a simple political defeat, suggesting a sense of personal injury, even cruelty, as others took satisfaction from his demise. It conveys the emotional bitterness of feeling targeted by those waiting for an opportunity, once he made himself vulnerable.

Yet, Nixon’s final words, “And I guess if I had been in their position, I’d have done the same thing,” express a remarkable, if bittersweet, empathy and self-awareness. Recognizing the political realities and instincts of self-preservation, Nixon admits that, had roles been reversed, he likely would have seized upon an adversary’s weakness just as ruthlessly. This observation strips the quote of overt self-pity, instead acknowledging the cyclical, often harsh nature of political life.

Nixon’s words ultimately function as an admission of fault, a lament for the harshness of American politics, and an understanding of the system’s inherent logic: that leaders will be held to account, and their rivals will not hesitate to capitalize on any ethical or legal lapses.