In case you were interested and wanted the (mostly) full quote[0]:<p>David Frost[1]: ...Would you say that there are certain situations - and the Huston  Plan was one of them - where the president can decide that it&#x27;s in the best interests of the nation, and do something illegal?<p>Richard Nixon[2]: Well, when the president does it, that means it is not illegal.<p>Frost: By definition.<p>Nixon: Exactly, exactly. If the president, for example, approves something  because of the national security, or in this case because of a threat to  internal peace and order of significant magnitude, then the president&#x27;s  decision in that instance is one that enables those who carry it out,  to carry it out without violating a law. Otherwise they&#x27;re in an impossible position.<p>Frost: The point is: the dividing line is the president&#x27;s judgment?<p>Nixon: Yes, and, so that one does not get the impression that a president can  run amok in this country and get away with it, we have to have in mind  that a president has to come up before the electorate. We also have to  have in mind that a president has to get appropriations from the Congress. We have to have in mind, for example, that as far as the CIA&#x27;s covert operations are concerned, as far as the FBI&#x27;s covert operations are concerned, through the years, they have been disclosed on a very, very limited basis to trusted members of Congress.<p>[0] - <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.theguardian.com&#x2F;theguardian&#x2F;2007&#x2F;sep&#x2F;07&#x2F;greatinterviews1" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.theguardian.com&#x2F;theguardian&#x2F;2007&#x2F;sep&#x2F;07&#x2F;greatinte...</a><p>[1] - <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;David_Frost" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;David_Frost</a><p>[2] - <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Richard_Nixon" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Richard_Nixon</a>