Checkers Speech: Humility Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Sentence)

Quote #1

I should say this, that Pat doesn't have a mink coat. But she does have a respectable Republican cloth coat, and I always tell her she would look good in anything. (128-129)

What on earth is Republican about a cloth coat? Shmoop really wants to know.

Quote #2

Well, that's about it. That's what we have. And that's what we owe. It isn't very much. But Pat and I have the satisfaction that every dime that we have got is honestly ours. (123-127)

A classic appeal, and one that probably hit close to home for much of America. Remember, we're at the start of the Cold War: not earning your keep with good honest work was for lazy Russians standing in bread lines, not the hard-working American people.

Quote #3

Well, then the question arises, you say, "Well, how do you pay for these and how can you do it legally?" And there are several ways, that it can be done, incidentally, and it is done legally in the United States Senate and in the Congress. The first way is to be a rich man. So I couldn't use that. (41-44)

Nixon wasn't rich, but he wasn't nearly as broke as many Americans. He's insinuating that plenty of politicians are rich (wink-wink, nudge-nudge), but he's just struggling to pay his political expenses.