Daily Diary Entry of George H. W. Bush

August 9, 1974 - There is no way to really describe the emotion of the day. Bar and I went down and had breakfast at the White House. Dean and Pat Burch and the Buchanans were there in the Conference Mess. There was an aura of sadness, like somebody die . Grief. Saw Tricia and Eddie Cox in the Rose Garden - talked to them on the way into the ceremony. . President Nixon looked just awful. He used glasses - the first time I ever saw them. Close to breaking down - understandably. Everyone in the room in tears. The speech was vintage Nixon - a kick or two at the press - enormous strains. One couldn't help but look at the family and the whole thing and think of his accomplishments and then think of the shame and wonder what kind of a man is this really. No morality - kicking his friends in those tapes - all of them. Gratuitous abuse. Caring for no one and yet doing so much. When he used the word 'plumbers' meaning it 'laboring with his hands' the connotation was a shock on me. I remember Lt. Col. Brennan who has been with him SO long - Marine - standing proudly but with tears running down his face. Rabbi Korff, a brand new friend on the scene who told Kendall he wanted to start a Support for Ford Committee. Thrilled with the limelight. Coming in and standing around and looking for special attention, ending up sitting next to the Cabinet. People who labored next to Nixon's side forever are not invited. It's weird. The Nixon speech was masterful. In spite of his inability to totally resist a dig at the press, that argument about hating - only if you hate do you join the haters. We walked through the bottom lobby to go out. After the Ford swearing-in many of the pictures were changed with a great emphasis on the new President. We went over and hung around waiting for the swearing in of Ford.