Richard Nixon actually said...

This principle of confidentiality of Presidential conversations is at stake in the question of these tapes.

My consistent position from the beginning has been to get out the facts about Watergate, not to cover them up.

Not a single witness has testified that I had any knowledge of the planning for the Watergate break-in.

Now, Therefore, I, Richard Nixon, President of the United States of America, do hereby designate Monday, October 8, 1973, as Columbus Day.