On This Day – March 23rd

The Nixon Interviews were a series of interviews of former U.S. President Richard Nixon conducted by British journalist David Frost, and produced by John Birt. They were recorded and broadcast on television and radio in four programs in 1977. The interviews became the central subject of Peter Morgan's play Frost/Nixon in 2006.

The 12 interviews began on March 23rd 1977, with three interviews per week over four weeks. They were taped for two hours a day, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, for a total of 28 hours and 45 minutes.

Record viewing figures

Recording took place at a seaside home in Monarch Bay, California, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Harold H. Smith, who were both longtime Nixon supporters. This location was chosen instead of Nixon's San Clemente home, La Casa Pacifica, on account of interference with the television relay equipment by the Coast Guard navigational-aid transmitters near San Clemente.

The interviews were broadcast in the US and some other countries in 1977. having been edited into four programs, each 90 minutes long. The premiere episode drew 45 million viewers, the largest television audience for a political interview in history – a record that still stands today.

In part three, Frost asked Nixon about the legality of the president's actions in relation to the Watergate scandal. In the context of American national security, Nixon replied: "Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal."

Whilst not conducting covert taping of conversations and ordering the burglary of documents, Nixon also had an addition made to the White House in order to be able to indulge a passion of his – what was it?

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.