Nixon's Tapes Reveal His Reservations and Motivations

Nixon: Scali Would Do 'A Hell of a Job'

The day after Christmas 1972, Nixon spoke to his chief counsel Charles Colson about former ABC News diplomatic correspondent John Scali, whom he had chosen as ambassador to the United Nations to replace George H.W. Bush.

Nixon said Kissinger fought the appointment "tooth and nail" because he had an obsessive belief that Scali leaked information about him.

But Nixon liked Scali, who he said was tough, unlike Bush, who he dubbed as a "sweet guy, but not a tough guy."

Despite his well-known aversion to journalists, Nixon thought Scali would do "a hell of a job" as a U.N. ambassador.

Nixon added that Kissinger was "paranoid" about leaking, but that he was the one who does the leaking.

Scali was initially suggested by Colson himself, after Nixon had indicated he wanted an Italian in the Cabinet.

Scali was not Italian, but Nixon said, "he'll take orders."