Howard Hughes

I am determined to elect a president of our choosing this year and one who will be deeply indebted, and who will recognize his indebtedness. Since I am willing to go beyond all limitations on this, I think we should be able to select a candidate and a party who knows the facts of political life.... If we select Nixon, then he, I know for sure knows the facts of life.

The man in charge turns the valve in the bathtub on, using his bare hands to do so. He also adjusts the water temperature so that it is not too hot nor too cold. He then takes one of the brushes, and, using one of two special bars of soap, creates a good lather and then scrubs the can from a point two inches below the top of the can. He should first soak and remove the label, and then brush the cylindrical part of the can over and over until all particles of dust, pieces of paper label, and, in general, all sources of contamination have been removed. Holding the can at all times, he then processes the bottom of the can in the same manner, being very sure that the bristles of the brush have thoroughly cleaned all the small indentations on the perimeter of the bottom of the can. He then rinses the soap from the cylindrical sides and bottom of the can.

...obtain a brand new knife, never used, to open a new box of Kleenex, using the knife to open the slot. After the box is open you are to take the little tag and the first piece of Kleenex and destroy them; then using two fingers of the left hand and two fingers of the right hand take each piece of Kleenex out of the box and place it on an opened newspaper and repeat this until approximately fifty sheets are neatly stacked [which then made a covering for one hand when passing Hughes his clothes].

The advantage always favors the one who is trying to create fear, over the one who is trying to erase it.

The public has begun to dislike– I should say, detest– not only Communism but Communists. It is beginning to recognize that they are traitors to our country, and to feel that they should be discouraged in every way.

As long as I am an officer or director of RKO, this company will never temporize, conciliate with, or yield to Paul Jarrico or anyone guilty of similar conduct.

Do you think if they asked a man if he was a Democrat or a Republican that he would refuse to answer on the grounds that his answer might incriminate him? The very fact that this man pleaded his constitutional privilege–that is his admission that he is not talking about politics. If you believe that the Communist party is in the same category as the Democrat party or Republican party, then I think I can answer you in this way: We are not fighting Democrats or Republicans in Korea.

Didn't sleep last night so had breakfast in bed and will try again now. Hope you had no trouble. Please don't have too many [Hughes draws a cigarette sketch] and please be careful of the [sketch of a toilet].

Take a look at the teeth of all the women here to-night

Do you think this needs a doctor? Personally, I like it the way it is.

I'm going to build an airline that makes American look like the third-rate outfit it is.

The purpose of a business is to make money. If it happens to make art, too, that would be secondary and accidental.

This will ruin your figure and your career.

I would expect you really to wrap that government up down there to a point where it would be – well – a captive entity in every way.

For the first time in my life, I'm free. No one will ever again tell me what to do.

I can't shake hands. I was just sitting over there in my car, making a telephone call and eating a hot dog, and I got mustard on my hand. What's more, I was shaving, and I cut my hand.

I put the sweat of my life into this project, and if it's a failure, I'll leave the country and never come back.

I am my own man, and I'll go where I please and do what I please.

Just remember, there's no one I can't buy or destroy.

I won't tone anything down. I believe the screen is a powerful instrument.