never any conversation rosemary wood had, wasn't very direct one. so sometimes we'd have a problem and she'd be our go-between. but she was a very smart woman, totally dedicated to him. but said he had a great sense of humor, loved to dance and things like that. but her whole life was really completely devoted to richard nixon. >> how would you describe her political views? >> she was republican moderate. her view was shaped by richard nixon. her role to be able to speak up to him if she thought he was about to do something wrong in what he was doing or what he was saying. you mentioned the fact that you thought kennedy had used issue as a religion in '63. >> kennedy said he was going to test west virginia to see whether -- how they feel against catholics. he made that sort of the key issue in west virginia and that was a state that humphrey needed to carry to stay on the campaign. -- west virginia voted by slates so most of those people were more interested in who was running for sheriff than president. sew signed up sheriffs to be supportive of ke

it was pat buchanan in the office with rosemary wood, a little tiny off off his office in the law firm and mrs. ryan who was patricia ryan nixon, the president's waif was down there handling phones for him in his law office calling herself miss ryan. he saw p in '65 and told me in '66 whether i run in '68 or not will depend on how well we do this year. if he we do as well as i think, a comeback of 40 seats or more in the house, i think the presidential nomination would be worth something and gave me the impression we would definitely go for it. >> what was he like? >> he was the most interesting man in a lot of ways i've ever met. he had an inexhaustible demand for information to hear what you had to say on arguments. what did the conservatives think? what do you think of this candidate? even political gossip, and i would work outside his office and write his correspondence and do memos and do the inbox for him in terms of clippings and things. at times he would call me in for three hours on a stretch and argue about an issue, what do you think of this, pat? why do you think this? we w

c-span: here's a naval aide on the same helicopter as him, and rosemary woods sitting next to him, and then tricia nixon. it gets kind of crowded in there? >> guest: yes, i would say so, but there certainly was ample room. it was interesting to me how the president was solitary through the entire thing. he didn't speak to anyone. except when commander larson brought some papers to him, he might--he said something. but other than that, he was lost in his own thoughts. he--he continually worked. he was facing mrs. nixon. she was sitting in the chair to his right from this image. and i was just amazed at how he was really the--the--the--the loneliest man in the white house, or in this case, in the history 'cause he kept to his own thoughts. and--and he--he did a lot of pondering and a lot of note-taking as he developed whatever it is--was important to him at the time. c-span: this is a photo that you have on the cover. was that taken the same time? >> guest: this was. and--and that was a very valuable helicopter ride for me 'cause i not only got the overall interior of the plane, but i go