The continuing student protests against the war brought Agnew 's scorn . In a speech on April 28 in Hollywood , Florida , Agnew stated that responsibility of the unrest lay with those who failed to guide them , and suggested that the alumni of Yale University fire its president , Kingman Brewster . The Cambodia incursion brought more demonstrations on campus , and on May 3 , Agnew went on '' Face the Nation '' to defend the policy . Reminded that Nixon , in his inaugural address , had called for the lowering of voices in political discourse , Agnew commented , " When a fire takes place , a man does n't run into the room and whisper ... he yells , ' Fire ! ' and I am yelling ' Fire ! ' because I think ' Fire ! ' needs to be called here " . The Kent State shootings took place the following day , but Agnew did not tone down his attacks on demonstrators , alleging that he was responding to " a general malaise that argues for violent confrontation instead of debate " . Nixon had Haldeman tell Agnew to avoid remarks about students ; Agnew strongly disagreed and stated that he would only refrain if Nixon directly ordered it
Kent State shootings
Kent State shootings
Spiro Agnew