Richard Nixon

In office
January 20, 1969 August 9, 1974
Family tree* Famous relatives:**
King Edward I (21st great grandson)
William Ellery, Signer of Declaration
of Independence (2nd cousin 6
times removed)
Nixon was descended from early
American settler Thomas Cornell

Wife: Pat Rayan

Daughters: Patricia and Julie
Early life
Born on January 9, 1913 in Yorba Linda, California
Nixon had four brothers: Harold, Donald, Arthur and Edward
The Nixon family ranch failed in 1922
Education
Attended Fullerton Union High School
Transferred to Whittier High School for junior year in September 1928
Declined Harvard to attend Whittier College
Received a full scholarship to attend Duke University School of Law
Rise to power
Admitted to the bar in 1937 and became a partner at Wingert and
Bewley in 1938
Appointed a lieutenant junior grade in the U.S. Naval Reserve on June
15, 1942
Supported the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947, a federal law that monitors
the activities and power of labor unions
Rise to power
Nixon became a Vice President in 1953 when
Republican party officials recommended him to
Eisenhower
On September 24, 1955 President Eisenhower
suffered a heart attack and was unable to perform
his duties for six weeks
Eisenhower and Nixon were reelected in the
November 1956 election
Nixon was inaugurated as president on January 20,
1969
Nixon 1968 election
Candidates - primary
Democratic
President Johnson - withdrew after a poor
result in the New Hampshire primary
Robert F. Kennedy - assassinated after his
victory in the California primary
Republican
George Romney Michigan Governor, was
Nixons main opposition
Nelson Rockefeller and Ronald Reagan
hoped to be nominated in a brokered
convetion
Candidates general elections
Democratic opponent Vice President Hubert
Humphrey (May 27, 1911 January 13, 1978)
38th VP under Lyndon Johnson (1965-1969)
Served twice in the United States Senate
Represented Minnesota (1949-1964 and 1971-1978)
Issues
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and subsequent riots
Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, a Democratic presidential candidate
Widespread opposition to the Vietnam War across university campuses
Electoral results
Campaign - beginning
Nixon emphasized law and order, positioning himself as the
champion of silent majority
Nixon gained a reputation as an anti-Communist during his time in
Congress
As a VP Nixon went on tours abroad to promote pro-American
policies
January 7, 1967 met his closest advisors, told them not to tell that
he is running, but give subtle hints, denied running himself
Campaign Primary
February 1, 1968 Nixon announced his candidacy for the Republican
nomination
On Vietnam:
"must prevent confrontations and "help people in the free world
fight against aggression, but not do their fighting for them
Nixon pledged to end the war in Vietnam
Republican National Convention
Held from August 5 to 9 at the Miami Beach Convention Center
Nominated for President on the first ballot with 692 delegates
Acceptance speech:

"Tonight I do not promise the millennium in the

morning. I don't promise that we can eradicate
poverty and end discrimination in the space of four
or even eight years. But I do promise action. And a
new policy for peace abroad, a new policy for peace
and progress and justice at home."
Campaign general
Focused efforts on the big seven states: California, Illinois,
Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas
Discussed the importance of unity: America needs to be united more
than any time since Lincoln
Nixon opposed a debate with Humphrey
Nixon spent $6,270,000 on TV ads
Important Events
Vietnam War
Operation Menu March 1969
Announced ground invasion of Cambodia
to the American public on April 30, 1970
Paris Peace Accords were signed in 1973
and conscription ended
Space Policy
Nixon rejected the proposal to establish a
permanent base on the moon
Announced the end of massive efforts in
the space race March 7, 1970
After office
In October 1974, Nixon fell ill with phlebitis, the
inflammation of the walls of a vein
President Ford pardoned Nixon in September 8, 1974
In 1978 Nixon published The Memoirs of Richard Nixon
Nixon suffered a severe stroke on April 18, 1994
 Richard Nixons final days
Nixon acted as an author and an elderly statesman
Focused intensely on improving his image and financial situation through writing and speaking engagements
Pat Nixon died on June 22, 1993
Nixon suffered a stroke on April 18, 1994 at his home in Park Ridge
Spent his last days in a coma in New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan

Nixon and Clinton, March 1993 New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center

PwC

Death: causes and timeline
Some details from Nixons medical record:
Developed left leg enlargement, tenderness in the left calf
and thigh and shortness of breath in September 1974
In October 1974 , Nixon had groin pain and persistent left
leg enlargement, a retrograde venogram showed a clot
extending into the left iliac vein, the vein was clipped
above the clot.
Lung scans showed evidence of pulmonary embolism in
the right lung*
PwC
Death
Monday, April 18, 1994, 5:44 PM EDT: Nixon suffered a stroke
A blood clot, resulting from his heart condition had formed
in his left atrium
The clot broke off and travelled to his brain
New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center:
Conscious, stable condition, impaired vision, unable to speak,
unable to move his right arm and leg
Tuesday, April 19: Nixons condition worsened, symptoms of
cerebral edema (swelling of the brain)
Thursday, April 21: Nixon sank into a coma
Friday, April 22, 1994, 9:08 PM: Richard Nixon died,
surrounded by his daughters, Tricia and Julie
 Funeral: guests
Attended by over 4000 people, including:
Tricia and Julie and their families
Nixons VP Spiro Agnew, who later died on September 17, 1996
5 presidents: Bill Clinton (in office), George Bush, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford
A foreign diplomatic corps of over 200

PwC
 Funeral: ceremony
Nixon was honored at Yorba Linda
A military band played patriotic
hymns
4 F-16 flew overhead in the
traditional missing man
formation after a fifth plane
peeled off
21-gun salute, the public
ceremony closed with a Navy
bugler playing taps,
The burial, next to Nixons wife of
53 years, Pat Ryan Nixon, was
limited to family members

PwC
 Funeral: ceremony
The funeral was officiated by the Reverend Dr. Billy Graham, a friend of
Richard Nixon
Graham, Kissinger, Dole, Wilson, Clinton delivered eulogies
The funeral was the last major appearance of Ronald Reagan

PwC