I learnt all this at the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda. Every president gets a library - even the ones that can't read - and Nixon's is an impressive building on the site of his parents' citrus farm, enclosing the house his father built, where he was born. The place is full of election memorabilia and artifacts, chronicling everything about the man.
He certainly did a lot, being possibly the most widely travelled American ever. He had a pretty productive strategy of non-isolation, especially with China and the Soviet Union, while carrying the proverbial big stick. He had his fair share of crises and defeats as well, including a failed attempt to be Governor of California in 1962, losing the election to Kennedy but securing the nomination again in 1968, etc. He gambled everything on several occasions and managed to win each time. All in all, not a man to play poker with.
So, from what I saw today, he was definitely the best. There was some scandal involving a gate towards the end of his career, recording innocent civilians or something, but as that's recently become totally legal I'm not sure what the fuss was about. Once again, Nixon was just ahead of his time.
An impressive entrance.
Quite a cutie! And I know something about cute babies.
This is the letter inviting Nixon to run for Congress. The rest is, quite literally, history.
Nasty political attack ads: nothing new.
Nixon delivering his famous "Checkers speech" to prove that he's not corrupt.
Educating Khrushchev. This was actually about the display of an American kitchen.
The most memorable and important meeting of his life.
Or maybe this one.
The house where he was born.
Showing support.
Comeback time! Eight years in the political wilderness, then president. Not bad.
Told you he won the Cold War (don't touch!)
And the moon thing.
A gift from a close friend.
The president had no idea what was happening. A nearby video told me that.
Some of the actual break-in tools.
Before.
After.
See?
See?!
Marine One, the presidential helicopter. This one served several presidents up to Ford but was lovingly restored to the way Nixon had it, complete with cigarette packets bearing the presidential seal. It's the one that flew him from office on August 9th 1974.
Past presidents...and a future one?
