PRESIDENT NIXON BORN 101 YEARS AGO TODAY
Yorba Linda, California (JFK+50) 101 years ago today, January 9, 1913, Richard Milhous Nixon, the future 37th President of the United States, was born here in Yorba Linda, California.
Nixon's father, Frank Nixon, owned a lemon ranch but the family struggled financially and grieved the deaths of two of Richard's brothers.
Birthplace of Richard M. Nixon
Yorba Linda, California
National Park Service Photo
In 1922, after the failure of the ranch, the Nixons moved to Whittier, California where Frank ran a grocery store and service station.
Richard Nixon attended Whittier College where he became a champion debater and went on to Duke Law School in North Carolina where he graduated third in his class in 1937.
Nixon married Patricia Ryan in 1940 and the couple would have two daughters, Tricia and Julie.
Like John F. Kennedy, Mr. Nixon served in the United States Navy in World War II and after the war was elected to the United States Congress.
Having been re-elected to Congress in 1948, Richard Nixon was elected to the United States Senate in 1950.
Richard Nixon served as Vice President of the United States during the Eisenhower years, but was defeated by JFK in the presidential election of 1960.
Nixon was then defeated for Governor of California in 1962, but defeated Hubert Humphrey in 1968 to become the 37th President.
After a successful 1st term, particularly in the area of foreign policy, President Nixon won an overwhelming victory over George McGovern in 1972.
In 1974, however, Nixon was forced to resign after the Watergate scandal.
Richard M. Nixon died in New York City on April 22, 1994 at the age of 81.
