IT'S TIME TO TAKE A NEW LOOK AT RICHARD NIXON

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 1963

NIXON LIBRARY TO ADD REPLICA OF OVAL OFFICE IN OCTOBER

Yorba Linda, California (JFK+50) The Richard Nixon Foundation announced this past week that a new exhibit at the Nixon Presidential Library will open on October 14th of this year...an exact replica of President Nixon's Oval Office.

Not only will visitors be able to see the office, they will be allowed to "step inside" and even "sit behind the desk."  What a wonderful experience for those of us who would never have an opportunity to visit the real Oval Office in the West Wing of the White House.

The Nixon Foundation says the Oval Office Exhibit "will be the centerpiece" of the presidential library and museum."  It, however, is to be only part of a $15,000,000 renovation project financed by a gift from former ambassador to Spain, George L. Argyros* and his wife.

The Oval Office exhibit will feature an exact replica of the "Wilson desk**" used by President Nixon.  The original today is used at the United States Capitol by Vice-President Joe Biden.  There will also be replicas of a bust of President Abraham Lincoln and the blue and gold decor selected by First Lady Pat Nixon for her husband's office.

The decor, representing the colors of the state of California, includes a replica of the rug bearing the Seal of the President of the United States.

The chairman of the Nixon Foundation, Fred Malek is quoted as saying...

"It's time to take a new look at Richard Nixon and what he accomplished."

*George Leon Argyros was born in Detroit, MI in 1937 & raised in Pasadena, CA.  His parents emigrated from Greece.  GLA graduated from Chapman University and became a real estate developer & owner of the Seattle Mariners baseball organization.  He became ambassador to Spain in 2001.

**The Wilson Desk is a large mahogany double-pedestal desk used by Presidents Nixon & Ford in the Oval Office.  It was first purchased by Garret A. Hobart, William McKinley's 1st Vice-President, for use at the U.S. Capitol. President Nixon selected the desk because he was told it was used by President Woodrow Wilson in the Oval Office.  That information proved to be false, but nevertheless it is still known as the Wilson Desk.

SOURCES

"Opening at the New Nixon Library," Richard Nixon Foundation, Library and Musueum, www.nixonfoundation.org/

"Nixon library will recreate Oval Office," by Denisse Salazar, The Orange County Register, May 25, 2016, www.ocregister.com/

President Nixon with Chief Advisers

Oval Office

March 13, 1970

NARA Photo

President Gerald Ford

at Wilson Desk

August 13, 1974

Library of Congress Photo