American Experience (1988–…): Season 3, Episode 2 - Nixon: Part I - full transcript

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Man:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA AND MRS. NIXON

MR. AND MRS. DAVID EISENHOWER,
MR. AND MRS. EDWARD COX.

Narrator:
ON AUGUST 9, 1974

RICHARD MILHOUS NIXON
BECAME THE FIRST PRESIDENT

IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED
STATES TO RESIGN FROM OFFICE.

HIS STAFF GATHERED IN THE
WHITE HOUSE TO BID HIM FAREWELL

AS MILLIONS OF AMERICANS
WATCHED ON TELEVISION

SOME IN SORROW AND DISBELIEF,
OTHERS GLAD TO SEE HIM GO.

RICHARD NIXON HAD ACCOMPLISHED
GREAT THINGS AS PRESIDENT

AND HAD BEEN REELECTED
OVERWHELMINGLY

BUT HE WAS ALSO WIDELY
DISTRUSTED, SOMETIMES RIDICULED

EVEN DESPISED.



YOU'RE HERE TO SAY
GOOD-BYE TO US

AND WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD WORD
FOR IT IN ENGLISH.

THE BEST IS AU REVOIR.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN.

Man:
RICHARD NIXON WAS STUDIEDLY
DIFFERENT TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE

AND I DON'T THINK
THERE'S ANY ONE PERSON...

INCLUDING HIS WIFE, PROBABLY...
WHO COULD SIT DOWN AND WRITE

THE DEFINITIVE EXPLANATION
OF RICHARD NIXON.

WE ALL SAW HIM DIFFERENTLY.

Narrator:
HE WAS A TIRELESS CAMPAIGNER

A SURVIVOR OF MORE THAN
A QUARTER OF A CENTURY

OF POLITICAL BATTLE

YET SO SELF-CONSCIOUS
THAT HE DISLIKED SHAKING HANDS

AND FOUND IT HARD
TO LOOK ANYONE IN THE EYE.

AND I INTEND TO CONTINUE
TO EXPOSE THE PEOPLE

THAT HAVE SOLD THIS COUNTRY
DOWN THE RIVER

UNTIL WE HAVE DRIVEN ALL
THE CROOKS AND THE COMMUNISTS

AND THOSE THAT DEFEND THEM
OUT OF WASHINGTON.

Narrator:
HE ROSE TO POWER AS
A CRUSADER AGAINST COMMUNISM

ONLY TO MAKE HIS
MOST LASTING MARK

BUILDING BRIDGES TO CHINA
AND THE SOVIET UNION.

HE HAD MILLIONS OF ADMIRERS
ALL OVER THE WORLD

BUT TRUSTED ALMOST NO ONE

AND IN THE END WAS LEFT
TO FACE HIS ENEMIES ALONE.

THE ADVICE HE OFFERED HIS STAFF
IN HIS LAST SPEECH AS PRESIDENT

STIRRED THE THICK AUGUST AIR
WITH ADMONITIONS

THAT SEEMED TO APPLY MOST APTLY
TO NIXON HIMSELF.

ALWAYS GIVE YOUR BEST

NEVER GET DISCOURAGED,
NEVER BE PETTY.

ALWAYS REMEMBER,
OTHERS MAY HATE YOU

BUT THOSE WHO HATE YOU DON'T WIN
UNLESS YOU HATE THEM...

AND THEN YOU DESTROY YOURSELF.

Man:
IT'S STRUCK ME FROM TIME TO TIME

THAT NIXON AS A CHARACTER
WOULD HAVE BEEN SO EASY TO FIX

IN THE SENSE OF REMOVING
THESE RATHER PETTY FLAWS

AND YET I THINK IT'S ALSO TRUE
THAT IF YOU DID THIS

YOU WOULD PROBABLY HAVE REMOVED

THAT VERY INNER CORE
OF INSECURITY

THAT LED TO HIS DRIVE.

A SECURE NIXON ALMOST SURELY,
IN MY VIEW

WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES AT ALL.

♪ SING A SONG
OF GOLDEN CALIFORNIA ♪

♪ GRAIN REFLECTS
THE LOFTY MOUNTAIN ♪

♪ AND THE SUNSET SEA...
THE SUNSET SEA. ♪

Narrator:
RICHARD NIXON WAS BORN

IN THE TINY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
DESERT TOWN OF YORBA LINDA

IN 1913.

HE GREW UP AMONG THE PEOPLE
HE WOULD ONE DAY CALL

"FORGOTTEN AMERICANS"
AND THE "SILENT MAJORITY."

♪ MY CALIFORNIA... ♪

Narrator:
HARDWORKING,
CHURCHGOING PEOPLE...

FARMERS, SHOPKEEPERS

PEOPLE WITH AN INBRED RESPECT
FOR AUTHORITY

AND AN UNYIELDING BELIEF
IN THE AMERICAN DREAM.

♪ ...THAT'S MY HONEY ♪

♪ THAT'S MY SUNNY CALIFORNIA. ♪

Nixon:
I REMEMBER MY OLD MAN.

I THINK THAT THEY
WOULD HAVE CALLED HIM

A SORT OF LITTLE MAN,
COMMON MAN.

HE DIDN'T CONSIDER HIMSELF
THAT WAY.

YOU KNOW WHAT HE WAS?

HE WAS A STREETCAR MOTORMAN
FIRST, AND THEN HE WAS A FARMER

AND THEN HE HAD A LEMON RANCH

AND THEN HE WAS A GROCER.

BUT HE WAS A GREAT MAN.

Narrator:
"RICHARD HAD HIS FATHER'S FIRE"

HIS MOTHER, HANNAH MILHOUS
NIXON, ONCE SAID, "AND MY TACT."

SHE SEEMED THE OPPOSITE
OF THE LOUD, AGGRESSIVE HUSBAND

HER QUAKER FAMILY ALWAYS
BELIEVED BENEATH HER...

SOFT-SPOKEN, TIGHTLY CONTROLLED

NEVER ALLOWING ANGER
TO GET THE BETTER OF HER.

SHE INSISTED HER SECOND SON
BE CALLED RICHARD, NOT DICK

TAUGHT HIM TO READ
BEFORE HE ENTERED SCHOOL

AND MADE SURE
HE SAID HIS PRAYERS DAILY

AND WENT FOUR TIMES
TO QUAKER MEETING ON SUNDAYS.

Woman:
I TAUGHT RICHARD NIXON

IN THE SECOND GRADE
HERE IN YORBA LINDA.

HE SAT IN THE BACK SEAT
AND ALWAYS CAME TO SCHOOL

WITH A WHITE, STARCHED SHIRT
WITH LONG SLEEVES.

HE WAS ALWAYS A QUIET,
DIGNIFIED LITTLE FELLOW

AND A VERY GOOD STUDENT.

Narrator:
HE WAS CLUMSY
BUT DOGGED AT GAMES

SHY BUT GIFTED
AT RECITING POETRY

AND FULL OF HIS FATHER'S
ENTHUSIASM FOR POLITICS.

Man:
DICK WAS POLITICALLY INCLINED
AS A KID.

I REMEMBER WALKING TO SCHOOL

AND I THINK IT WAS WHEN HARDING
WAS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT

AND OLD DICK WAS THERE
ON A STUMP

SAYING WHY EVERYBODY
SHOULD VOTE FOR HARDING.

Narrator:
THE NIXONS MOVED TO NEARBY
WHITTIER WHEN RICHARD WAS NINE.

FOUNDED BY QUAKERS IN 1887

IT WAS A SOBER,
INDUSTRIOUS COMMUNITY:

NO LIQUOR STORES, NO BARS,
NO DANCE HALLS.

FRANK NIXON BOUGHT A GAS STATION
ALONG THE HIGHWAY

AND SOON ADDED A GENERAL STORE
WHERE THE WHOLE FAMILY WORKED

OFTEN 16 HOURS A DAY,
SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

ONE THING MY MOTHER AND DAD
ALWAYS USED TO SAY

WHEN WE WERE
GROWING UP...

I DON'T MEAN
MY MOTHER

BECAUSE SHE WAS
A LITTLE BIASED...

BUT MY DAD USED TO SAY
WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP

HE SAID, "YOU KNOW,
YOU BOYS"...

SPEAKING TO ME
PARTICULARLY...

"YOU BOYS HAVE GOT TO
GET OUT AND SCRATCH.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANYWHERE
ON YOUR GOOD LOOKS."

Narrator:
WHEN RICHARD WAS 12

HIS YOUNGER BROTHER, ARTHUR,
SUDDENLY FELL ILL AND DIED

AND WITHIN EIGHT YEARS

HAROLD, THE ELDEST BROTHER
AND FAMILY FAVORITE

WOULD SUCCUMB TO TUBERCULOSIS.

HANNAH NIXON RECALLED,
"IT WAS ARTHUR'S PASSING

"THAT FIRST STIRRED WITHIN
RICHARD A DETERMINATION

"TO HELP MAKE UP FOR OUR LOSS
BY MAKING US VERY PROUD OF HIM.

"HE MAY HAVE FELT
A KIND OF GUILT

"THAT HAROLD AND ARTHUR
WERE DEAD

AND HE WAS ALIVE,"
SHE REMEMBERED.

MY MOTHER WAS A SAINT.

AND I THINK OF HER,
TWO BOYS DYING OF TUBERCULOSIS

NURSING FOUR OTHERS,
AND SEEING EACH OF THEM DIE

AND WHEN THEY DIED,
IT WAS LIKE ONE OF HER OWN.

YES, SHE WILL HAVE NO BOOKS
WRITTEN ABOUT HER

BUT SHE WAS A SAINT.

Narrator:
"I WOULD LIKE TO STUDY LAW

AND ENTER POLITICS
FOR AN OCCUPATION"

NIXON WROTE IN THE EIGHTH GRADE

"SO THAT I MIGHT BE OF SOME GOOD
TO THE PEOPLE."

NIXON WORKED HARD
FOR EVERYTHING HE GOT

AND HIS SOBER, INDUSTRIOUS AIR

SOMETIMES PUT OFF
HIS CONTEMPORARIES.

WHEN HE RAN FOR CLASS PRESIDENT
AT WHITTIER HIGH

HE LOST TO A CANDIDATE
HE LATER DISMISSED

AS AN ATHLETE
AND PERSONALITY BOY.

HE WOULD NOT LOSE ANOTHER
ELECTION FOR 30 YEARS.

BOTH HARVARD AND YALE INVITED
NIXON TO APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS

BUT HIS DREAM OF A PRESTIGIOUS
EASTERN UNIVERSITY

WAS FRUSTRATED.

IT WAS 1930,
THE GREAT DEPRESSION

AND HAROLD WAS IN THE MIDST

OF HIS LONG STRUGGLE
WITH TUBERCULOSIS.

"WE NEEDED RICHARD AT HOME,"
HANNAH NIXON REMEMBERED.

NIXON HAD TO SETTLE FOR WHITTIER
COLLEGE JUST DOWN THE ROAD

AND LATER SAID HE'D
NEVER FELT DISAPPOINTED.

HE SOON BECAME A BIG MAN
ON THE SMALL CAMPUS.

HE WAS AN AMBITIOUS
STUDENT POLITICIAN

AN ACCOMPLISHED ACTOR,
A CHAMPION DEBATER.

THE WHITTIER STUDENT BODY
ELECTED NIXON PRESIDENT IN 1933.

HE WAS BOTH ADMIRED AND RESENTED
FOR WHAT ONE STUDENT CALLED

"AN ALMOST RUTHLESS
COCKSURENESS."

THE EXCLUSIVE FRANKLIN CLUB
DENIED NIXON MEMBERSHIP.

HE HELPED ORGANIZE
A COMPETING CLUB

THE ORTHOGONIANS,
OR SQUARE SHOOTERS

STUDENTS WHO TOOK PRIDE

IN WORKING THEIR WAY
THROUGH COLLEGE.

THEY WORE NO TIES,
SERVED SPAGHETTI AND BEANS

AND ATTRACTED THE COLLEGE'S
BEST ATHLETES.

NIXON LATER DENIED THERE WAS
ANY CLASS DISTINCTION

BETWEEN HIS SHIRT-SLEEVED
ORTHOGONIANS

AND THE TUXEDOED FRANKLINS

BUT THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE, HE
WOULD EMPHASIZE THE DIFFERENCES

BETWEEN HIS OWN
MODEST BEGINNINGS

AND THE WEALTHY,
PRIVILEGED BACKGROUNDS

OF HIS POLITICAL OPPONENTS.

DUKE LAW SCHOOL WAS NIXON'S
NEXT TRAINING GROUND

IN PERSISTENCE, SUCCESS
AND FRUSTRATION.

HIS CLASSMATES CALLED HIM
"GLOOMY GUS."

HE LIVED FRUGALLY,
STUDIED ENDLESSLY

AND NEVER WALKED AWAY FROM
A CLASSROOM CONFRONTATION.

Man:
WE HAD A PROFESSOR OF TORTS,
DOUGLAS MAGGS

WHO WAS SO INTIMIDATING
THAT MOST PEOPLE BACKED DOWN.

THE FIRST PERSON IN OUR CLASS

THAT I REMEMBER
THAT STOOD UP TO HIM

AND KIND OF BARKED BACK
WAS NIXON.

HE WAS STANDING THERE
KIND OF FLAT-FOOTED

AND YOU COULD JUST SEE
HE WAS DUG IN

AND HE WAS JUST
STANDING UP TO MAGGS,

KIND OF ALMOST SHAKING
IN HIS SHOES

BUT, BY GOSH, HE WASN'T
GOING TO BACK DOWN.

Narrator:
NIXON GRADUATED THIRD
IN HIS CLASS

HOPING FOR A JOB WITH AN EAST
COAST LAW FIRM OR THE F.B.I.

BUT HIS APPLICATIONS
WERE REJECTED.

HE WENT BACK HOME TO WHITTIER.

♪ CALIFORNIA, HERE I COME... ♪

Narrator:
NIXON'S MOTHER HELPED HIM GET
A JOB IN A FRIEND'S LAW OFFICE.

BUT SMALL-TOWN LAW BORED HIM

AND HE WAS STILL TOO YOUNG
AND INEXPERIENCED

FOR STATE POLITICS.

THEN, WHILE AUDITIONING
FOR A LOCAL PLAY

HE FELL IN LOVE.

PAT RYAN WAS A TRUCK FARMER'S
RED-HAIRED DAUGHTER

TEN MONTHS OLDER THAN HE

AND EVEN MORE ACCUSTOMED
TO HARD WORK AND HARDSHIP.

SHE HAD WORKED HER WAY
THROUGH COLLEGE

AS A SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR,
SALESGIRL AND MOVIE EXTRA

BEFORE TAKING A TEACHING JOB
AT WHITTIER HIGH.

"DON'T LAUGH," NIXON TOLD HER,
EVEN BEFORE THEIR FIRST DATE

"BUT SOMEDAY I'M
GOING TO MARRY YOU."

HE PURSUED PAT
FOR OVER TWO YEARS

EVEN DRIVING HER
TO LOS ANGELES ON WEEKENDS

WHEN SHE HAD DATES
WITH OTHER MEN

THEN WAITING AROUND
TO TAKE HER HOME AGAIN.

HE MARRIED HER IN JUNE OF 1940,
BUT HIS POLITICAL AMBITIONS

WOULD HAVE TO WAIT
FIVE MORE YEARS.

THE WORLD WAS AT WAR.

♪ ...CALIFORNIA, HERE I COME. ♪

Narrator:
EIGHT MONTHS AFTER PEARL HARBOR,
NIXON JOINED THE NAVY

AND AS A LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
WAS SENT TO THE SOLOMON ISLANDS.

HE WAS BEST REMEMBERED
FOR HIS SKILL

AT SCROUNGING FOOD
AND LIQUOR AND SUPPLIES

FOR THE GRATEFUL MEN
WHO CALLED HIM "NICK."

AND HE LEARNED TO PLAY POKER

NOT JUST TO FILL THE TIME,
BUT TO MAKE SOME EXTRA MONEY.

Man:
HE SAID TO ME:

"DO YOU THINK THAT THERE'S
ANY SURE WAY TO WIN?"

AND I SAID:

"IF YOU DON'T THINK YOU
HAVE THE BEST HAND GOING IN

GET OUT, DROP, DON'T ANTE UP."

I SAID, "THE TROUBLE
WITH THAT IS

"YOU'LL PROBABLY DROP THREE
OR FOUR HANDS OUT OF FIVE

"AND IT'S VERY BORING

AND I HAVEN'T GOT
THE PATIENCE TO DO IT."

WELL, TO OUR INTENSE SURPRISE,
HE DID EXACTLY THAT

AND HE WON MORE FREQUENTLY
THAN HE LOST

AND HE SENT HOME TO CALIFORNIA
A FAIR AMOUNT OF MONEY.

I HAVE NO IDEA EXACTLY HOW MUCH

BUT MY ESTIMATE WAS
BETWEEN $6,000 AND $7,000.

Narrator:
IT WAS HIS POKER WINNINGS

THAT HELPED FINANCE NIXON'S
FIRST POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

AT WAR'S END, HE WAS APPROACHED

BY A GROUP OF REPUBLICAN BANKERS
AND BUSINESSMEN FROM WHITTIER

WHO SOUGHT A CANDIDATE TO UNSEAT

THE FIVE-TERM DEMOCRATIC
CONGRESSMAN JERRY VOORHIS.

VOORHIS, A YALE GRADUATE
FROM A WEALTHY FAMILY

WAS ANATHEMA
TO WHITTIER REPUBLICANS.

HE SUPPORTED LABOR,
OPPOSED BIG OIL AND BIG BANKING

AND CHAMPIONED
THE SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMS

OF THE NEW DEAL.

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER NIXON
JUMPED AT THE OPPORTUNITY

TO RUN AGAINST HIM.

LEADING REPUBLICANS AROUND
WHITTIER WERE CONFIDENT

THEY FINALLY HAD FOUND THE MAN
TO DEFEAT JERRY VOORHIS.

"NIXON COMES FROM GOOD QUAKER
STOCK," A LOCAL BANKER WROTE.

"HE IS A VERY AGGRESSIVE
INDIVIDUAL."

ANOTHER PARTISAN SAID, "THIS MAN
IS SALEABLE MERCHANDISE."

IN HIS FIRST CAMPAIGN,
NIXON DEVELOPED AN APPROACH

THAT REMAINED
REMARKABLY CONSISTENT

THROUGH NEARLY THREE DECADES.

THE CANDIDATE PRESENTED HIMSELF
AS A FAMILY MAN

FROM A LONG TRADITION
OF WORK AND SERVICE

A FIRM BELIEVER
IN INDIVIDUAL INITIATIVE

A CHAMPION OF THE FORGOTTEN MAN,
AND AT THE SAME TIME

HE PROVED TO BE A FIERCE
NO-HOLDS-BARRED COMBATANT

ACCUSING VOORHIS OF TIES
TO COMMUNIST ORGANIZATIONS

DISTORTING VOORHIS'S RECORD
IN CONGRESS.

Man:
JUST BEFORE THE ELECTION

A GOOD MANY PEOPLE
CAME AND TOLD ME:

"DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE TELEPHONE
CALLS THAT ARE BEING MADE?"

AND I SAID, NO, I DIDN'T.

"WELL," THEY SAID,
"I WAS CALLED ON THE PHONE

"BY AN UNIDENTIFIED PERSON
WHO SIMPLY SAID

DO YOU KNOW THAT JERRY VOORHIS
IS A COMMUNIST?"

AND "YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR
MR. NIXON BECAUSE OF THIS FACT."

Narrator:
THE CHARACTER
OF NIXON'S CAMPAIGN

SURPRISED MANY OF HIS FRIENDS.

"OF COURSE I KNEW JERRY VOORHIS
WASN'T A COMMUNIST"

HE LATER TOLD A VOORHIS AIDE,
"BUT I HAD TO WIN.

"THAT'S THE THING
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.

THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO WIN."

ALL THE STOPS WERE PULLED
AND MR. NIXON BEAT ME.

HE WAS A GOOD DEBATER.

HE WAS A CLEVER DEBATER.

I WOULDN'T DENY THAT AT ALL.

BUT...

UH...

I...

STILL FEEL THAT THERE WERE A
GOOD MANY BELOW-THE-BELT BLOWS

STRUCK IN THE CAMPAIGN.

Narrator:
NIXON WAS SWEPT INTO OFFICE
WITH 60% OF THE VOTE

PART OF A NATIONWIDE
REPUBLICAN SURGE.

HIS BOYHOOD GOAL, TO ENTER
POLITICS, HAD BEEN ACHIEVED.

Announcer:
CAPITOL HILL IN WASHINGTON IS
AGAIN THE NATION'S FOCAL POINT

AS THE 80th CONGRESS CONVENES

DURING ONE OF
THE MOST CRUCIAL PERIODS

IN THE NATION'S HISTORY.

THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED
CONGRESS TAKES THE HELM

IN THE HOUSE.

Narrator:
AS THE NIXONS POSED
BENEATH THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS

WITH BABY PATRICIA

IT WAS A HEADY TIME
FOR A YOUNG REPUBLICAN.

THE G.O.P. CONTROLLED
BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS,
AND THE FERVENT ANTI-COMMUNISM

THAT HAD HELPED NIXON
WIN THE ELECTION

WAS WELL SUITED TO THE TIMES.

Announcer:
SOVIET RUSSIA WAS
EXPANSIVELY STABBING WESTWARD

KNIFING INTO NATIONS
LEFT EMPTY BY WAR.

ALREADY AN IRON CURTAIN
HAD DROPPED

AROUND POLAND, HUNGARY,
YUGOSLAVIA, BULGARIA...

I AM NOT NOW A COMMUNIST...

Narrator:
AND IN THE UNITED STATES

THE HOUSE COMMITTEE
ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES

SEARCHED FOR
SOVIET SYMPATHIZERS.

CONGRESSMAN NIXON SOON BECAME
THE JUNIOR MEMBER

OF THAT CONTROVERSIAL,
HEADLINE-MAKING BODY.

AND ON AUGUST 3, 1948

SHORTLY AFTER THE BIRTH OF
NIXON'S SECOND DAUGHTER, JULIE

AN UNLIKELY DRAMA BEGAN

THAT WOULD MAKE THE ISSUE
OF COMMUNIST SUBVERSION

FRONT-PAGE NEWS

AND MAKE CONGRESSMAN NIXON
A NATIONAL FIGURE

ALMOST OVERNIGHT.

Man:
SWEAR THE TESTIMONY
YOU'RE ABOUT TO GIVE

WILL BE THE TRUTH,
THE WHOLE TRUTH,

AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH
SO HELP YOU GOD?

I DO.

Narrator:
A SELF-CONFESSED EX-COMMUNIST

AND EDITOR OF TIME MAGAZINE
NAMED WHITTAKER CHAMBERS

APPEARED BEFORE THE COMMITTEE
TO MAKE A SENSATIONAL CHARGE.

ALGER HISS, PROTEGE OF
OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES

AIDE TO FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT
AT YALTA

AND ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS
OF THE UNITED NATIONS

WAS, SAID CHAMBERS, A COMMUNIST

INTENT UPON INFILTRATING THE
HIGHEST OFFICES OF GOVERNMENT.

Chambers:
MR. HISS...

REPRESENTS THE CONCEALED ENEMY

AGAINST WHICH WE ARE ALL
FIGHTING AND I AM FIGHTING.

MY CONTACTS WITH ANY
FOREIGN REPRESENTATIVE

WHO COULD POSSIBLY
HAVE BEEN A COMMUNIST

HAVE BEEN STRICTLY OFFICIAL.

Narrator:
MOST OBSERVERS
FOUND HISS PERSUASIVE

BUT NIXON HAD LEARNED
THROUGH FATHER JOHN CRONIN

A CATHOLIC PRIEST
WITH F.B.I. CONNECTIONS

THAT HISS HAD BEEN
UNDER SUSPICION FOR YEARS.

NIXON INSISTED
THE HEARINGS CONTINUE.

Newsreel announcer:
"WHO'S THE LIAR" MIGHT WELL BE
THE TITLE OF THE DRAMA

WHICH UNFOLDS BEFORE
A PACKED CAUCUS ROOM

WHERE THE HOUSE UN-AMERICAN
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEMBERS

SWEAR IN ALGER HISS.

Narrator:
THE HEARINGS WERE HIGH DRAMA.

RUMORS SPREAD THAT CHAMBERS
WAS A PSYCHOPATH.

HISS CLAIMED NEVER
TO HAVE KNOWN HIM.

PRESIDENT TRUMAN
DENOUNCED THE PROCEEDINGS

AS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED

AND ORDERED GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
TO REFUSE TO COOPERATE.

NIXON CHARGED THAT THE DEMOCRATS
WERE MOUNTING A COVER-UP.

THE FRESHMAN CONGRESSMAN
FROM WHITTIER

HAD PUT HIMSELF
IN THE CENTER OF IT ALL.

Man:
NIXON REALIZED

THAT ONCE HE HAD COMMITTED
HIMSELF,

THAT IF EVERYTHING COLLAPSED,
IF HISS WAS EXONERATED

OR IF THE CHARGES WERE
NOT PROVED TO THE HILT

HE WOULD BE BADLY HURT.

NOW, I DON'T THINK HE WOULD HAVE
BEEN PERMANENTLY HURT

BUT CERTAINLY, I THINK,
IF THAT HAD HAPPENED

RICHARD NIXON WOULD NEVER
HAVE BECOME A SENATOR

AND NEVER WOULD HAVE BECOME
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

Narrator:
"HE IMMERSED HIMSELF IN THE CASE

WITH AN ABSORPTION THAT
WAS ALMOST FRIGHTENING"

PAT NIXON REMEMBERED.

WHEN OTHERS WERE READY
TO DROP THE CASE

NIXON AND CHIEF INVESTIGATOR
ROBERT STRIPLING

TALKED THEM OUT OF IT.

THEY WERE SURE HISS WAS LYING

WHEN HE CLAIMED NOT EVEN
TO HAVE KNOWN CHAMBERS

AND THEY SET OUT TO PROVE IT.

WE WENT OUT AND GOT
MR. CHAMBERS

PUT HIM IN THE GRAND JURY ROOM.

WE PUT HIM UNDER OATH,
AND WE SAID, IN EFFECT

"YOU CLAIM YOU KNOW MR. HISS;
TELL US ALL ABOUT HIM.

"WHAT DID HE CALL HIS WIFE?

"WHAT DID SHE CALL HIM?

"DID THEY HAVE A DOG?

"DID THEY HAVE A VETERINARIAN?

"DID THEY HAVE A DOCTOR?

"DID THEY HAVE A COOK?

GIVE US THE HOUSEKEEPING DETAILS
BEGINNING AT THE FRONT DOOR."

AND HE RATTLED ON FOR TWO HOURS.

IT WAS VERY OBVIOUS THAT
HE INDEED DID KNOW MR. HISS

AND QUITE WELL.

THERE WAS ALSO ANOTHER FACTOR
WHICH I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT

AND THAT WAS A KIND
OF PERSONAL ANIMUS.

HISS WAS ARROGANT ON THE STAND

AND HE RUBBED NIXON
THE WRONG WAY

AND HE SNAPPED AT NIXON
A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND SO ON.

AND IT BECAME, I THINK, ALSO
A PERSONAL THING FOR NIXON.

HE SAW THAT IT COULD BE
A BIG ISSUE

AND HIS WHOLE TEMPERAMENT
MADE HIM WANT TO PURSUE IT.

Chambers:
I BELIEVE THAT I WAS FIRST
INTRODUCED TO MR. HISS

BY HAROLD WARE AND J. PETERS.

Narrator:
CHAMBERS, NOW FIGHTING
A LIBEL SUIT

LEVELED A STILL MORE
SENSATIONAL CHARGE

ONE HE HAD NOT YET SHARED
WITH THE COMMITTEE.

HE CLAIMED THAT HISS
HAD ACTUALLY BEEN A SPY

BEFORE THE WAR, COPYING SECRET
STATE DEPARTMENT DOCUMENTS

WHICH CHAMBERS HIMSELF HAD
PASSED ON TO A SOVIET CONTACT.

NIXON WAS FURIOUS THAT CHAMBERS
HAD BEEN HOLDING OUT ON HIM.

HE ORDERED ANY EVIDENCE
CHAMBERS MIGHT HAVE SUBPOENAED

THEN LEFT WITH HIS WIFE

ON A LONG-DELAYED
CARIBBEAN VACATION.

Announcer:
IN THE LATEST SENSATIONAL TURN
OF THE RED ESPIONAGE PROBE

THE MARYLAND FARM
OF THE MAGAZINE EDITOR

BECOMES THE FOCUS OF ATTENTION.

Narrator:
FROM A HOLLOWED-OUT PUMPKIN

CHAMBERS PRODUCED APPARENT PROOF
OF ESPIONAGE...

MICROFILM OF STOLEN DOCUMENTS.

NIXON MADE
THE NATION'S FRONT PAGES

WHEN HE WAS PLUCKED
FROM MID-OCEAN

AND FLOWN BACK TO WASHINGTON
FOR A PRESS CONFERENCE.

I AM HOLDING IN MY HAND
A MICROFILM

OF VERY HIGHLY
CONFIDENTIAL

SECRET STATE DEPARTMENT
DOCUMENTS...

Narrator:
THE MICROFILM, KNOWN
AS THE "PUMPKIN PAPERS"

PROVIDED THE EVIDENCE
AND THE PUBLICITY NIXON NEEDED.

FINALLY, AFTER TWO
CONTROVERSIAL TRIALS

HISS WAS FOUND GUILTY OF PERJURY
AND IMPRISONED.

THE HISS CASE POLARIZED AMERICAN
OPINION ABOUT RICHARD NIXON.

TO CONSERVATIVES

HE HAD FEARLESSLY ROOTED OUT
A DANGEROUS SUBVERSIVE

BUT IN THE EYES OF MANY LIBERALS

NIXON HAD DESTROYED
AN HONORABLE MAN

AND SET THE STAGE FOR MORE
UNSCRUPULOUS COMMUNIST HUNTERS

BUT THERE WAS NO DOUBT
THAT AT THE AGE OF 35

THE CONGRESSMAN FROM WHITTIER
HAD BECOME A NATIONAL FIGURE.

Narrator:
1950... THE RUSSIANS HAD EXPLODED
AN ATOMIC BOMB OF THEIR OWN.

JULIUS AND ETHEL ROSENBERG
WERE CHARGED

WITH GIVING THE SOVIETS
ATOMIC SECRETS.

COMMUNISTS TOOK CONTROL
OF MAINLAND CHINA.

IN KOREA, COMMUNIST TROOPS
POURED ACROSS THE 38th PARALLEL

AND AMERICAN SOLDIERS WERE SENT
TO STOP THEM.

SENATOR JOSEPH McCARTHY CHARGED

THAT COMMUNISTS IN GOVERNMENT
WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT ALL.

AND CALL THE ROLLS...

AND CALL THE ROLLS OF
TRAITORS...

AND CONGRESSMAN NIXON
HAD HIS SIGHTS ON THE SENATE.

HIS OPPONENT WAS

THREE-TERM CONGRESSWOMAN
HELEN GAHAGAN DOUGLAS.

LIKE JERRY VOORHIS,
SHE WAS WEALTHY, WELL EDUCATED

AND AN OUTSPOKEN NEW DEALER.

SHE CONDEMNED THE FEAR OF
INTERNAL COMMUNISM AS IRRATIONAL

AND OPPOSED THE VERY EXISTENCE

OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE
ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES.

POLITICIANS IN BOTH PARTIES
CALLED THE FORMER ACTRESS

A "BLEEDING-HEART LIBERAL,"
A "DO-GOODER"

A "HOLLYWOOD PARLOR PINK."

CONGRESSMAN JOHN F. KENNEDY
QUIETLY GAVE NIXON $1,000

TO HELP DEFEAT HER, SAYING,
"IT WON'T BREAK MY HEART

IF YOU CAN TURN THE SENATE'S
LOSS INTO HOLLYWOOD'S GAIN."

MRS. DOUGLAS WAS A PERFECT
TARGET FOR WHAT NIXON CALLED

HIS "ROCKING, SOCKING"
STYLE OF CAMPAIGNING.

IMPLYING THE CONGRESSWOMAN
WAS PRO-COMMUNIST

HE DISTRIBUTED A FLYER
ON PINK PAPER

SHOWING MRS. DOUGLAS HAD VOTED

WITH THE CONTROVERSIAL LEFT-WING
CONGRESSMAN VITO MARCANTONIO

354 TIMES.

THE FACT THAT MOST DEMOCRATS

AND A GOOD MANY REPUBLICANS HAD
VOTED THE SAME WAY WAS IGNORED.

NIXON CHARGED THAT HIS OPPONENT

WAS "PINK RIGHT DOWN
TO HER UNDERWEAR."

MRS. DOUGLAS FOUGHT BACK HARD,
CALLING NIXON A "PEEWEE"

WHO IS TRYING TO SCARE PEOPLE
INTO VOTING FOR HIM.

AND SHE GAVE HIM THE NICKNAME
HE WOULD NEVER ENTIRELY SHAKE...

"TRICKY DICK."

Woman:
WHEN RICHARD NIXON RAN
FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

UNSEATED JERRY VOORHIS

IT WAS THE SAME KIND OF CAMPAIGN
AS HE WAGED AGAINST ME IN 1950.

BUT THE ESSENCE OF THAT KIND
OF CAMPAIGN IS THIS:

TO AVOID THE ISSUES

YOU WORK UP BOGUS ISSUES...

TRYING TO PLAY ON
THE FEARS OF PEOPLE.

BECAUSE IF YOU TALK ABOUT THE
REAL ISSUES, YOU MAY LOSE VOTES.

IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

Narrator:
OTHER CANDIDATES
EMPLOYED SCARE TACTICS THAT YEAR

BUT FEW WERE MORE BLATANT
THAN RICHARD NIXON'S.

"PEOPLE REACT TO FEAR,"
HE ONCE TOLD AN AIDE, "NOT LOVE.

THEY DON'T TEACH THAT IN
SUNDAY SCHOOL, BUT IT'S TRUE."

NIXON DEFEATED MRS. DOUGLAS
BY ALMOST 700,000 VOTES...

THE LARGEST PLURALITY WON

BY ANY SENATORIAL
CANDIDATE IN THE COUNTRY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE PROBABLY WONDER
HOW IT IS POSSIBLE

FOR A CANDIDATE TO BE ELECTED
INTO ANY OFFICE IN CALIFORNIA

WHEN HE IS A MEMBER
OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

I HAVE JUST HAD THAT EXPERIENCE

AND I SHOULD LIKE
TO POINT OUT THE REASON

FOR OUR ELECTION VICTORY.

IT'S BECAUSE IN THIS
PARTICULAR ELECTION, THE ISSUES

RATHER THAN THE PARTISAN LABELS
OF THE CANDIDATES,

WERE WHAT GOVERNED
THE ELECTORATE.

I THINK THE MAJOR ISSUE...

Man:
RICHARD NIXON DOES NOT SIMPLY

DEFEAT JERRY VOORHIS
FOR THE CONGRESS

OR DEFEAT HELEN GAHAGAN DOUGLAS
FOR THE SENATE IN 1950.

HE DESTROYS THESE PEOPLE
POLITICALLY

AND VERY NEARLY PERSONALLY.

AND HE DOES THAT IN SUCH A WAY

AS TO LEAVE
A GREAT LEGACY OF BITTERNESS

AMONG THEIR SUPPORTERS,
AND EVEN AMONG ONLOOKERS...

PEOPLE WHO ARE SORT OF
NEUTRAL OBSERVERS ON THE SIDE.

Announcer:
CHICAGO IS A CITY DIVIDED

AS THOUSANDS OF DELEGATES AND
OBSERVERS STREAM INTO THE CITY

FOR THE 25th REPUBLICAN
CONVENTION.

PARTISANSHIP RUNS HIGH.

AND THE TRAPPINGS
OF THE GRAND OLD PARTY

BEFORE THE SERIOUS BUSINESS
GETS UNDER WAY.

Narrator:
AFTER ONLY A YEAR AND A HALF
IN THE SENATE

NIXON WAS A LEADING CANDIDATE

FOR THE VICE-PRESIDENTIAL
NOMINATION.

Announcer:
AND HERE COMES "MR. REPUBLICAN"
HIMSELF, SENATOR ROBERT TAFT.

Narrator:
TAFT PARTISANS...
CONSERVATIVE AND ISOLATIONIST...

APPLAUDED NIXON'S
FERVENT ANTI-COMMUNISM

WHILE EISENHOWER'S MORE LIBERAL,
INTERNATIONALIST BACKERS

WERE ATTRACTED TO NIXON'S
SUPPORT OF THE MARSHALL PLAN

AND HIS COMMITMENT
TO REBUILDING POSTWAR EUROPE.

THE CALIFORNIA DELEGATION
WAS PLEDGED

TO ITS FAVORITE SON,
GOVERNOR EARL WARREN.

BUT BEHIND THE SCENES,
NIXON LOBBIED HARD

FOR THE NOMINATION
OF EISENHOWER.

HE WAS A MAN
WITH NO SET IDEOLOGY

NO SET, REAL
DEEP-DOWN PRINCIPLES.

HE WASN'T A TAFT REPUBLICAN

HE WASN'T
AN EISENHOWER REPUBLICAN

HE WAS A NIXON REPUBLICAN.

Announcer:
WITH NEW YORK'S
BIG BLOC OF VOTES

THE ISSUE IS NO LONGER IN DOUBT

AND A WILDLY CHEERING CONVENTION
HAILS ITS NOMINEE

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER,
SOLDIER AND STATESMAN.

Narrator:
AWAY FROM THE CONVENTION FLOOR,
EISENHOWER HUDDLED WITH NIXON.

THE YOUNG SENATOR REPRESENTED

THE GROWING POWER
OF THE WEST COAST.

AND HE WAS
A ROUGH-AND-TUMBLE CAMPAIGNER.

THE GENERAL OFFERED HIM
THE VICE-PRESIDENCY.

AND AS WE CONTRIBUTE
TO THE REPUBLICAN CAUSE

WHAT WE WILL DO IS
TO FORGE A GREAT VICTORY

FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
NEXT NOVEMBER.

BUT A VICTORY WHICH WILL BE
A VICTORY

NOT ONLY
FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

BUT WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT,
IT WILL BE A VICTORY FOR AMERICA

AND FOR THE CAUSE OF FREE
PEOPLES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

Narrator:
EISENHOWER INTENDED
TO KEEP TO THE HIGH ROAD

HE TOLD HIS RUNNING MATE.

IT WAS UP TO NIXON
TO FLAIL THE DEMOCRATS

AND THEIR PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE, ADLAI STEVENSON.

THERE IS NO QUESTION IN MY MIND

AS TO THE LOYALTY
OF MR. STEVENSON.

BUT THE QUESTION IS ONE
AS TO HIS JUDGMENT.

MANY GOOD AMERICANS
ARE CONCERNED

BY THE WAY THAT PRESIDENT TRUMAN
AND GOVERNOR STEVENSON

HAVE BOTH ATTEMPTED
TO RIDICULE AND POOH-POOH

THE COMMUNIST THREAT
WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.

YOU READ ABOUT ANOTHER BRIBE.

YOU READ ABOUT ANOTHER TAX FIX.

YOU READ ABOUT ANOTHER GANGSTER
GETTING FAVORS

FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

THE PEOPLE ARE
SICK AND TIRED OF IT.

THEY'RE OUTRAGED

AND THEY WANT SOMETHING DONE
ABOUT IT.

AND THEY'RE TIRED
OF AN ADMINISTRATION

WHICH INSTEAD OF CLEANING UP

IS COVERING UP THE SCANDALS
IN WASHINGTON

AT THE PRESENT TIME.

Narrator:
SUDDENLY NIXON FACED
A SCANDAL OF HIS OWN.

THE NEW YORK POST REPORTED

THAT WEALTHY SUPPORTERS
HAD SET UP A SECRET FUND

FOR NIXON'S PERSONAL USE.

Nixon:
AND IF THAT WERE TRUE,
LET ME SAY FIRST OF ALL

THAT I SHOULD NEVER HAVE
ACCEPTED THE NOMINATION

FOR THE VICE-PRESIDENCY
OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND IF IT WERE TRUE,

I WOULD GET OFF THE TICKET
RIGHT AWAY.

BUT IT IS NOT TRUE...

Narrator:
IN FACT, THE FUND WAS NOT SECRET

AND WAS EARMARKED EXCLUSIVELY
FOR POLITICAL EXPENSES.

BUT THE DAMAGE HAD BEEN DONE.

AIDES URGED EISENHOWER
TO DROP NIXON FROM THE TICKET.

EVEN REPUBLICAN NEWSPAPERS
DEMANDED HE RESIGN.

Woman:
WHEN THOSE HEADLINES
FIRST CAME IN THE PAPER

I JUST WANTED
TO HIDE THAT PAPER.

I DIDN'T WANT ANYONE TO SEE IT.

I COULDN'T EAT.

I KNEW THAT IT WASN'T TRUE,
BUT WHAT COULD I DO?

Man:
WELL, WHEN THE WORLD
SEEMED BLACKEST...

AND THE WHOLE NIXON CAMPAIGN HAD
HALTED IN PORTLAND, OREGON...

I GOT A TELEGRAM
FROM HIS MOTHER.

I TOOK IT IN TO HIM
AND GAVE IT TO HIM

AND HE WAS SITTING IN A LARGE
CHAIR WITH HIS ARMS ON THE SIDE

ALMOST LIKE THE LINCOLN STATUE

THAT YOU SEE IN WASHINGTON,
THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL

AND I HANDED HIM THE TELEGRAM
AND HE READ IT

AND HE DROPPED IT IN THE CHAIR

AND HIS HEAD FELL FORWARD,
AND TEARS CAME DOWN HIS EYES.

AND IT WAS OBVIOUS
THAT HE'D BEEN TERRIBLY MOVED

BY WHAT ALL THIS MEANT.

IT WAS SO IMPORTANT
TO HIM TO PROVE TO HIS MOTHER

THAT HE HAD NEVER DONE
ANYTHING WRONG.

Narrator:
WAS NIXON ON OR OFF THE TICKET?

GENERAL EISENHOWER HAD BEEN
FRUSTRATINGLY SILENT.

FINALLY,
AFTER THREE DAYS OF WAITING

A WEARY, ANXIOUS NIXON RECEIVED
EISENHOWER'S PHONE CALL.

AND HE SAID, "GENERAL," HE SAID,
"I'M JUST RICHARD NIXON.

AND HE SAID,
"I'M JUST A VERY YOUNG GUY

"THAT DOESN'T KNOW YOU
VERY WELL.

"BUT," HE SAID, I MUST TELL YOU,
GENERAL,

"THAT THERE COMES A TIME,
EVEN IN YOUR LIFE

WHEN YOU HAVE TO SHIT
OR GET OFF THE POT."

AND THERE WAS THIS DEAD SILENCE

AND WE DIDN'T KNOW

WHETHER THE BALL GAME WAS OVER
RIGHT THEN OR NOT.

BUT EISENHOWER SEEMED TO TAKE IT
AS IT WAS MEANT TO BE GIVEN

AND CAME TO THE CONCLUSION...

AS HE TOLD NIXON ON THE PHONE

HE REPORTED TO US
AFTER THE CONVERSATION...

THAT NIXON SHOULD
GO TO CALIFORNIA

AND MAKE A NATIONWIDE SPEECH

EXPLAINING ALL THE DETAILS
OF THIS SO-CALLED SECRET FUND

AND THAT HE WOULD AUTHORIZE
THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE

TO PAY FOR THE COST.

Narrator:
NIXON SECLUDED HIMSELF
IN LOS ANGELES

AND PREPARED TO USE
THE YOUNG MEDIUM OF TELEVISION

AS IT HAD NEVER BEEN USED
BEFORE.

HE WOULD BYPASS THE PRESS,
BYPASS EVEN EISENHOWER

AND PLEAD HIS CASE DIRECTLY
TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

THIS PRIME-TIME BROADCAST
WOULD COME TO BE KNOWN

AS "THE CHECKERS SPEECH,"
AND WIDEN THE GAP

BETWEEN NIXON'S ADMIRERS
AND HIS DETRACTORS.

TO SOME, HE SEEMED
HUMBLE, HONEST, SINCERE;

TO OTHERS, SELF-RIGHTEOUS
AND SHAMELESSLY MANIPULATIVE.

MY FELLOW AMERICANS,
I COME BEFORE YOU TONIGHT

AS A CANDIDATE
FOR THE VICE-PRESIDENCY

AND AS A MAN WHOSE HONESTY AND
INTEGRITY HAS BEEN QUESTIONED.

AND SO NOW
WHAT I AM GOING TO DO...

AND INCIDENTALLY,
THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED

IN THE HISTORY
OF AMERICAN POLITICS...

I AM GOING AT THIS TIME

TO GIVE TO THIS TELEVISION
AND RADIO AUDIENCE

A COMPLETE FINANCIAL HISTORY...

EVERYTHING I'VE EARNED,
EVERYTHING I'VE SPENT

EVERYTHING I OWE.

I DON'T REMEMBER
TALKING TO HIS MOTHER.

BUT HIS FATHER, HE THOUGHT
HE REALLY DID ALL RIGHT.

HE SAID, "I HATED TO HEAR HIM
SAY SOME OF THE THINGS HE SAID

"BUT HE TOLD THE TRUTH

"AND THAT'S
WHAT THE PEOPLE WANTED TO HEAR

AND THAT'S...
DID THE JOB FOR HIM."

FIRST OF ALL,
WE'VE GOT A HOUSE IN WASHINGTON

WHICH COST $41,000
AND ON WHICH WE OWE $20,000.

WE HAVE A HOUSE IN WHITTIER,
CALIFORNIA, WHICH COST $13,000

AND ON WHICH WE OWE $3,000.

MY FOLKS ARE LIVING THERE
AT THE PRESENT TIME.

Narrator:
HIS WIFE ASKED HIM

"WHY DO YOU HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE
HOW LITTLE WE HAVE

AND HOW MUCH WE OWE?"

"PEOPLE IN POLITICAL LIFE HAVE
TO LIVE IN A GOLDFISH BOWL,"

HE ANSWERED.

"BUT I KNEW IT WAS
A WEAK EXPLANATION

FOR THE HUMILIATION
I WAS ASKING HER TO ENDURED."

I SHOULD SAY THIS, THAT PAT
DOESN'T HAVE A MINK COAT.

BUT SHE DOES HAVE A RESPECTABLE,
REPUBLICAN, CLOTH COAT

AND I ALWAYS TELL HER THAT
SHE'D LOOK GOOD IN ANYTHING.

Narrator:
THE CLOTH COAT REMARK WAS AIMED
AT THE TRUMAN ADMINISTRATION

THEN PLAGUED
BY MINK COAT BRIBERY CHARGES.

NEXT, NIXON BORROWED A TECHNIQUE
FROM FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT:

HE TALKED ABOUT HIS DOG.

"USING THE SAME PLOY AS F.D.R.,"
HE WROTE IN HIS MEMOIRS

"WOULD IRRITATE MY OPPONENTS
AND DELIGHT MY FRIENDS."

WE DID GET SOMETHING... A GIFT...
AFTER THE ELECTION.

IT WAS A LITTLE COCKER SPANIEL
DOG... BLACK AND WHITE SPOTTED.

AND OUR LITTLE GIRL, TRICIA, THE
SIX-YEAR-OLD, NAMED IT CHECKERS.

AND YOU KNOW, THE KIDS,
LIKE ALL KIDS, LOVE THE DOG.

AND I JUST WANT
TO SAY THIS RIGHT NOW

THAT REGARDLESS
OF WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT IT

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP HIM.

Nixon:
I WOULD DO NOTHING THAT WOULD
HARM THE POSSIBILITIES

OF DWIGHT EISENHOWER TO BECOME
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

AND FOR THAT REASON,
I AM SUBMITTING

TO THE REPUBLICAN
NATIONAL COMMITTEE TONIGHT

THROUGH THIS
TELEVISION BROADCAST

THE DECISION
WHICH IS THEIRS TO MAKE.

WIRE AND WRITE THE REPUBLICAN
NATIONAL COMMITTEE

WHETHER YOU THINK
I SHOULD STAY ON

OR WHETHER I SHOULD GET OFF.

AND WHATEVER THEIR DECISION IS,
I WILL ABIDE BY IT.

I HAVE BEEN A WARRIOR,
AND I LIKE COURAGE.

AND TONIGHT I SAW
AN EXAMPLE OF COURAGE.

Man:
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR

OF NIXON CONTINUING
AS A CANDIDATE

WILL SAY "AYE!"

Crowd:
AYE!

Man:
I HAD CALLED
SOME REPUBLICAN FRIENDS OF MINE

AND HAD ASKED THEM
TO SEND TELEGRAMS TO NIXON

SAYING,
"DON'T DROP OFF THE TICKET."

AND THEY HAD REFUSED.

AND I WAS WITH SOME OF THEM WHEN
I WATCHED THE CHECKERS SPEECH

AND AFTERWARDS, EVERY ONE
OF THEM SENT A TELEGRAM TO NIXON

SAYING, "GREAT JOB...
STAY ON THE TICKET."

Narrator:
NIXON STAYED ON THE TICKET

THAT WAS SWEPT
INTO OFFICE IN NOVEMBER...

THE FIRST REPUBLICAN
ADMINISTRATION IN TWO DECADES.

Man:
DURING THE EISENHOWER YEARS,
NIXON BECAME THE POINT MAN.

EISENHOWER NEVER EXPECTED

TO HAVE TO GET INTO TOO MUCH
POLITICAL DISCUSSION.

BUT THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS
HE PUT YOUNG SENATOR NIXON

ON THE TICKET

BECAUSE HE COULD DO THAT.

SO ALL THE TOUGH
POLITICAL ASSIGNMENTS

USUALLY WERE GIVEN TO NIXON.

ALL THE DEMOCRAT CONGRESS
OFFERS IF ELECTED THIS YEAR

IS A RETURN TO THE POLICIES
OF THE TRUMAN ADMINISTRATION.

Morris:
HE'S A VERY PARTISAN
CREATURE, AFTER ALL.

AND HE BECOMES, FOR THE
FIRST TIME, REALLY THE FOCUS

OF GENUINE CRITICISM
IN THE PRESS.

HE HAS ENJOYED ENORMOUS IMMUNITY
IN THE PRESS

IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
AND NATIONALLY

UP UNTIL THE '52 CAMPAIGN.

AND HE SUFFERS HIS FIRST TARNISH
IN THE FUND EPISODE

AND THAT GETS WORSE AND WORSE

UNTIL HERBLOCK BEGINS
TO GIVE HIM A HEAVY BEARD

IN CARTOONS
IN THE WASHINGTON POST

AND HE COMES UNDER
SOMETIMES VICIOUS

OFTEN VERY TELLING AND ACCURATE
ATTACK IN THE NATIONAL MEDIA.

Announcer:
A STUNNED NATION HEARS
THAT ITS PRESIDENT IS STRICKEN

WITH A HEART ATTACK.

Narrator:
NIXON'S DETRACTORS
HELD THEIR BREATH

DURING EISENHOWER'S ILLNESS
IN SEPTEMBER 1955.

BUT THE VICE-PRESIDENT
SURPRISED

EVEN HIS MOST SEVEREST CRITICS.

FOR NEARLY TWO MONTHS,
NIXON WAS A CAUTIOUS SUBSTITUTE

STANDING IN FOR EISENHOWER

WHILE NOT CALLING ATTENTION
TO HIMSELF.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
CAN BE ASSURED

THAT THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT
WILL GO AHEAD AS USUAL

DESPITE THE PRESIDENT'S ILLNESS.

UNDER THE PRESIDENT'S
LEADERSHIP,

A TEAM HAS BEEN DEVELOPED
IN WASHINGTON

WHICH WILL CARRY OUT

THE VERY WELL-DEFINED FOREIGN
POLICIES AND DOMESTIC POLICIES

THAT THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF
HAS LAID DOWN

DURING HIS FIRST 2 1/2 YEARS
IN OFFICE.

Narrator:
FULLY RECOVERED,
EISENHOWER ANNOUNCED

HE WOULD SEEK REELECTION

BUT DID NOT GUARANTEE NIXON
A PLACE ON THE TICKET.

PRIVATELY, HE THOUGHT HIM
IMMATURE, A POLITICAL LIABILITY.

BUT NIXON REFUSED TO CONSIDER
THE PRESIDENT'S OFFER

OF A CABINET POSITION
INSTEAD OF THE VICE-PRESIDENCY.

HE FINALLY
FORCED EISENHOWER'S HAND.

I MET WITH
THE PRESIDENT

THIS AFTERNOON
IN THE WHITE HOUSE

AND AT THAT TIME,
I INFORMED HIM

THAT IN THE EVENT
THAT HE AND THE DELEGATES

TO THE REPUBLICAN
NATIONAL CONVENTION

DECIDED THAT IT WAS
IN THE BEST INTERESTS

OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
AND HIS ADMINISTRATION

FOR ME TO CONTINUE
IN MY PRESENT OFFICE

THAT I WOULD BE HONORED
TO ACCEPT RENOMINATION

AS THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE
FOR VICE-PRESIDENT.

THE PRESIDENT
HAS ASKED ME TO SAY

THAT HE WAS DELIGHTED

TO HEAR OF THE
VICE-PRESIDENT'S DECISION.

NO MAN COULD BE
MORE HIGHLY HONORED

THAN TO BE SELECTED
AS THE RUNNING MATE

OF SUCH A GREAT PRESIDENT.

I ACCEPT THIS NOMINATION
IN THAT SPIRIT.

Narrator:
NIXON WAS LESS AGGRESSIVE IN
1956 THAN IN EARLIER CAMPAIGNS.

THE PRESS BEGAN TO WRITE
OF "A NEW NIXON."

BUT THE VICE-PRESIDENT REMAINED
THE DEMOCRATS' FAVORITE TARGET.

Man:
I MUST SAY BLUNTLY

THAT EVERY PIECE
OF SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE WE HAVE

EVERY LESSON OF HISTORY
AND EXPERIENCE INDICATES

THAT A REPUBLICAN VICTORY
TOMORROW WOULD MEAN

THAT RICHARD NIXON
WOULD PROBABLY BE

PRESIDENT OF THIS COUNTRY
WITHIN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

I SAY FRANKLY, AS A CITIZEN
MORE THAN A CANDIDATE

THAT I RECOIL
AT THE PROSPECT OF MR. NIXON

AS CUSTODIAN
OF THIS NATION'S FUTURE

AS GUARDIAN OF THE HYDROGEN BOMB

AS REPRESENTATIVE
OF AMERICA IN THE WORLD

AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF
THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

Announcer:
AS EVENING RETURNS COME IN,
THE TREND IS UNMISTAKABLE.

IT'S EISENHOWER BY A LANDSLIDE

WITH 457 ELECTORAL VOTES
TO 74 FOR STEVENSON

AND A NINE-MILLION-VOTE
PLURALITY.

I, RICHARD M. NIXON,
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR...

Narrator:
NIXON WAS A SURVIVOR.

HE HAD OVERCOME
EISENHOWER'S INDIFFERENCE

A SOMETIMES HOSTILE PRESS
AND BITTER PARTISAN ATTACKS.

HE ENTERED HIS SECOND
VICE-PRESIDENTIAL TERM

AS THE REPUBLICAN HEIR APPARENT.

RICHARD NIXON WAS THE FAVORITE

TO WIN THE REPUBLICAN
PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION IN 1960.

EVENTS OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS
HAD MADE HIM

ONE OF THE MOST VISIBLE
VICE-PRESIDENTS IN HISTORY.

DURING A TOUR OF SOUTH AMERICA

HE HAD FACED DOWN
ANGRY LEFTIST MOBS

THAT SPAT UPON HIM AND HIS WIFE
AND ATTACKED THEIR MOTORCADE.

MAINTAINING HIS COMPOSURE
THROUGHOUT THE ORDEAL

NIXON RETURNED HOME
TO A HERO'S WELCOME.

AND IN MOSCOW, HE HAD CONFRONTED

THE LEADER OF THE COMMUNIST
WORLD, NIKITA KHRUSHCHEV

IN AN IMPROMPTU
TELEVISED DEBATE.

THERE MUST BE A FREE
EXCHANGE OF IDEAS.

THERE ARE
SOME INSTANCES

WHERE YOU MAY
BE AHEAD OF US.

FOR EXAMPLE,
IN THE DEVELOPMENT

OF THE THRUST
OF YOUR ROCKETS

FOR THE INVESTIGATION
OF OUTER SPACE.

THERE MAY BE
SOME INSTANCES...

FOR EXAMPLE,
COLOR TELEVISION...

WHERE WE'RE
AHEAD OF YOU.

BUT IN ORDER
FOR BOTH OF US...

NYET, NYET.

BOTH OF US
TO BENEFIT...

YOU SEE, YOU NEVER
CONCEDE ANYTHING!

Narrator:
NIXON'S COMBINATION OF TOUGHNESS
AND HUMOR PLAYED WELL BACK HOME.

IN JULY 1960

REPUBLICANS EMBRACED HIM
AS THEIR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

Man:
IT IS DECLARED, THEREFORE, THAT
VICE-PRESIDENT RICHARD M. NIXON

HAS BEEN UNANIMOUSLY NOMINATED

TO BE THE CANDIDATE
OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

FOR THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.

Narrator:
JUST 14 YEARS
AFTER HE WAS TAPPED

BY A GROUP
OF SMALL-TOWN BUSINESSMEN

TO RUN FOR CONGRESS
IN CALIFORNIA

RICHARD NIXON STOOD
AT THE TOP OF HIS PARTY.

AS HE MAPPED OUT
AN AMBITIOUS 50-STATE CAMPAIGN

HE WAS CHALLENGED
BY HIS OPPONENT, JOHN F. KENNEDY

TO A SERIES
OF TELEVISED DEBATES...

THE FIRST IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

EVEN WHEN HOSPITALIZED
FOR TWO WEEKS WITH A KNEE INJURY

NIXON REMAINED CONFIDENT,
ANXIOUS FOR THE DEBATES TO BEGIN

EAGER ONCE AGAIN
TO USE TELEVISION

TO TALK DIRECTLY TO THE VOTERS.

AT THE TIME, THERE WAS A FEELING

THAT THIS, OVERALL,
MIGHT BE A MISMATCH.

NIXON WAS THE CANDIDATE
WHO HAD MORE PROMINENCE

WHO HAD BEEN A MEMBER OF THE
HOUSE, A MEMBER OF THE SENATE

AND THE VICE-PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.

KENNEDY... HE DIDN'T HAVE

A PARTICULARLY STRONG
REPUTATION IN CONGRESS.

THERE WAS SOME FEELING THAT HE
WAS, TO SOME EXTENT, A PLAYBOY

THAT HE WASN'T
TOO SERIOUS A SENATOR.

SO PEOPLE FELT
THAT NIXON HAD THE EDGE

AND I THINK NIXON FELT
THAT HE HAD THE EDGE.

THE CANDIDATES
NEED NO INTRODUCTION.

THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE,
VICE-PRESIDENT RICHARD M. NIXON

AND THE DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE,
SENATOR JOHN F. KENNEDY.

ACCORDING TO RULES SET
BY THE CANDIDATES THEMSELVES...

Narrator:
THE NIXON-KENNEDY DEBATES
WOULD FOREVER CHANGE

THE WAY AMERICANS
CHOSE THEIR PRESIDENTS.

POLITICAL RALLIES AND
OLD-FASHION HANDSHAKING

BECAME MUCH LESS IMPORTANT

THAN THE IMAGE
ON THE TELEVISION SCREEN.

Rogers:
YOU MUST UNDERSTAND
THAT NIXON HIMSELF HAD SAID,

"I DON'T WANT ANY MAKEUP ON
FOR THESE PARTICULAR DEBATES."

WHAT I TRIED TO EXPLAIN
TO DICK WAS

THAT HE HAS CERTAIN
A CHARACTERISTIC OF HIS SKIN

WHERE IT'S ALMOST TRANSPARENT.

AND IT WAS A VERY NICE THOUGHT
TO SAY

"YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT
ANY MAKEUP"

BUT THAT HE REALLY NEEDED IT

IN ORDER TO HAVE
WHAT WE WOULD CALL

EVEN AN ACCEPTABLE
TELEVISION PICTURE.

AND OF COURSE, J.F.K.,

HERE HE'D BEEN RIDING IN
MOTORCADES

ALL OVER CALIFORNIA
WITH THE TOP DOWN.

HE LOOKED LIKE A BRONZE WARRIOR
WHEN HE CAME INTO CHICAGO.

HE REALLY DID.

MR. NIXON COMES OUT OF
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY...

HE WAS NOMINATED BY IT...

AND IT IS A FACT THAT THROUGH
MOST OF THESE LAST 25 YEARS

THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
HAS OPPOSED

FEDERAL AID FOR EDUCATION,
MEDICAL CARE FOR THE AGED...

I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE POOR.

I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO SEE
PEOPLE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED.

I KNOW SENATOR KENNEDY FEELS
AS DEEPLY ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS

AS I DO.

BUT OUR DISAGREEMENT IS NOT
ABOUT THE GOALS FOR AMERICA

BUT ONLY ABOUT THE MEANS
TO REACH THOSE GOALS.

Narrator:
THE FIRST DEBATE WAS
COSTLY TO NIXON.

THE RADIO AUDIENCE
THOUGHT HE HAD WON

BUT THE LARGEST TELEVISION
AUDIENCE IN HISTORY

HAD SEEN THE VICE-PRESIDENT
HAGGARD AND DRAWN

AND HAD BEEN GIVEN
ITS FIRST SUSTAINED LOOK

AT THE KENNEDY STYLE.

Man:
KENNEDY HAD A GREAT CHARM

FOR NOT ONLY THE VOTERS,
BUT ALSO FOR THE PRESS.

THE PRESS CORPS HAD SORT OF
A LOVE AFFAIR WITH JACK KENNEDY

AND NO MATTER WHAT THINGS WE
MIGHT DO TO MAKE THINGS BETTER...

WE COULD SERVE A HOT MEAL,
THEY WOULD SERVE A COLD MEAL

AND THE PRESS
WOULD LIKE THE COLD BETTER...

AND SO THAT HE FELT

HE WAS RUNNING UP
AGAINST IMPOSSIBLE ODDS.

AND I SAY WE CAN'T AFFORD
TO HAVE THE WHITE HOUSE

AS A TRAINING GROUND
FOR AN INEXPERIENCED MAN

WHO IS RASH AND IMPULSIVE.

THIS ADMINISTRATION
HAS FAILED TO RECOGNIZE

HAS FAILED TO RECOGNIZE
THAT IN THESE CHANGING TIMES

WITH A REVOLUTION OF RISING
EXPECTATIONS SWEEPING THE GLOBE

THE UNITED STATES
HAS LOST ITS IMAGE

AS A NEW, STRONG, VITAL,
REVOLUTIONARY SOCIETY.

I HAVE BEEN TO RUSSIA
AND I'VE SEEN IT.

I'VE BEEN TO THE UNITED STATES,
I'VE SEEN IT.

AND THERE IS NO NEED
FOR A SECOND-RATE PSYCHOLOGY

ON THE PART OF ANY AMERICAN.

Reporter:
MR. VICE-PRESIDENT,

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF YOUR
RECEPTION TODAY?

WELL, OF COURSE IT WAS
THE GREATEST OF THE CAMPAIGN

AND I THINK THIS MEANS
THAT WE'RE ON THE WAY

TO VICTORY
IN NEW YORK.

HOW ABOUT YOU?
DO YOU AGREE?

OH, IT WAS WONDERFUL.

Crowd:
♪ WE WANT NIXON,
WE WANT NIXON! ♪

♪ WE WANT NIXON
TO BE OUR PRESIDENT. ♪

Narrator:
ELECTION NIGHT, NIXON REMEMBERED

WAS THE LONGEST NIGHT
OF HIS LIFE.

IT APPEARED AT FIRST
TO BE A KENNEDY SWEEP

THEN BECAME TOO CLOSE TO CALL

THEN EDGED BACK
TOWARD KENNEDY AGAIN.

AND I...

PLEASE, PLEASE...

JUST A MINUTE.

AND I...

AS I LOOK AT
THE BOARD HERE

WHILE THERE ARE STILL
SOME RESULTS STILL TO COME IN

IF THE PRESENT
TREND CONTINUES

MR. KENNEDY,
SENATOR KENNEDY

WILL BE
THE NEXT PRESIDENT

OF THE UNITED STATES.

Crowd:
NO, NO!

I JUST...

AND I WANT...

EXCUSE ME...

Crowd:
WE WANT NIXON!

WE WANT NIXON!
WE WANT NIXON!

Narrator:
IN THE END, IT PROVED TO BE

ONE OF THE CLOSEST ELECTIONS
IN HISTORY.

KENNEDY WON
BY ONLY 100,000 VOTES

AND CHARGES OF DEMOCRATIC FRAUD
WERE WIDESPREAD.

MUCH OF THE WINNING MARGIN
CAME FROM LYNDON JOHNSON'S TEXAS

AND RICHARD J. DALEY'S CHICAGO.

BUT NIXON REFUSED
TO DEMAND A RECOUNT.

"IF IT FAILED
TO CHANGE THE RESULTS," HE WROTE

"CHARGES OF SORE LOSER WOULD
FOLLOW ME THROUGH HISTORY

AND REMOVE ANY POSSIBILITY
OF A FURTHER POLITICAL CAREER."

RICHARD NIXON IS FOREVER
EMBITTERED BY THE EXPERIENCE

AND, TAKEN WITH THE EXAMPLE

I THINK FEELS THAT NEVER AGAIN
WILL HE BE CAUGHT SHORT

NEVER AGAIN
WILL HIS OPPONENTS OUTDO HIM

AND NEVER AGAIN WILL HE TRUST

THE ORDINARY, NORMAL AND HONEST
DEVICES OF AMERICAN POLITICS

TO FUNCTION
AS THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO.

Narrator:
IN HIS LAST OFFICIAL ACT
AS VICE-PRESIDENT

NIXON PRESIDED
OVER A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS

ON JANUARY 6, 1961,
AND ANNOUNCED HIS OWN DEFEAT.

I NOW DECLARE
THAT JOHN F. KENNEDY

HAS BEEN ELECTED PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES

AND LYNDON JOHNSON
VICE-PRESIDENT

OF THE UNITED STATES.

SO LONG, DICK,
I CERTAINLY ENJOYED

SITTING BACK
HERE WITH YOU.

Kennedy:
I, JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY,
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR

THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE
THE OFFICE

OF PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES

AND WILL,
TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY

PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES, SO HELP ME GOD.

Man:
WELL, HE HANDLED IT
SURPRISINGLY WELL.

IN FACT, HE CHEERED US UP
A GOOD DEAL OF THE TIME.

HE WAS STILL A VERY YOUNG MAN.

I'M SURE HE HAD THOUGHTS
OF THE FUTURE.

BIGGEST PROBLEM WAS

THAT THE FELLOW WHO DEFEATED HIM
WAS A YOUNG MAN

AND ALL OF US THOUGHT THAT MEANT
AT LEAST EIGHT YEARS

FOR JACK KENNEDY

AND WHAT IS NIXON GOING TO DO
FOR EIGHT YEARS?

♪ CALIFORNIA, HERE I COME ♪

♪ RIGHT BACK
WHERE I STARTED FROM! ♪

Nixon:
I SHALL NOT BE A CANDIDATE

FOR PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES IN 1964.

I SHALL BE
A CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR

OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
IN 1962.

♪ THAT'S WHY
I CAN HARDLY WAIT... ♪

Narrator:
BUT NIXON HAD BEEN OUT OF TOUCH
WITH CALIFORNIA FOR TOO LONG.

THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST
INCUMBENT GOVERNOR PAT BROWN

WAS BITTER AND EXHAUSTING.

NIXON WAS SOUNDLY DEFEATED.

REPORTERS IN LOS ANGELES
WERE TOLD

THE LOSING CANDIDATE HAD LEFT
AND WOULD NOT MAKE A STATEMENT.

BUT NIXON, HIS ANGER TOWARD
THE PRESS BUILDING FOR YEARS

RESOLVED TO HAVE THE LAST WORD.

FOR 16 YEARS,
EVER SINCE THE HISS CASE

YOU'VE HAD A LOT OF FUN...
A LOT OF FUN.

YOU'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY
TO ATTACK ME

AND I THINK I'VE GIVEN
AS GOOD AS I'VE TAKEN.

I LEAVE YOU GENTLEMEN NOW
AND YOU WILL NOW WRITE IT

YOU WILL INTERPRET IT,
THAT'S YOUR RIGHT.

BUT AS I LEAVE YOU,
I WANT YOU TO KNOW

JUST THINK HOW MUCH
YOU'RE GOING TO BE MISSING.

YOU DON'T HAVE NIXON
TO KICK AROUND ANYMORE.

BECAUSE, GENTLEMEN, THIS IS
MY LAST PRESS CONFERENCE.

AND I HOPE THAT
WHAT I HAVE SAID TODAY

WILL AT LEAST MAKE TELEVISION,
RADIO, THE PRESS RECOGNIZE

THAT THEY HAVE A RIGHT
AND A RESPONSIBILITY.

THAT IF THEY'RE AGAINST
A CANDIDATE, GIVE HIM THE SHAFT

BUT ALSO RECOGNIZE
IF THEY GIVE HIM THE SHAFT

PUT ONE, LONELY REPORTER
ON THE CAMPAIGN

WHO WILL REPORT WHAT
THE CANDIDATE SAYS NOW AND THEN.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN,
AND GOOD DAY.

Narrator:
AN ANGRY, RESENTFUL
RICHARD NIXON

STRODE FROM THE BEVERLY HILTON
ON NOVEMBER 7, 1962

SEEMINGLY BOUND
FOR POLITICAL OBLIVION.

"BARRING A MIRACLE,"
SAID TIME MAGAZINE

RICHARD NIXON'S POLITICAL CAREER

WAS OVER.