Source: John A. Farrell. Richard Nixon - The Life (2017)
Defeating Jerry Voorhis in the Congressional race in 1946, exposing Alger Hiss in the late-1940s, and then defeating Helen Gahagan Douglas for the Senate in 1950 came with a cost in that Nixon had destroyed three high-profile (and very admired to the Left) New Deal liberals; Nixon became the enemy of that liberal bloc. The DC press disliked Nixon even before they met him due to his campaign tactics against Voorhis in 1946. Nixon’s unmasking of Alger Hiss rocked the foundation of the liberal set in DC, and after his campaign against Gahagan Douglas in 1950, the DC liberal jackals had Nixon in their crosshairs.
In California, Nixon’s name had been smeared as well due to his campaign attacks/strategies. Those in Nixon’s corner felt that perhaps it was his years of debate training that made him so aggressive and relentless in pursuit of an issue/goal. Nixon even admitted to some that his tactics/strategies in 1950 against Gahagan Douglas were a “shoddy” way to win. Gahagan Douglas blamed the Korean War as the main reason for her defeat against Nixon, believing that Nixon would have won anyway without resorting to character assassination (e.g. “The Pink Lady”). Left-Wing editorialists accused Nixon of petty malice, and Herblock’s portrayals of Nixon in his very influential and widely syndicated political cartoons illustrated Nixon’s dirty tactics. By early-1951, “Tricky Dick” had become a political caricature.
In California, Nixon’s name had been smeared as well due to his campaign attacks/strategies. Those in Nixon’s corner felt that perhaps it was his years of debate training that made him so aggressive and relentless in pursuit of an issue/goal. Nixon even admitted to some that his tactics/strategies in 1950 against Gahagan Douglas were a “shoddy” way to win. Gahagan Douglas blamed the Korean War as the main reason for her defeat against Nixon, believing that Nixon would have won anyway without resorting to character assassination (e.g. “The Pink Lady”). Left-Wing editorialists accused Nixon of petty malice, and Herblock’s portrayals of Nixon in his very influential and widely syndicated political cartoons illustrated Nixon’s dirty tactics. By early-1951, “Tricky Dick” had become a political caricature.
On 4 December 1950, Nixon was sworn in as a United States Senator since Downey resigned before his term ended to become a lobbyist. Even though Downey was a Democrat, he was also a Californian, and he wanted Nixon to have a tie-breaker in his advantage in terms of seniority compared to the other freshmen Senators yet to be sworn in.
In his much larger and expensive Senate office, Nixon brought 33 year old Rose Mary Woods on board as his secretary, whom he met while serving on the Herter Committee as a Congressman. Woods and others around Nixon started to develop a fierce loyalty to the Senator that was comparable to vows taken by nuns; Woods would top that list of loyal surrogates all the way to the end of Nixon’s Presidency. Woods became a gatekeeper, a detail person, and a keeper of secrets for Nixon.
When the Senate wasn’t in session, Nixon traveled the nation and gave speeches in 21 states, which not only provided additional income, but doing so also meant that Nixon established connections with state and local level Republicans. Nixon’s rapid ascent to national level politics in just a few years had taken a toll on Nixon. With the Alger Hiss investigation, Nixon became melancholy and worked himself to the point of exhaustion. Then physical problems such as a painful neck and back occurred, as well as facial tics, sleeplessness and chronic stomach troubles. The times of Nixon being lighthearted in the company of others started to sharply and noticeably decrease.
In his much larger and expensive Senate office, Nixon brought 33 year old Rose Mary Woods on board as his secretary, whom he met while serving on the Herter Committee as a Congressman. Woods and others around Nixon started to develop a fierce loyalty to the Senator that was comparable to vows taken by nuns; Woods would top that list of loyal surrogates all the way to the end of Nixon’s Presidency. Woods became a gatekeeper, a detail person, and a keeper of secrets for Nixon.
When the Senate wasn’t in session, Nixon traveled the nation and gave speeches in 21 states, which not only provided additional income, but doing so also meant that Nixon established connections with state and local level Republicans. Nixon’s rapid ascent to national level politics in just a few years had taken a toll on Nixon. With the Alger Hiss investigation, Nixon became melancholy and worked himself to the point of exhaustion. Then physical problems such as a painful neck and back occurred, as well as facial tics, sleeplessness and chronic stomach troubles. The times of Nixon being lighthearted in the company of others started to sharply and noticeably decrease.
Gerald and Betty Ford arrived in DC in 1948, and the Fords befriended the Nixons. Ford discovered that Nixon could be in a very good mood and then instantly become dour. Even when both were still in the House, Ford saw that Nixon’s moodiness drained much from him. At the root of what made Nixon tick was that he threw himself into work in a furious fashion in order to deal with deep insecurities that were a product of his past. In part, Nixon refused to lose because in no way did he want to disappoint his mother.
In 1951, Senator George Smathers (D; FL) introduced Nixon to Bebe Rebozo, a Cuban-American real estate businessman, and Nixon went out on Rebozo’s boat for a short jaunt. Smathers and Rebozo were renown in the Senate for providing a relaxing time in Florida for Senators. Interestingly, among Smather’s closest friends were JFK and LBJ. Rebozo’s initial feedback to Smathers concerning Nixon was that he really didn’t want Nixon back in Florida, since the freshman Senator didn’t drink, chase women, or play golf . . . in time, though Rebozo in essence became Nixon’s best friend.
Nixon’s first speech on the Senate floor was to deride President Truman for firing General Douglas MacArthur while also pressing Truman to expand the war in Korea by bombing Chinese supply lines. By doing so, he was following the official Republican line supporting MacArthur while also taking aim at Red China. Nixon was already exchanging letters with Kyle Palmer of the Los Angeles Times analyzing the upcoming Election of 1952.
In 1951, Senator George Smathers (D; FL) introduced Nixon to Bebe Rebozo, a Cuban-American real estate businessman, and Nixon went out on Rebozo’s boat for a short jaunt. Smathers and Rebozo were renown in the Senate for providing a relaxing time in Florida for Senators. Interestingly, among Smather’s closest friends were JFK and LBJ. Rebozo’s initial feedback to Smathers concerning Nixon was that he really didn’t want Nixon back in Florida, since the freshman Senator didn’t drink, chase women, or play golf . . . in time, though Rebozo in essence became Nixon’s best friend.
Nixon’s first speech on the Senate floor was to deride President Truman for firing General Douglas MacArthur while also pressing Truman to expand the war in Korea by bombing Chinese supply lines. By doing so, he was following the official Republican line supporting MacArthur while also taking aim at Red China. Nixon was already exchanging letters with Kyle Palmer of the Los Angeles Times analyzing the upcoming Election of 1952.
Nixon understood that the Republicans placed a high priority on backing party members from the Sunbelt, especially from CA and TX. Beginning in 1948 the Republicans would nominate a candidate from the Sunbelt for President or Vice-President for 14 of the next 16 conventions. It seemed likely that whoever won the Republican nomination in 1952, Ike or Senator Robert A. Taft, he would look West for his Vice-President. Nixon liked the chances of former general Dwight Eisenhower to win the nomination, and Ike’s stand on the issues mostly matched Nixon’s. In 1951, Nixon became an overt supporter of Ike, thinking that by doing so he might make the short list for VP.
In May 1951 while in Paris, Ike (the #1 NATO general) reached out to Nixon, who was in Geneva for a World Health Organization (WHO) conference. Nixon presented himself to Ike as a loyal subordinate, and they talked for 45 minutes. Nixon liked that Ike paid just as much attention when he listened as when he talked. Nixon was strong on the three major issues the Republicans would focus on in 1952: Korea, corruption in the Democratic Party and the battle against Communism. Nixon shared Ike’s internationalism, while Taft was basically an isolationist. Ike didn’t categorize Nixon in the same way as he had Senator Joseph McCarthy and his thugs, or with the Old Guard Conservatives of the GOP.
In May 1951 while in Paris, Ike (the #1 NATO general) reached out to Nixon, who was in Geneva for a World Health Organization (WHO) conference. Nixon presented himself to Ike as a loyal subordinate, and they talked for 45 minutes. Nixon liked that Ike paid just as much attention when he listened as when he talked. Nixon was strong on the three major issues the Republicans would focus on in 1952: Korea, corruption in the Democratic Party and the battle against Communism. Nixon shared Ike’s internationalism, while Taft was basically an isolationist. Ike didn’t categorize Nixon in the same way as he had Senator Joseph McCarthy and his thugs, or with the Old Guard Conservatives of the GOP.
Three weeks later, Nixon was part of a confidential strategy meeting in which Harold Stassen would announce his candidacy, and then drop out when Ike formally announced in order to try and deny Taft the nomination in Chicago. During a gathering at the Bohemian Grove, most of the power brokers agreed that Ike/Nixon would be a solid ticket for the Republicans in 1952. The skunk in Nixon’s garden party was Earl Warren, who wanted to be President, but like Herbert Hoover, he didn’t want to get his hands dirty in pursuit of the office. Warren wanted the status that Ike enjoyed, being the statesman far above the fray. Warren always wanted the help of others to pursue his political goals, but when he saw someone coming up the ranks, he did his best to keep him down.
Ike remained in Europe, waiting to be drafted for the Republican nomination by an adoring public. Warren played coy, hoping that, as a Favorite Son from CA, the convention would turn to him if there was a deadlock among the delegates. Heading into the Republican National Convention of 1952, Nixon and Warren were on a collision course. Warren hoped that he could keep CA’s delegation in his corner, and therefore deny Taft or Ike the nomination on the 1st ballot. Nixon wanted Ike, with his conspicuous help, to secure the nomination on the 1st ballot, and then perhaps be offered the other spot on the ticket.
Ike remained in Europe, waiting to be drafted for the Republican nomination by an adoring public. Warren played coy, hoping that, as a Favorite Son from CA, the convention would turn to him if there was a deadlock among the delegates. Heading into the Republican National Convention of 1952, Nixon and Warren were on a collision course. Warren hoped that he could keep CA’s delegation in his corner, and therefore deny Taft or Ike the nomination on the 1st ballot. Nixon wanted Ike, with his conspicuous help, to secure the nomination on the 1st ballot, and then perhaps be offered the other spot on the ticket.