Source: John A. Farrell. Richard Nixon - The Life (2017)
Liberal journalists looked hard for dirt on Nixon in CA, and soon rumors surfaced that Nixon was an anti-Semite (Nixon didn’t care about race or religion as long as people supported him) and that he had a secret slush fund that was maintained by a wealthy businessman. When Nixon was Senator-Elect in late-1950, the political fund called the “Nixon Sustaining Fund” totaling $18k was created and was administered by a Pasadena banker. The maximum yearly contribution from an individual was $500, and only those that had supported Nixon since 1946 could contribute.
The goal was to have the fund reach a range between $20k and $25k so the fund could sustain political expenses and travel. Once Nixon was nominated for VP, the fund started to allot $500/month for household use, which was paid directly to the Nixons, which if nothing else made it easier for Pat to travel with her husband (that $500/mo was also earmarked for house cleaning and for a nanny).
The goal was to have the fund reach a range between $20k and $25k so the fund could sustain political expenses and travel. Once Nixon was nominated for VP, the fund started to allot $500/month for household use, which was paid directly to the Nixons, which if nothing else made it easier for Pat to travel with her husband (that $500/mo was also earmarked for house cleaning and for a nanny).
The gossip around the area in CA where the Nixons lived was that the $500/mo from the fund was so Pat could hire a maid. Peter Edson (a syndicated columnist) resolved to ask Nixon about the fund when he next had access to Nixon. Edson’s chance came on 14 September 1952 after Nixon’s appearance on Meet the Press, where Nixon urged Edson to contact those in charge of the fund to get all the accurate information he wanted. On 17 September 1952, Edson sent Nixon a draft of his column which was to be published the next day. Edson wrote a message to Nixon that he believed a list of all the donors of the fund should have been included in the information he was given to make sure that everyone knew the fund was above board.
The title of Edson’s column was straightforward: “Nixon Aided Financially by Rich Californians”, but his more factual version took a back seat to the New York Post. The Post had a reporter in CA named Leo Katcher that had been “tipped” by loyalists of Earl Warren. The New York Post’s headline was “Secret Rich Men’s Trust Fund Keeps Nixon in Style Far Beyond His Salary”. The story itself wasn’t lurid, but the headline did the damage and a political firestorm ensued. The Post simply didn’t do any fact-checking: the Nixon’s lived the life of typical middle class Americans, living in comfort, but not in luxury.
The title of Edson’s column was straightforward: “Nixon Aided Financially by Rich Californians”, but his more factual version took a back seat to the New York Post. The Post had a reporter in CA named Leo Katcher that had been “tipped” by loyalists of Earl Warren. The New York Post’s headline was “Secret Rich Men’s Trust Fund Keeps Nixon in Style Far Beyond His Salary”. The story itself wasn’t lurid, but the headline did the damage and a political firestorm ensued. The Post simply didn’t do any fact-checking: the Nixon’s lived the life of typical middle class Americans, living in comfort, but not in luxury.
What infuriated Nixon to no end was the he knew that Adlai Stevenson had a similar fund ($84k), and that he used it for entertaining others, campaign contributions, and staff bonuses. Stevenson’s VP candidate had his wife on the campaign payroll, and even Eisenhower received money from supporters/admirers for private use . . . but the media only hammered Nixon. As far as the media was concerned, the scandal was a test for Ike as much as it was for Nixon in terms of Ike’s judgment and decision-making. The weeks to come could very well knock down Ike to the point where Stevenson could be elected President.
Ike heard of the headline when his campaign train was crossing Nebraska, and by the evening, there was “great concern” among Ike’s campaign staff. A statement was drafted for the press that urged Nixon to release all relevant documents concerning the fund. Ike was caught in a political vice, in that he had railed against corruption in the Truman administration, and now corruption was possibly part of his campaign for President. Ike’s campaign had even taken on a tone of righteousness, and now his political crusade was in jeopardy.
Ecstatic liberal reporters commented out loud that Ike would have to let Nixon go as VP . The veterans in Ike’s campaign staff wanted to ride out the storm, since it would be disastrous to admit that Ike’s first major Presidential-level decision was a blunder. The less experienced campaign staff members, who were actually closer to Ike, were furious with Nixon and very worried about Ike’s image, and they wanted Nixon to vanish. For the chronically insecure Nixon, the next few days were hell; Eisenhower, Stassen, Dewey, and other powerful Republican patrons abandoned Nixon, and his enemies closed in for the kill. In CA, Warren and Knowland were very active in trying to pressure Ike to dump Nixon.
Ike heard of the headline when his campaign train was crossing Nebraska, and by the evening, there was “great concern” among Ike’s campaign staff. A statement was drafted for the press that urged Nixon to release all relevant documents concerning the fund. Ike was caught in a political vice, in that he had railed against corruption in the Truman administration, and now corruption was possibly part of his campaign for President. Ike’s campaign had even taken on a tone of righteousness, and now his political crusade was in jeopardy.
Ecstatic liberal reporters commented out loud that Ike would have to let Nixon go as VP . The veterans in Ike’s campaign staff wanted to ride out the storm, since it would be disastrous to admit that Ike’s first major Presidential-level decision was a blunder. The less experienced campaign staff members, who were actually closer to Ike, were furious with Nixon and very worried about Ike’s image, and they wanted Nixon to vanish. For the chronically insecure Nixon, the next few days were hell; Eisenhower, Stassen, Dewey, and other powerful Republican patrons abandoned Nixon, and his enemies closed in for the kill. In CA, Warren and Knowland were very active in trying to pressure Ike to dump Nixon.
Nixon’s instinct from the first moment was to fight back. Nixon started with stating during campaign speeches that the “Communists and Crooks” were out to get him. It felt good to lash out, and the crowds responded enthusiastically. Then word reached Nixon that the Washington Post and the NY Herald Tribune would call on Nixon to step down as Ike’s VP. Nixon was far more wounded by the Herald Tribune than the Post, since the Herald Tribune had helped Nixon when he went after Alger Hiss. Nixon had even reached the point where he considered the Herald Tribune’s editorial staff to be his friends; Nixon reacted as if the roof had caved in on his political career.
The most loyal and truest friends Nixon had at that time were Murray Chotiner and his wife Pat; both told Nixon to rally in the face of the attacks. From his wife especially, Nixon found his resolve to fight back instead of perhaps holding a press conference (that no doubt would have sounded a lot like his meltdown in 1962). By the weekend, the liberal media was sure that Nixon was guilty of income tax evasion. A plan of attack had formed in Nixon’ mind, in that he wanted to present his side straight to the people. Nixon soon learned that Knowland had been summoned by Ike’s staff, which told Nixon that he was about to be cut loose as VP.
The most loyal and truest friends Nixon had at that time were Murray Chotiner and his wife Pat; both told Nixon to rally in the face of the attacks. From his wife especially, Nixon found his resolve to fight back instead of perhaps holding a press conference (that no doubt would have sounded a lot like his meltdown in 1962). By the weekend, the liberal media was sure that Nixon was guilty of income tax evasion. A plan of attack had formed in Nixon’ mind, in that he wanted to present his side straight to the people. Nixon soon learned that Knowland had been summoned by Ike’s staff, which told Nixon that he was about to be cut loose as VP.
In Portland (OR) a hostile crowd jostled the Nixon and threw coins at them to the point where he and Pat had to duck. Ike was calm, and he wrote to some powerful people in the media, advising them to not overreact and to give Nixon a chance, and if he needed to make a decision, he would do so. Ike told reporters (off the record) that he would give Nixon a chance to defend himself and to show that he was beyond reproach. Privately, Ike felt that Nixon had to step down to avoid losing the election.
Ike found time to talk with Nixon on the telephone soon after the headlines appeared. Ike directly suggested that Nixon go on television and defend himself, which Nixon had already planned to do. What Ike wanted Nixon to do was to perform a “full financial scrubbing” on television; the televised speech had to mend the wound. Ike then told Nixon that he would wait a few days after the televised speech before he let Nixon know where he stood on the ticket. Nixon suspended his campaign on the train and went back to Los Angeles for an unprecedented televised address to the nation by a Vice-Presidential candidate. Once the televised speech was announced, most in the media were sure that Nixon would step down.
Nixon’s process for writing his own speeches stayed the same throughout his political career. Nixon used his beloved yellow legal pad to write a series of drafts until he not only was happy with what he would say, but also so familiar with the speech that he really didn’t need to use notes during the speech.
Ike found time to talk with Nixon on the telephone soon after the headlines appeared. Ike directly suggested that Nixon go on television and defend himself, which Nixon had already planned to do. What Ike wanted Nixon to do was to perform a “full financial scrubbing” on television; the televised speech had to mend the wound. Ike then told Nixon that he would wait a few days after the televised speech before he let Nixon know where he stood on the ticket. Nixon suspended his campaign on the train and went back to Los Angeles for an unprecedented televised address to the nation by a Vice-Presidential candidate. Once the televised speech was announced, most in the media were sure that Nixon would step down.
Nixon’s process for writing his own speeches stayed the same throughout his political career. Nixon used his beloved yellow legal pad to write a series of drafts until he not only was happy with what he would say, but also so familiar with the speech that he really didn’t need to use notes during the speech.
Nixon decided on a three-part response, with the first being a flat-out refutation of all the allegations concerning the so-called slush fund. Second would be the full financial disclosure on which Ike insisted, and the last part was for going on the attack, blasting the Democrats while lauding Ike. But Nixon wasn’t yet done, in that he remembered the reaction in 1944 when FDR used his beloved dog Fala to ridicule the nonsensical Republican charges made against him. Nixon decided to do the same with their family’s new cocker spaniel puppy, Checkers.
Nixon also remembered a phrase he had used after the slush fund charges had come out when in response to a heckler that held a sign that wanted to know where Pat’s mink coat was, Nixon stated that his wife wore a respectable “Republican cloth coat”. Nixon showed his audacity by how he would close his TV speech, in that he would ask the viewers to respond . . . but to whom? If the responses were sent directly to Nixon, the Democrats would accuse him of shenanigans, so Nixon decided that the responses should be sent to the Republican National Committee (RNC).
An hour before the telecast, Dewey called Nixon on behalf of Ike’s entourage. Dewey told Nixon that after the broadcast he was expected to step down as Ike’s VP. Under questioning from Nixon, Dewey admitted that he hadn’t actually been told to make that demand to Nixon by Ike. After he asked Nixon what he planned to do, an incredulous, devastated, and furious Nixon told Dewey to find out by watching the broadcast.
Nixon also remembered a phrase he had used after the slush fund charges had come out when in response to a heckler that held a sign that wanted to know where Pat’s mink coat was, Nixon stated that his wife wore a respectable “Republican cloth coat”. Nixon showed his audacity by how he would close his TV speech, in that he would ask the viewers to respond . . . but to whom? If the responses were sent directly to Nixon, the Democrats would accuse him of shenanigans, so Nixon decided that the responses should be sent to the Republican National Committee (RNC).
An hour before the telecast, Dewey called Nixon on behalf of Ike’s entourage. Dewey told Nixon that after the broadcast he was expected to step down as Ike’s VP. Under questioning from Nixon, Dewey admitted that he hadn’t actually been told to make that demand to Nixon by Ike. After he asked Nixon what he planned to do, an incredulous, devastated, and furious Nixon told Dewey to find out by watching the broadcast.
Due to Dewey’s phone call, Nixon had trouble memorizing his remarks, so he would have to rely on his notes. When Nixon entered the studio, he simply didn’t think his fight would end in a victory. For $75k, the Republican Party had strung together 60+ NBC affiliates and hundreds of radio stations to broadcast Nixon’s speech from 9:30 - 10 pm on the East Coast, 8:30 - 9 pm Central/Mountain, and 6:30 - 7 pm on the West Coast. As an added bonus, Nixon’s speech was on a Tuesday evening, the same night as Milton Berle's show.
Ted Rogers was a television producer/director who had met Nixon in 1950, and he was part of Nixon’s campaign staff. Rogers arranged for the “Library Set” to be used in the studio, with a chair for Pat off to the side of the desk. Nixon did not want to rehearse, so everything was planned on the fly by Rogers and his team. After basically flubbing his opening remarks, Nixon got on a roll, and he knew he was in the process of nailing his speech, especially when he stopped looking at his notes. Nixon was again on stage and acting, as he had in high school and college. Soon, Nixon told the television audience that he was going to do something unprecedented in politics by showing his financial standing to all (Pat had begged him not to do so beforehand) . . .
Ted Rogers was a television producer/director who had met Nixon in 1950, and he was part of Nixon’s campaign staff. Rogers arranged for the “Library Set” to be used in the studio, with a chair for Pat off to the side of the desk. Nixon did not want to rehearse, so everything was planned on the fly by Rogers and his team. After basically flubbing his opening remarks, Nixon got on a roll, and he knew he was in the process of nailing his speech, especially when he stopped looking at his notes. Nixon was again on stage and acting, as he had in high school and college. Soon, Nixon told the television audience that he was going to do something unprecedented in politics by showing his financial standing to all (Pat had begged him not to do so beforehand) . . .