WINTER 2023
The Past is Prologue: Understanding the 1973 Yom Kippur War
FOR FRIENDS & SUPPORTERS OF THE RICHARD NIXON FOUNDATION LEGACY & VISION
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From the Chairman
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ifty years after the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Israel has found itself under attack again. In 1973, when Israeli troops were outnumbered and facing likely defeat, President Nixon ordered the Pentagon to “send everything that will fly” to our friends. With American aid, Israel launched a decisive counterattack and a U.S.-brokered ceasefire was brokered in less than a month. That November, Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir visited Washington. President Nixon recalled the following exchange in his Memoirs: “There were days and hours when we needed a friend, and you came right in,” Meir said. “You don’t know what your airlift means to us.” The President responded, “I never believe in little plays when big issues are at stake.” Today, our dangerous world cries out for decisive American leadership. Every speaker from both parties expressed this sentiment at the Foundation’s Grand Strategy Summit that convened in Washington, D.C. in October. Now in its second year, this unique public policy conference brought together senior officials in and out of government, business leaders, members of the diplomatic corps and thought leaders to thoughtfully consider America’s long-range foreign policy priorities. President Nixon said, the “United States cannot be strong in the world unless it is strong at home.” He was right. That is why we launched the American Civics Campaign, with the aim of making the Nixon Library and Birthplace a national center for civics education. The Foundation’s efforts to educate our kids and grandkids will be another important legacy of President and Mrs. Nixon and their family. I hope that you will join us in supporting the American Civics campaign. Very truly yours,
ROBERT C. O’BRIEN, CHAIRMAN
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Cover Photo Credit: Nathan Fendrich, Photographer, The Pritzker Family National Photography Collection, The National Library of Israel
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Robert C. O’Brien, Chairman Charlie Zhang, Treasurer Lisa Argyros James Byron John H. Carley Christopher Nixon Cox Tricia Nixon Cox Steven L. Craig Monica Crowley Julie Nixon Eisenhower Melanie Eisenhower Callista Gingrich Hugh Hewitt Lawrence M. Higby Ming Hsieh Blake Kernen Bobbie Greene Kilberg William Kilberg Marlene Malek James Mazzo Maureen Drown Nunn John Rakolta, Jr. Geoff Shepard J. Peter Simon Daniele Struppa David Tukey DIRECTORS EMERITUS George L. Argyros Everett Alvarez, Jr. James H. Cavanaugh Barbara Hackman Franklin Gavin S. Herbert, Sr. Tod R. Hullin Kenneth L. Khachigian Richard (Sandy) Quinn Ronald H. Walker Pete Wilson James Byron, President & CEO Carrie Anderson, Editor Joe Lopez, Executive Editor
UPCOMING EVENTS UPCOMING EVENTS DECEMBER
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
19 Winter Wonderland Candlelight Evening
Nixon National 17 & 18 Cancer Conference
19 President’s Day
6:00 PM
Hear the latest in cancer research and learn how the National Cancer Act continues to have an impact.
Visitors will embark on a tour that features special appearances by Santa and his reindeer, live music and more!
Mark your calendar for a day of family-friendly patriotic activities to promote civics education.
JANUARY 9 President Nixon's Birthday Free Admission Day 11:00 AM Ceremony Join us as we honor President Nixon on his birthday with an official presidential wreath laying ceremony.
Also on January 9th at 7:00 PM
Newt and Callista Gingrich Former House Speaker, historian and bestselling author Newt Gingrich will share his perspectives on the 2024 presidential election, and America’s role in the world amid this period of increased global conflict. Callista Gingrich, former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, will sign copies of her bestselling children’s books Hail to the Chief and Remember the Ladies.
30 Gen. David Petraeus 7:00 PM Former CIA Director and commander of U.S.-led coalitions in Iraq and Afghanistan, General David Petraeus will discuss his book Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine.
MARCH 16 Pat Nixon Day of Service Free Admission Day Celebrate First Lady Pat Nixon’s birthday by continuing her legacy of public service. Visit the community involvement fair to learn how you can get involved with Southern California’s charitable organizations.
FEBRUARY 12 Lunar New Year Celebration 5:00 PM Music and dance performances make this an evening of fun and tradition for the entire family.
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National Vietnam War Veterans Day
Gather to honor those who served in the Vietnam War.
Tickets include a copy of March to the Majority: The Real Story of the Republican Revolution.
CHECK NIXONFOUNDATION.ORG FOR THE LATEST ANNOUNCEMENTS ON UPCOMING EVENTS LEGACY & VISION
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Facts about the Yom Kippur War • On October 6, 1973, Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel. The CIA has since said that this was a massive intelligence failure. • On October 12, 1973, President Nixon ordered an airlift of supplies and materiel to Israel to resupply Israeli losses. This would be the largest airlift in American history, larger than the Berlin Airlift. • Israel claimed victory three weeks after the initial attacks. • When the Soviet Union upped the stakes by threatening to send troops to the region, the Nixon administration took the U.S. defense posture to DEFCON 3 for the first time since the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Soviets backed down. • The Yom Kippur War was the bloodiest military confrontation between Israel and its Arab neighbors totaling nearly 53,500 total casualties on all sides involved. This is compared to 5,500 casualties during the 1967 Six-Day War, and 10,000 casualties during the 1956 Suez Crisis.
Senator Tom Cotton’s op-ed in the National Review, "The Yom Kippur War's Lesson for Ukraine- and Biden."
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T H E N. . . America’s Airlift in the 1973 Yom Kippur War
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n October 6, 1973, Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel to reclaim territories they had lost in the Six-Day War. With Israeli troops seriously outnumbered and facing near-certain defeat at the hands of the Soviet-backed Arabs, President Nixon ordered an emergency airlift of supplies and materiel. “Send everything that will fly,” he told Dr. Henry Kissinger. The American airlift enabled Israel to launch a decisive counterattack that pushed the Egyptians back across the Suez Canal. When the Soviet Union threatened to send its own military into the fray as peacekeepers, the Nixon administration ordered the U.S. defense posture to DEFCON 3 for the first time since the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Soviets backed down. President Nixon dispatched Dr. Kissinger to the region to negotiate a peace agreement. By October 24, a tentative ceasefire was in place. By May 1974, disengagement agreements between Israel and both Egypt and Syria had been negotiated with the help of the Nixon administration. These agreements became the foundation for the Camp David Accords in 1978 and the subsequent Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty of 1979.
...AND NOW Israel’s Consul General on War with Hamas The Richard Nixon Foundation partnered with the Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles for an official “on the ground” assessment of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Mr. Israel Bachar, Consul General of Israel to the Pacific Southwest, spoke at the Nixon Library exactly one month and one day after the October 7th attacks in Israel. Mr. Bachar started his remarks by stating, “We look at present circumstances to understand how we move forward—as a nation, as a region, as the world.
Today, we will also look back in order to look forward.” He went on to examine lessons learned from the Yom Kippur War, 50 years ago, and the decisions made by President Nixon that are applicable today. In his assessment of the current war, Mr. Bachar shared his experience as a representative of the Israeli government on October 7 and the days that have followed, referring to the situation as “a regional problem with a global impact.”
After delivering remarks, Mr. Bachar toured the Nixon Library’s museum galleries. He is pictured here in the exhibit on the Yom Kippur War of 1973.
Ben Stein on President Nixon’s Leadership Renowned economist, actor and political commentator Ben Stein reflected on Richard Nixon’s decisiveness during the Yom Kippur War. Mr. Stein was a speechwriter for President Nixon from 1973-74 and the author of The Peacemaker: Nixon: The Man, President, and My Friend. His remarks were full of gratitude for the 37th President and the example he set by being a strong ally to Israel.
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! 22 E e AT Jun D E on H T 5K E V IX SA itle T 4 2 20
Title IX Celebrated at Nixon Library 5K Run
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n June 24th, the Nixon Foundation hosted the annual Nixon 5K Run for Title IX to celebrate the 51st anniversary of President Nixon’s signing of Title IX. This landmark legislation guarantees that girls and women have the same opportunities and resources as boys and men in educational activities including athletics. The pre-race ceremony featured a Presentation of Colors from the Yorba Linda Girl Scouts' Honor Guard and welcome remarks from U.S. Representative Young Kim. The race course began at the Nixon Library and followed Yorba Linda’s El Cajon Trail. Race winners were awarded first, second, and third-place medals based on age groups.
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This family-friendly event included a vendor fair and admission to the Nixon Library. Thanks to the Nixon 5K Run for Title IX Sponsors: American Chinese Athlete Association, Coastline College, Costco, Dignity Memorial, Exodus Escape Room, Funktional Fitness, Inspired Resolutions Counseling, Lifestream, Love Yorba Linda, OC Sheriff’s Department, OC Fire Authority, OC Sports Commission, OC Supervisor Don Wagner, Orangetheory, Pat Nixon Republican Women, Perspire Sauna Studio, Polly’s Pies, Red Cross, RNLB Docent Guild, Salinas Physical Therapy, Smart Fit Method, A Snail’s Pace, SoCal Elite Physical Therapy, UCI Health, Veteran Air, Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce, Yorba Linda Water District and Yorba Linda Women’s Club.
New Biography Explores Richard Nixon’s SoCal Roots
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istorian Paul Carter launched his newly published book Richard Nixon: California’s Native Son at the Nixon Library on September 5. This biography takes an in-depth look at Richard Nixon’s formative years in Southern California, sharing what Mr. Carter describes as “the All-American story you have never heard before.” Bold, confident and full of hustle are adjectives Mr. Carter uses to show Richard Nixon from a new perspective. Mr. Carter spent over a decade researching the book including interviewing many of President Nixon’s closest and most guarded associates, scouring through oral histories at Cal State Fullerton's Oral History Center and utilizing the Nixon Library’s vast archival collections. The foreword to the book was written by Tricia Nixon Cox. Watch Paul Carter’s book launch at the Nixon Library
Scan to order Paul Carter’s book
Presidential Historian Luke Nichter’s Groundbreaking Conclusions on 1968 Election
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residential Historian and bestselling author Luke Nichter presented his newly released book, The Year that Broke Politics: Collusion and Chaos in the Presidential Election of 1968 at the Nixon Library on September 7. Appearing in conversation with Nixon Foundation President and CEO Jim Byron, Dr. Nichter presented his key findings including new and significant conclusions about the October 1968 bombing halt and the relationship between Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon. Extensively researched and deeply rooted in source material, this book offers fresh information on one of the most fascinating elections in modern American history. This book stands apart from previous books about this election because Dr. Nichter received cooperation from all four sides of the 1968 election— those of Lyndon Johnson, Hubert Humphrey, Richard Nixon and George Wallace. Dr. Nichter was also the last person to interview Anna Chennault and the first researcher to have looked at The Reverend Billy Graham’s personal diary. Watch Luke Nichter present his latest work at the Nixon Library
Scan to order Luke Nichter's book
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Shaping America’s Long-Term Foreign Policy Outlook It is often said that timing in life is everything. Just 11 days after Israel was brutally attacked by the first large-scale invasion of its nation in 50 years, and with Russia still waging war in Ukraine, the Richard Nixon Foundation’s Second Annual Grand Strategy Summit convened at a pivotal and perilous time. Bringing together 24 leading foreign policy experts and thought leaders from the United States and abroad, the Summit re-emphasized the importance of American power and influence in “defending and extending freedom and deterring and resisting aggression,” especially considering the current global situation. The timing of the Summit could not have been more propitious. Learn more in the 2023 Strategy Summary, which can be accessed here
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Ten Takeaways from the Grand Strategy Summit the end of the 1 Since Cold War, the United States has lacked a Grand Strategy for its role in the world
U.S. needs to be America’s Defense 4 The 8 more effective in deterring Industrial Base needs foreign adversaries from aggression
5 political leaders 2 National need to do a better job explaining why it’s important to average Americans that we provide support to allies and friends around the world United States needs 3 The to more clearly define its “end game” goals for Ukraine and the Middle East
to be rebuilt
absence of a 9 The comprehensive American
Economic sanctions are only effective if they are enforced
Washington’s 6 George statement to Congress in
1790 remains true today: “To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.”
ransom for 7 Paying hostages encourages the taking of more hostages
grand strategy creates openings for other global powers, as demonstrated by China’s Belt and Road Initiative; there is opportunity for America to strengthen relationships with allies in developing nations
needs to regain 10 America its energy independence
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Scenes from the Grand Strategy Summit
Delegation of Business Students Attends Grand Strategy Summit
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leven students from California State University, Fullerton, participated in a special student travel program to attend the Grand Strategy Summit as part of the Richard Nixon Foundation's ongoing partnership with the CSUF Business School, and an advancement of the Richard Nixon Foundation’s educational mission and renewed focus on American civics education. CSUF Business students were offered a truly unique experience at the Grand Strategy Summit, with opportunities to speak about policy in intimate settings with members of Congress, diplomatic corps representatives, and national security specialists from across the world. "Providing opportunities for students to tour our country’s most cherished sites and branches of government in Washington, D.C. is important to maintaining the fabric of our national character. President Nixon believed that government should not exclusively be an East Coast institution, so it is important to the leadership of the Richard Nixon Foundation to offer opportunities to attend programs and forums like the Grand Strategy Summit to America’s emerging leaders in all parts of the country," said Jim Byron, President & CEO of the Richard Nixon Foundation.
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The CSUF Delegation, pictured at the Grand Strategy Summit with Foundation Treasurer Charlie Zhang and Jim Byron, President & CEO of the Richard Nixon Foundation.
January 17 and 18, 2024 The Nixon National Cancer Conference is more than an annual event; it’s a commitment to honoring the past, addressing the present, and shaping the future of cancer research and care. This conference is rooted in the promise of the National Cancer Act of 1971: to discover the underlying mechanisms of cancer, and develop methods to deliver that understanding to cancer patients. The 2024 NNCC will focus especially on the delivery aspect of cancer care: evaluating the latest scientific innovations and understanding limitations on delivery that are leading to higher costs to patients. The primary areas of emphasis for this year’s conference (subject to change):
Precision Oncology • AI Revolution in Oncology • Navigating the Patient Journey Nursing’s Impact in Modern Oncology • The Gut Microbiome in Oncology Special thanks to the 2024 Nixon National Cancer Conference Sponors*
Title Sponsor
Presenting Sponsor
Senatorial Sponsor
Congressional Sponsor
Eagle Sponsors
Learn more and register here
*as of printing
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Solutions to America’s Drug Epidemic
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his year marks the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Drug Enforcement Administration. On August 22, 2023, the Richard Nixon Foundation convened A Nation of Narcotics: Drug Control Policies from Nixon's DEA to the Fentanyl Crisis. This conference examined the last five decades of drug enforcement, including national strategies and community-based action. The current administrator of the DEA, Anne Milgram, and two former administrators participated in this conference at the Nixon Library, attended by community leaders and advocates for drug abuse prevention and treatment. The first panel, Understanding the Nixon Administration’s Drug Control Policy, featured domestic policy experts from the Nixon administration. The panelists took attendees back in time to the first American opioid epidemic, outlining
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President Nixon’s policy approach: a combination of drug abuse prevention and treatment with law enforcement actions and international agreements. These efforts had bi-partisan support and made enduring changes to the nation’s drug control policies and illicit supplies. Dr. Robert DuPont emphasized the human focus of the Nixon administration’s drug control policies, stating, “We were on a mission together that was really in the interest of the country. It was a magical time that we had. I had no idea how rare and precious that presidential attention was. It was people who were doing things absolutely with the interest of the people and the public in mind.” Watch the keynote speech here
Watch Panel 1 here
{
‘‘…President Nixon gave us the roadmap for dealing with drug abuse and prevention and we need to get back to it.” – J U D G E R O B E RT B O N N E R
Understanding the Nixon Administration's Drug Control Policy Panelists: John Coleman, 33 year career officer with Federal Bureau of Narcotics, Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs and the Drug Enforcement Administration (1965-98) Jeffrey Donfeld, Staff Assistant, White House Domestic Council (1969-71), Assistant Director, Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention (1972-73) Dr. Robert DuPont, Founding Administrator, Narcotics Treatment Administration (1970- 73), Director, White House Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention (1973-75), First Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse (1973-78) Geoff Shepard, Moderator, White House Fellow (196970), Associate Director, White House Domestic Council (1970-74) Following the first panel the current DEA administrator, Anne Milgram, delivered a special message to mark the 50th anniversary of the DEA. The second panel, A Nation of Narcotics: Combating the Country’s Addiction and Fentanyl Crisis, focused on the current drug epidemic that is plaguing America. Panelists with experience in substance abuse treatment and community assistance provided actionable solutions for those dealing with addiction. These included treatment methods and community resources. Panelists: Tara Nierenhausen, Executive Director of Community’s Child with almost 50 years’ experience providing educational and support services to women, children and families Ed Storti, author and international intervention specialist and developer of The Storti Model of Intervention, a special method of addictive disease intervention Bill Woodbury, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor with 35 years of experience in the field of Substance Use Disorder Maureen Nunn, Moderator, Emmy award-winning television host, author, educator and certified drug and alcohol counselor
Watch Panel 2 here
}
Keynote remarks were delivered by Judge Robert Bonner, former Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the first Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and retired United States District Judge. Judge Bonner noted that while little has been written about President Nixon’s efforts to combat drug abuse, it was President Nixon who put into place the “first truly national drug control strategy.” Judge Bonner reflected on President Nixon’s vision and determination to take bold action, combined with his personal dedication to understand and solve the problem. This led to a successful drug enforcement strategy that accomplished its goal of reducing the number of heroin addicts. He explained President Nixon’s two-pronged approach of providing treatment to heroin addicts (the demand side) while using law enforcement and international diplomacy to dramatically reduce the availability of heroin in the United States (the supply side). To this approach, the Nixon administration added education and prevention creating a comprehensive strategy that accomplished results. Special thanks to Nixon Foundation Board Member Maureen Nunn for sponsoring the conference’s luncheon.
IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY High School Formation Directors from nearby Servite High School attended the conference to deepen their understanding of the seriousness of these issues facing their students. At the conference, they learned of a volunteer service opportunity working with Tara Nierenhausen of Community's Child, for the students to help women in crisis. The school is now a partner of Community's Child, where high school students volunteer.
Opposite Top left: Ed Storti speaking on intervention during the second panel. Top right: Maureen Nunn moderating the second panel. Bottom Left: A special message delivered from DEA administrator Anne Milgram. Bottom Right: Judge Robert Bonner delivering keynote remarks.
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Reclaiming American History America is at a crossroads. In 2020 our country was confronted with challenges not seen for 20 years or more, perhaps even dating back to the unrest and challenges of the Vietnam War period. Curriculums changed as the country began to redefine what it means to be an American in the 21st century. Such national conversations proved difficult, divisive, and unresolved. The mistrust and distrust from across all political spectrums has, unfortunately, impacted our educational curriculum. And we are losing civics education in the process.
To address this, the Richard Nixon Foundation has plans to expand its educational efforts through the American Civics Campaign, launching an educational initiative for civics education where students engage in immersive experiences, exhibits and virtual programs to understand the rights and duties of citizenship in America. The American Civics Campaign will enable:
• Construction of a hall for educational special exhibitions, ensuring that the Nixon Library becomes a destination for visitors from all around the world.
• Construction of a pavilion to permanently house the Marine One helicopter
that flew Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford, as well as “The Beast” presidential limousine.
• Construction of a hands-on, civics education center, using simulations to teach history and apply the principles of the U.S. Constitution to events today, championing and preserving the American system of government.
• Research and scholarship of the Nixon presidency, as a roadmap toward America’s future.
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OC schoolchildren greeted Vietnam POWs at the Nixon Library on May 23.
American Civics Campaign has raised $26.5 million of $40 million goal Nixon Foundation Chairman Ambassador Robert C. O’Brien unveiled the American Civics Campaign on May 24, 2023, at a dinner honoring 150 Prisoners of War from the Vietnam War at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library. The Campaign will raise $40 million and has already received $26.5 million in pledges. The Government of the State of Qatar pledged $20 million and additional lead gifts totaling $5 million were pledged by Barbara and Alex Bowie and Ling and Charlie Zhang. Our deepest appreciation to Barbara and Alex Bowie and Ling and Charlie Zhang for their commitment to the revitalization of civics education!
‘‘ The Nixon Library is a vital educational asset in Orange County, so we are thrilled to support its planned expansion. I n particular, The American Civics Campaign will positively impact our youth and comes at this critical time when the understanding and appreciation of the American Constitution and basic civics is declining. Barbara and I are thrilled to be able to support this worthy endeavor.”
– Barbara and Alex Bowie
‘‘ We are honored to support the American Civics Campaign because, as President Nixon once said, we believe in the American Dream because we have seen it come true in our own lives. We want to inspire the next generation of peacemakers, leaders and visionaries embracing their own American Dreams and giving back to the country that made it possible.
– Ling and Charlie Zhang
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C O M I N G S P R I N G 2024
PORTRAITS O F COURAGE A COMMANDER IN CHIEF’S TRIBUTE TO AMERICA’S WARRIORS
Featuring sixty-six full-color portraits and a four-panel mural painted by President George W. Bush of 98 service members and veterans who have served our nation with honor since 9/11, and whom the President has come to know personally since leaving office.
ON EXHIBIT FROM
MARCH 14 to MAY 28, 2024 Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors is a collection of portraits by President George W. Bush on loan from The Ambassador and Mrs. George L. Argyros Collection of Presidential Art at the George W. Bush Presidential Center, a non-profit organization whose Veterans and Military Families programming is focused on helping veterans and their families make successful transitions.
Portraits of Courage will be on exhibit at the Nixon Library and for the first time on the West Coast thanks to the generosity of Lisa Argyros/ Argyros Family Foundation. 15
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Teaching the TEACHERS In July, 850 K-12 teachers participated in a weeklong educational seminar led by Jeffery A. Engel, an historian of the presidency and American affairs at Southern Methodist University. The teachers explored why Americans have (or have not)
Following the week of formal lectures, pedagogical workshops, after-hours discussions and friendly debates, the teachers were equipped to return to their classrooms more knowledgeable about the past and better prepared to tell today’s students why the questions we ask of the past today will guide our decisions, and our nation, today and into the future. Presented in partnership with The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
chosen to engage the broader international system since the Spanish-American War of 1898. The point of the weeklong seminar was to better equip teachers with an understanding of 20th century American foreign policy.
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CCII VV I IC CS SI N IANC T IAO CN T I CIVICS IN ACTION
Judge Jeanine Pirro
4th of July Events
June 1
Independence Day was celebrated with three days of patriotic events including concerts from the Huntington Beach Concert Band and the U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West, celebrating America's musical heritage. Presidential impersonators allowed for real life opportunities to meet the presidents.
Co-Host of The Five on Fox News talked about her highly anticipated new book, Crimes Against America, and engaged in a timely discussion about the future of America.
2024 Presidential Policy Perspectives: Vivek Ramaswamy
GOP Debate Watch Parties AUG 23 • SEPT 27 • NOV 8 Hundreds gathered in the East Room of the Nixon Library for each of the GOP presidential debates. The first included a post-debate discussion with former California Governor and Foundation Director Emeritus Pete Wilson and Ambassador Gaddi Vasquez.
August 17 Vivek Ramaswamy, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, participated in the Richard Nixon Foundation’s 2024 Presidential Policy Perspectives series.
Celebrating 70 Years of U.S.- South Korean Relations June 20
The Nixon Library’s East Room was at full capacity of nearly 900 people as Mr. Ramaswamy laid out his comprehensive foreign policy vision, which he said includes a revival of Nixonian realism.
The Richard Nixon Foundation in partnership with the Consulate of the Republic of Korea in Los Angeles commemorated the 70th anniversary of the U.S. and South Korean Alliance. Remarks were delivered by Youngwan Kim, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Los Angeles and U.S. Representative Young Kim.
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On November 8, Foundation Director Emeritus Ken Khachigian, veteran of nine presidential campaigns and Chief Speechwriter and Senior Political Advisor for President Reagan, provided post-debate commentary in discussion with Lucy Rawlins, Chairwomen of New Majority Orange County.
Visit youtube.com/nixonfoundation to watch these educational programs and more.
OCNI VCIVICS I C S I N A C TIN I O N ACTION CIVICS IN ACTION
VIETNAM POW SPEAKER SERIES
Jonathan Aitken
Bret Baier
September 13
October 25
Renowned biographer Jonathan Aitken reflected on the Richard Nixon he knew and revelations he's had since writing his book Nixon: A Life, first published in 1993.
The bestselling author and Chief Political Anchor of Fox News discussed To Rescue the Constitution: George Washington and the Fragile American Experiment. Before joining a full East Room to be interviewed by Presidential Historian Dr. Luke Nichter, Baier broadcast his Fox News show Special Report live from the Nixon Library.
Second Lady Karen Pence
Veterans Day
Guests heard firsthand stories of survival from former American POWS in the Vietnam War as part of a series featuring POW heroes.
Lt. Colonel Tom Hanton, USAF (Ret.) August 29 Captain Jack Ensch, USN (Ret.) September 26 Captain Charlie Plumb, USN (Ret.) November 7
Remembering 9/11 September 11 The Orange County community gathered in the East Room for the annual 9/11 commemoration on the twenty-second anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Orange County Fire Authority Chief Brian Fennessy, Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes and Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Robert Cordobes delivered remarks that paid tributes to heroes of 9/11 while reflecting on the enduring impact of that day.
October 3 Karen Pence talked about her new book, When It’s Your Turn to Serve. The former Second Lady of the U.S. and First Lady of Indiana gave personal insights into the life of a political spouse and the important role of her faith in providing a sense of service and calling.
November 11 Over 350 gathered in the East Room for a salute to Veterans that included a concert by the Huntington Beach Concert Band followed by a ceremony honoring Vietnam veterans during which they received special tokens of our thanks.
LAFD Captain Robert Cordobes
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Bringing the World to the Nixon Library
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rom September 15 to 23, 2023, the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum joined six other partners from Orange County, California on promotional mission trips in South Korea and Japan. The mission was led by Visit Anaheim, the destination marketing organization for Orange County, and made up of representatives from Disneyland Resort, the City of Garden Grove, South Coast Plaza, Great Wolf Lodge Water Park, the Westin Anaheim Resort, and three Hilton hotels in Garden Grove/Anaheim. The delegation was welcomed and well received by top tour companies, media and influencers helping to position Orange County as a destination for international tourists from South Korea and Japan in the coming years.
50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act
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y signing the Endangered Species Act on December 28, 1973, President Nixon reversed more than a century of careless stewardship of America's animal life. Since the law was enacted, dozens of species once in danger of vanishing from the earth, from the American bald eagle to the Virginia northern flying squirrel, have recovered and are no longer considered endangered. This milestone measure made it a federal offense to capture or kill an endangered species and authorized action to protect their habitats. Rescuing a species from the brink of extinction is not easy. But without the Endangered Species Act, it would be almost impossible. ‘‘Nothing is more priceless and more worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature lovers alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share as Americans. I congratulate the 93d Congress for taking this important step toward protecting a heritage which we hold in trust to countless future generations of our fellow citizens. Their lives will be richer, and America will be more beautiful in the years ahead, thanks to the measure that I have the pleasure of signing into law today.”
– STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON ON SIGNING
THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT INTO LAW ON DECEMBER 28, 1973
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I M PAC T O F T H E N I XO N L I B R A R Y DOCENT GUILD
The frontline of the visitor experience at the Nixon Library, the Docent Guild has played an important role since the Nixon Library opened in 1990.
In June 2021, the Docents were honored guests to thank them for their volunteer service, at a garden party celebrating frontline heroes on the 50th anniversary of the White House Rose Garden wedding of Tricia Nixon Cox and Edward Cox.
2 docents
Almost
200
from the second docent class (1991)
No full time staff. Total volunteer hours in 2022:
members strong
are still serving!
17,360
(the largest group to-date)
THE ONLY independent
501(c)(3)
Docent Guild at NARA-affiliated libraries
After orientation new docents complete
Current active leader in hours served
8 weeks of training
Pamela Harrell: OVER
4,450 HOURS
Learn more about becoming a docent at nixondocents.org
G
Happy Birthday Governor Wilson!
overnor Pete Wilson celebrated his 90th birthday at the Nixon Library on August 23, 2023. Before providing sage post-debate analysis for the first GOP presidential debate of the 2024 campaign, the Governor, joined by First Lady Gayle Wilson, was surprised as hundreds leapt to their feet to honor him. A Director Emeritus of the Richard Nixon Foundation, Governor Wilson served as an advance aide for the Nixon for Governor campaign in 1962. He went on to serve California as a member of the State Assembly, Mayor of San Diego, U.S. Senator and Governor for two terms. LEGACY & VISION
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Give your employees the a corporate retreat at presidential treatment. Host the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
Located in the heart of Orange County, the Nixon Library boasts recentlyreimagined presidential museum galleries covering the entirety of 20th century America, picturesque rose gardens and the only full-size reproduction of the White House East Room. The splendor of the experience is truly unmatched: dine under stunning crystal chandeliers in the 4,800 square foot White House East Room; treat your colleagues to a dynamic teambuilding session in a replica of the White House President’s Cabinet Room; or take photos behind the famous desk in a replica of the President’s Oval Office.
To book contact Laura Curtis 714-364-1182 or laura@nixonfoundation.org
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75 Years Ago: The Proof was in the Pumpkin Adapted from Jim Byron’s article ‘‘The Hunt in Red August, 1948: The case of Alger Hiss, Soviet spy” published in The Hill on Aug 24, 2023. Read here
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Ultimately, the proof was in the pumpkin.
On Aug. 3, 1948, Whittaker Chambers — a disheveled Time Magazine editor and himself a former spy for the Communist Party — appeared before the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) and accused Hiss, president of the Carnegie Endowment and one-time senior State Department official, of being a communist.
These bombshells exposed Hiss not only as a one-time member of the Communist Party, but as party to a spy ring of U.S. government officials.
ccurring seventy five years ago this August, the Hiss Case, as it became known, was a complicated back-andforth of mystery, intrigue, revelation, and misunderstanding. Still today, it evokes and provokes a range of opinions about the scope of communist infiltration into government institutions in the 1930s and 40s.
Chambers’s accusations, delivered under oath, created a fire. Hiss appeared before HUAC and dazzled his national audience, forcefully and effectively challenging the committee’s mandate, rejecting any connection to the Communist Party and rebutting Chambers’s accusations.
Chambers had kept a cache of stolen secret government documents in a dumbwaiter shaft in his wife’s nephew’s mother’s apartment building — and, more famously, stashed five rolls of microfilm for 24 hours in a hollowed-out pumpkin on his farm. Many of these documents were later determined to have been typed on Hiss’s Woodstock typewriter.
Hiss was never tried for treason, because the statute of limitation was, amazingly, only three years. The Justice Department instead indicted and tried Hiss on two counts of perjury. After a mistrial, he was tried again, convicted, and sentenced to five years in federal prison, of which he served three years and eight months.
Richard Nixon began to investigate. Chambers, as it turned out, possessed a photographic memory and relayed in excruciating detail how well he knew Hiss.
From the moment the charges made national headlines until his death in 1996, Hiss maintained his innocence, and many others championed his cause. But there is ample evidence in the Soviet archives, revealed during Russia’s flirtation with democracy in the 1990s, that Hiss had indeed been a spy for Soviet intelligence.
When Nixon asked Hiss about his hobbies, Hiss ensnared himself in a trap by listing his fondness for birdwatching, becoming animated at having seen a rare prothonotary warbler — and in the process confirming what Chambers had told Nixon.
It is clear that Nixon was right in 1948, and the historical record proves him right today. The Hiss Case launched Nixon’s career: He would leapfrog from the House to the Senate, to the vice presidency and presidency, and come to define an entire age in American history.
The committee forced Hiss to confront Chambers, and it did not go well for him. Over the following weeks, Hiss’s gradually changing story and half-hearted denials eroded his once iron-clad credibility.
Order your copy of Six Crises by Richard Nixon for the full account of the Hiss Case.
But one first-term Congressman and member of HUAC wasn’t convinced.
Scan here Photo information: A10-024.27.4.2. Richard Nixon, member of the House Un-American Activities Committee, sits holding a newspaper with a headline reading: “Hiss Guilty on Both Perjury Counts.” 01/21/1950. Washington, D.C.. B&W. Source: Congressional / International News Photo by Bob Mulligan
LEGACY & VISION
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Dr. Henry Kissinger r. Henry A. Kissinger passed away on November 29, 2023, at the age of 100. He was a longtime member of the Richard Nixon Foundation Board of Directors and most recently served as Director Emeritus. Heinz Alfred Kissinger was born on May 27, 1923 in Germany. In 1938, as the Nazi persecution of Jews became unrelenting, his family was able to escape to London, and then to the Bronx, where Heinz became Henry and enrolled at the George Washington High School. In 1943 he was drafted and found himself back in Germany in the United States Army, fighting the Nazis as a rifleman in France and a translator and G-2 intelligence officer. In 1947 he matriculated to Harvard, graduating (summa cum laude) in 1950. He stayed in Cambridge pursuing his Master’s and Ph.D. In 1954 he joined the faculty and remained there until joining the Nixon White House. In 1957 his thoughtful and provocative book Nuclear Weapons and Foreign Policy was a crossover bestseller, and he became a sought after adviser for politicians and presidents beginning with President Eisenhower. He was a special advisor to Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, and served as New York Governor (and presidential candidate) Nelson Rockefeller’s principal foreign policy adviser. Shortly after Richard Nixon was elected President of the United States in 1968, he selected Dr. Kissinger to be his national security adviser. President Nixon appointed him Secretary of State in 1973. Among his many awards and honors are a Bronze Star from the U.S. Army in 1945, the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and the Richard Nixon Foundation's Architect of Peace Award in 1996 and 2022.
Dr. Kissinger's last visit to the Nixon Library was in 2022, when the 99-year-old presented his latest book, Leadership, and received the Architect of Peace Award.
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Josephine “Josie” Abplanalp
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osephine “Josie” Abplanalp, devoted friend of the Nixon family, passed away on August 25, 2023, at the age of 98. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Abplanalp. Over the course of her long life, Mrs. Abplanalp was active in support of numerous charitable endeavors. In 2011, Mrs. Abplanalp donated to the Richard Nixon Foundation the property immediately adjacent to the Nixon Library. The Library’s upcoming stateof-the-art special exhibits gallery will rise on this land, a tribute to Mrs. Abplanalp’s vision and her commitment to advancing President Nixon’s legacy.
Marjorie “Marje” Acker
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arjorie “Marje” Acker, longtime staff assistant to Richard Nixon, passed away on August 18, 2023, at the age of 95.
Mrs. Acker began her lifelong devotion to the Nixon family as a secretary to Senator Nixon in 1951. She then worked on the 1952 and 1956 Eisenhower-Nixon campaigns, the Nixon for California Governor campaign in 1962 and the 1968 Nixon presidential campaign. In the White House, she was a trusted friend of Rose Mary Woods, and worked in the President's personal office. Throughout her life, Mrs. Acker remained a close friend of the Nixon family and supporter of the Richard Nixon Foundation.
Colonel John V. “Jack” Brennan
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olonel John V. “Jack” Brennan, the first White House Marine Military Aide to the President of the United States, post-presidential Chief of Staff to President Richard Nixon, and longtime, close Nixon friend and confidant, passed away on October 20, 2023 at the age of 86. As Marine Corps Aide to the President, Brennan had custody of the "nuclear football" and oversaw the White House Military Office. In July 1975, he resigned from active duty in the United States Marine Corps to become the former President's Chief of Staff in San Clemente. Col. Brennan was a regular star speaker at the Nixon Library. He most recently delivered emotional opening remarks to kick off the 50th anniversary homecoming of the Vietnam Prisoners of War in May 2023.
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John Ford Evans
ohn Ford Evans, assistant director of the Domestic Council during President Nixon’s first term, passed away on June 15, 2023, at the age of 85. During his years in government service, Mr. Evans worked on community affairs issues, including affordable housing and school integration. He went on to practice law and serve many charitable organizations.
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SOMETHING FOR
Air Force One Jacket Suit up like the president! Look like an executive in this embroidered Air Force One jacket from the Nixon Library.
Nixon Library Polo Comfortable, sophisticated and performance quality.
$84.95
$74.95
The President and The King This exclusive ornament celebrates the iconic meeting between President Nixon and Elvis Presley, the most requested photo in the U.S. National Archives. $24.95
Pat Nixon’s Gingerbread House Ornament Presidential Seal Cufflinks Dress to impress! $39.95
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First Lady Pat Nixon debuted this iconic A-Frame gingerbread house at the White House, beginning an annual tradition. $19.95
POW Ornament Nixon Library exclusive celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Operation Homecoming. $29.95
! on s a e S s i h t e Everyon Women’s Quarter Zip A nod to the nautical! This trendy quarter zip is great to sport all year round. $59.95
Richard Nixon Bowling T-Shirt Bowl ten-strikes like the Commander-in-Chief. $29.95
t shop r full gif u o p o h at S n online io t c e ll .org co ndation u o f n o ix store.n
Endangered Species Act Mug Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, signed into law by President Nixon on December 28, 1973. $12.95
Presidential Seal Two-Tone Travel Mug This standout travel mug is presidential material! Complete with a wooden top to keep your coffee hot.
First Couple Mug Set Mom and Dad will love their morning cup of coffee. $18.95
$21.95
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Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors is a collection of portraits by President George W. Bush on loan from The Ambassador and Mrs. George L. Argyros Collection of Presidential Art at the George W. Bush Presidential Center, a non-profit organization whose Veterans and Military Families programming is focused on helping veterans and their families make successful transitions. Portraits of Courage will be on exhibit at the Nixon Library and for the first time on the West Coast thanks to the generosity of Lisa Argyros/ Argyros Family Foundation.