Richard Nixon Foundation Elects Six New Board Members

Ambassador Robert C. O’Brien, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Richard Nixon Foundation announced the election and subsequent appointment of six new members to the Board of Directors, saying, “It’s my pleasure to welcome these new members of the 2023 Class to the Board, to support the advancement of the principles and policy goals to which President Nixon dedicated his career. Each one of these six new directors brings something unique: from experienced diplomatic wherewithal to Millennial leadership; from personal history with President Nixon to storied successes (and lessons) from private enterprise, all come with passion and commitment to this organization that will ensure the Richard Nixon Foundation’s continued impact upon future generations.”

The New Board Members are:

Ambassador Callista Gingrich, President of the Gingrich Foundation. Ambassador Gingrich served as the United States Ambassador to the Holy See from 2017 to 2021. She is the New York Times bestselling author of the Ellis the Elephant American history book series for children and co-author of Rediscovering God in America. She was created Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Pope Pius IX by Pope Francis in 2020.

Blake Kernen, Deputy Press Secretary in the US Senate. Ms. Kernen is an expert in social media and digital marketing strategies tailored to Millennial audiences, and a bestselling author. She was Director of Corporate Strategy and Student Outreach at First Generation Investors, an educational nonprofit that works with high school students in underserved communities.

Marlene Malek, Vice Chair and co-founder of Friends of Cancer Research, a nonprofit think tank and patient advocacy organization. Mrs. Malek served on the Steering Committees of the 2021 and 2022 Nixon National Cancer Conferences. She serves on the National Cancer Advisory arking the 50th anniversary year of President Nixon’s historic 1972 trips to China and the Soviet Union, the Richard Nixon Foundation launched the inaugural Grand Strategy Summit last November in Washington, D.C.

Board and as Chair of the Board of Trustees at Marymount University. Her late husband, The Honorable Fred Malek, served as a Director of the Richard Nixon Foundation from 2011 to 2019 and chaired the Richard Nixon Centennial Legacy Campaign.

James Mazzo, Executive Chairman Neurotech and Advisor for Zeiss, Bain, Avellino, and CVC Private Equity. Mr. Mazzo is one of the ophthalmic industry’s best known and most respected business leaders. He serves on the governing boards of several ophthalmic societies, Board Chairman AdvaMed, Executive Committee Member Medical Device Manufacturers Association, Board Member University of California at Irvine Foundation, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Chapman University and NASA’s Mission to Mars Committee. He was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2023.

Ambassador John Rakolta, Jr., Chairman of Walbridge, a privately held construction company founded in Detroit in 1916. Ambassador Rakolta served as United States Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates from 2019 to 2021, and was additionally Commissioner General of Expo Dubai 2020. For his role in establishing the Abraham Peace Accords, he was awarded the National Security Medal by President Donald Trump in 2020. From 1996 to 2019, he served as Romania’s Honorary Consul General to the United States.

David Tukey, a New York-based healthcare investor with ExodusPoint Capital Management, specializing in global biopharmaceutical companies. Dr. Tukey was a neuroscientist at NYU, and spent over nine years at Point72 and affiliates. He serves as a member of the boards of the Sustained Dialogue Institute and New Jersey Scholars Program, a mentor for the Princeton Entrepreneurship Council, and was Deputy Regional Campaign Manager for John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign.

National security experts and strategists gathered to formulate an American foreign policy strategy in America’s national interest.

Panelists covered the United States’ relationship with China as a major power in the 21st century, weighed the impact and next steps of ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine, and looked to the future of Western influence in the Middle East.

The Richard Nixon Foundation’s GRAND STRATEGY SUMMIT is dedicated to establishing a consistent approach to a strong, national foreign policy, and developing a long-term strategic direction for American statecraft — what President Nixon called “the long view.”

Now in its second year in Washington, DC, Summit participants will discuss and consider elements that comprise a 21st century American Grand Strategy —including alliances, trade policy and geoeconomics, and energy and environmental policies— to shape the foreign policy outlook for the United States in the years ahead.

For more information and to register go to: grandstrategysummit.com

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Nixon presidency, Ambassador Robert C. O’Brien, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Richard Nixon Foundation, announced the American Civics Campaign. The Campaign is to ensure that the Nixon Library remains an active center for study, debate and analysis of America’s role in the world, and that the Nixon Foundation advances the principles for which President Nixon stood throughout his life and career.

$26.1 million has been pledged toward a $40 million American Civics Campaign goal.

The government of Qatar pledged a $20 million gift to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and Qatar, which was undertaken by the Nixon administration in 1972.

The government of Qatar’s gift will enable the Richard Nixon Foundation to build a new hall at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum designed to house large-scale, rotating and traveling educational exhibitions and programs.

Ambassador O’Brien announced two additional lead gifts:

Barbara and Alex Bowie are longtime residents of Newport Beach, California. They generously pledged $3 million toward the construction of the American Civics Center’s Transportation Pavilion. Alex Bowie was a partner at Bowie Arneson Wiles & Giannone and practiced law with Herbert W. Kalmbach, President Nixon’s longtime personal attorney. Alex played a pivotal role for more than 30 years in drawing civil maps and establishing water and land use rights in order to incorporate cities throughout Orange County.

Ling and Charlie Zhang are among the most generous philanthropists in Southern California. They generously pledged $2 million toward the construction of the American Civics Center’s Transportation Pavilion. Ling and Charlie founded Pick Up Stix, the renowned fast-casual Asian-fusion restaurant chain, and are the driving force behind OC Music & Dance, Orange County’s first and only nonprofit community music and arts school. Charlie serves as Treasurer of the Richard Nixon Foundation.

The American Civics Campaign will enable:

• Construction of a hall for special exhibitions, ensuring that the Nixon Library becomes a destination for visitors from all around the world, to see treasured, educational, marquee exhibitions.

• 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 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 to guide America’s future.

To learn more about the American Civics Campaign, contact Kiara Ramos at kiara@nixonfoundation.org or 714-364-1176.