Real Richard Nixon: PAT (7) - Pat's Qualities & the Press

-Clip 7-
The Real Richard Nixon
Vol. 2: "Pat"
Interview with Frank Gannon

In this interview/documentary segment, President Richard Nixon discusses the good qualities that he believes his wife, First Lady Pat Nixon, will be remembered for. He also discusses press attacks on her (as "Plastic Pat," etc.), her success as a mother in raising their children Tricia Nixon Cox and Julie Nixon Eisenhower, and compares her to other First Ladies that he knew, such as Mrs. Herbert Hoover.

The video clip comes from 38 hours of interviews that Nixon did with Frank Gannon in 1983 during eight days of interviews spread out over several months. Gannon used to work for Nixon and was well acquainted with the former president. Subsequently, Nixon is more at ease and open here than in most of his recorded interviews.

Originally there here had been no clear intention to create a documentary on Pat Nixon when the interviews took place. The segments on Pat came from different days, originally interspersed among a variety of topics.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• President
• Richard
• Nixon
• First
• Lady
• Pat
• Interview
• documentary
• wife
• Frank
• Gannon
• media
• press
• legacy
• personality

[ckmacboy]

best prez!

[KrumyBunnie]

if i could go back to 68, or 72 i would vote for him twice

i cant however becuase you see im 20

nixon 12

yes...we....can?

[CounterCultureLives]

@SexyLiLLeilaniMya I like your correlation between Betty Ford and Maggie Thatcher. I see Maggie Thatcher as being something of a blending of Betty Ford's grace and forthrightness, and Eleanor Roosevelt's leadership capabilities. Now, Eleanor Roosevelt's time was before my life began, but irrespective of political beliefs, she was a most formidable leader; especially when you consider the era in which she lived. Makes me wonder what might have happened if she had lived in this era.

[SexyLiLLeilaniMya]

@CounterCultureLives Oh Betty was wonderdul! She was in a class all by herself she was an American Margaret Tatcher type she spoke her mind like you said and was STRONG folks feared Mrs. Ford in a good way she wasn't the type of wife or mother to "Pussyfoot Around" she did what she thought was right and for that she will always be among the top First Ladies in history! For her to speak in public about topics that were always hidden won her the respect of most of the nation during her era!

[CounterCultureLives]

@SexyLiLLeilaniMya Now that I have a clearer understanding of your perspectives, I would have to say that Betty Ford would rank among the top 3 1st ladies. She was quite outspoken,sometimes publicly disagreeing with her husband, (ERA) she spoke most candidly about her role as a mother and her relationship with her children, (she wouldn't be surprised to learn that her daughter, Susan, was having an affair) she made her battle with cancer public, and she always spoke openly with her own voice.

[SexyLiLLeilaniMya]

@CounterCultureLives I agree in regards to Mrs. Carter I think that role of First Lady suits women like Mrs. Carter, Mrs. Reagan or Laura Bush Hillary & Michelle are examples because they are educated, strong and unbossed neither Hillary or Michelle are "Flower Wives" and that's why I added them to the list! Women today are a lot different then when Mrs. Carter was First Lady and that's actually a good thing because times change but again I agree....

[reaper83001]

black ops :-)

[CounterCultureLives]

@SexyLiLLeilaniMya Agree on Pat Nixon and Michell Obama, but speaking as a Democrat, I respectively disagree about Hillary being one of the best 1st ladies. Intelligent? To be sure! One of the best? The Clinton's promised an administration that would 'avoid the mere appearance of impropriety", yet, both of them gave us one tawdry spectacle after another. Rosalyn Carter was a lady of grace. Betty Ford made her battle with breast cancer public, which prompted other women to undergo mammograms.

[Greg111076]

@Seasass I've heard many of these tapes, and I have heard Nixon say things that weren't in favor of putting women into positions or office, and conversely, I have heard him talk quite effusively about one woman or another as being very smart and capable, and for that reason, he was all for appointing that woman or another of that calibre into one office or another. In my opinion, his comment about looks and brains, the same can be said about men, A good looking guy can coast on his looks too.

[Chickenwing1313]

The most misunderstood president, he did well as president. Water gate was a scandal, even now people are looking at it again.

[Seasass]

@iampauleybaby His views on women were rather Neanderthal, as were many of his others. The poor guy was a product of his time, and the world he had known was crumbling as he took office. We needed a President who understood the social change of that era and had the vision to lead us into the future. Instead, we got this man who saw the tumult around him as a personal affront and grew paranoid and vindictive. It was his personal tragedy and our national one.

[SexyLiLLeilaniMya]

Pat was a wonderful First Lady She Hillary Michelle are the top 3 from this era....