Julie Nixon Eisenhower
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Julie Nixon Eisenhower (born July 5, 1948 in Washington, D.C.) is the second daughter of Richard and Pat Nixon and younger sister of Tricia Nixon Cox. In 1968, she married David Eisenhower. While her father served as President, she wrote several books and worked as Assistant Managing Editor of the Saturday Evening Post. Since her father left the White House in 1974, she has written a few more books and works to support her parents' legacy.
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[edit] Early life
Julie Nixon was born while her father was a Congressman. As a teenager she attended the private Sidwell Friends school in Washington along with her sister Tricia. Julie left the school in 1961, after her father lost his Presidential bid in 1960. The family returned to California where her father ran unsuccessfully for Governor in 1962. The Nixons moved to New York after the gubernatorial race. Julie attended Smith College after her graduation from High School and received a Masters from The Catholic University of America in 1972.
[edit] Marriage
On December 22, 1968, after her father was elected president but before he took office, Julie married David Eisenhower, grandson of 34th President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The ceremony took place in New York. Julie and David had known each other since meeting at the 1956 Republican National Convention. The Reverend Norman Vincent Peale officiated in the non-denominational rite at Manhattan's fabled Marble Collegiate Church.
[edit] First daughter
While her father served as President after his election in 1968, Julie became active at the White House becoming spokesperson for children's issues, the environment, and the elderly. She gave tours to disabled children, filled in for her mother at events, and took an active interest in foreign policy. From 1973-75, she served as Assistant Managing Editor of the Saturday Evening Post and helped establish a book division for Curtis Publishing Co., its parent corporation. It was during this time that Julie wrote the book Eye On Nixon. It was a book full of photographs of her father.
Once she appeared on The Mike Douglas Show in 1970, and Mike asked her what she thought about the new fad called "streaking," where someone runs naked in public. She responded, "I don't know how they can come off like that!" which was a double entendre that had left the whole studio laughing.
[edit] Watergate
After the news of the Watergate break-in and suspicions that it might reach as high as the oval office began to mount, Julie took on the press at home and abroad. Her defense of her father caused people to wonder why her mother wasn't saying anything about the scandal. Journalist Nora Ephron wrote, "In the months since the Watergate hearings began, she[Julie]has become her father's...First Lady in practice if not in fact.
Julie's public defense of her father began at Walt Disney World on May 2, 1973. She gave a total of 138 interviews across the country. In the summer of 1973, She and David went to London where Julie appeared on the BBC.
On July 4, 1973, She told two reporters that her father had considered resigning over Watergate, but that the family had talked him out of it.
On May 7, 1974, Julie and David met with the press in the East Garden of the White House. She announced that the President planned "...to take this constitutionally down to the wire."
Just before noon on August 9, 1974, Julie stood behind her father while he gave his good bye speech to the White House staff. She would later say it was the hardest moment for him.
[edit] Life after the White House
Julie and David settled in Pennsylvania, where she completed several books, including Pat Nixon: The Untold Story, a biography of her mother. She has an extensive record of community service in the Philadelphia area and is co-chair of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Birthplace Foundation.
The Eisenhowers have three children: Jennie Elizabeth, Alexander Richard Nixon, and Melanie Catherine.
[edit] References
- ↑ The Lonely Lady of San Clemente. David, Lester. Thomas Y. Crowell. New York, 1978. Pp. 172-174
[edit] External links
- Penn State University biography.
- The Julie Nixon Chronicles, Part One: Meeting Richard Nixon, or Plumbing on the Brain.
- The Julie Nixon Chronicles, Part Two: Dinner Chez Nixon.
- The Julie Nixon Chronicles, Part Three: Digression—Mrs. Nicely and other Niceties of Smith College.
- The Julie Nixon Chronicles, Part Four: The Squash Connection.
- The Julie Nixon Chronicles, Part Five: Rocks for Jockettes and Winter Weekend with Jocks.
- The Julie Nixon Chronicles, Part Six: Catching Rides with Manolo as Nixon Rides to the Presidency.
- Meeting Mao Zedong on January 1, 1976
