The Statesmanship, The Renaissance Man, The Politician, The Scandal, The Richard Milhous Nixon
Born in Yorba Linda, California on January 9, 1913, Richard Nixon was a dynamo of a man for his time. He was a public servant for the lion’s share of his life and described as a natural master politician by some. He had a knack for capturing people’s attention and interest, and for being skilled at most of everything that he did. He graduated from Duke University in 1937 with his law degree and practiced law at various points throughout his life. After marrying the love of his life Thelma “Pat” Catherine Ryan in 1940, the newly wedded couple shortly after moved to Washington D.C.; and shortly after that (1942) Nixon joined the United States Navy to serve during World War Two.
At the end of World War Two in 1945, Nixon was tapped to run for the House of Representatives, for Los Angeles’ 12 district seat, at the time held by Horace Jeremiah (Jerry) Voorhis. The New Deal, a series of progressive laws enacted by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt as a way to combat the Great Depression, also served as an underpinning for the early onset of Nixon’s national political career. During his campaign against Voorhis, Nixon would hit him for being a communist, far left, and supporting radical policies that would upend the American way of life. In 1946 he won his race and was elected to Congress.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Life with Ken to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.