Letter #81 – Two Photos, Two Memories

in Featured Letters from Yorba Linda by William F. Gavin — December 17, 2011 at 12:05 pm | 0 comments

In preparation for an interview with Jon Movroydis, Director of Communications of the Nixon Foundation, I began to search through the accumulated memorabilia, important documents, letters, memos, email copies, and yes, just plain junk that have cluttered my files, my basement, and my mind all these years. I wanted to refresh my memory (at my age, a full-time job) about the few years I was a member of the Nixon staff, both in the 1968 campaign and in the White House.

But the more information I gathered, the less certain I was about what I wanted to say about Richard Nixon. What could I possibly say that was new or even interesting about a man who was a legend in his lifetime and , since his death in 1994, has gained  mythical status. W. H. Auden once wrote of Sigmund Freud that he eventually became “a climate of opinion”. Much the same can be said about Nixon: wherever one stands on the political spectrum, his triumphs, his personality, his contradictions, his failures, and his complexity still serve as a background to current political debates. Want to talk about China? Nixon is there. Political comebacks? Nixon got there first. Presidential campaigns? Nixon lost once and won twice, and there isn’t a single facet of modern campaigning in the electronic age he didn‘t experience first, from media problems to organizing a campaign. Is there a current presidential candidate whose personality and record can quickly bring a political discussion to a boiling point? Nixon forced us to choose sides. Nixon, in a strange way, is still here, not just an historical figure but, in a sense, a living presence. Love him, hate him, you can’t ignore him because while his place among American presidents is open to scholarly debate, his ability to make us choose reminds us that politics is as much about passion as it is about policy.

So, what can I say about Nixon? I solved that problem when I came across two small photos. They are of importance to no one except my family, but I think they say something about Richard Nixon that many people don’t know

The first photo was taken at the 1968 convention in Miami Beach. I believe it was taken by my good friend, the late Mort Allin, a wonderful man, whose invaluable service to President Nixon is known to all of us who worked in the White House. The photo itself is dark, not a great work of art, but it does the job. In the foreground are three people, their backs turned to the camera. But in the background, ‘way back there, is Richard Nixon , looking at me. We are standing there alone. He is wearing a blue suit, and has his arms folded across his chest. He is looking into my face with interest, as one would in conversation. I have my back to the camera. I am wearing a brown plaid jacket and light pants. In my left hand I hold a black attaché case that my wife, Katherine, had given to me as a Christmas present when I was teacher.

In my interview with Jon, I explain why Nixon was talking to (or, in the photo, listening to) me. I had made a contribution to his acceptance speech and he was thanking me for what I had done. A small gesture, known only to those on the Nixon campaign staff, but a gesture that says so much about Richard Nixon, the man, not the political figure. He just wanted to say thanks, and he found time to do so.

The second photo was taken by Katherine at King Of Prussia, Pennsylvania, during the 1968 campaign. Pennsylvania, then as now, was an important campaign stop, and Nixon was there to speak at a big rally. It so happened that at the time I was living in Abington, a suburb of Philadelphia, not far from King of Prussia. Katherine met me at the rally, with our two daughters, Alison , five, and Nancy, four. Just before Nixon was about to climb the steps to the platform where he would speak, he saw Katherine holding a camera. He stopped, asked someone to stand out of the way, and Katherine snapped the photo

Nixon is on the left, just finishing signing an autograph. Next to him is Pat Nixon , looking at me. And I am holding Nancy in my right arm and Alison in my left.

Snap.

And there we are, if not forever, then at least as long as the photo lasts. Richard Nixon, caught in act of random kindness, Pat Nixon looking on. And there I am, young, smiling, happy. Nancy is looking at the camera and Alison is looking at Nixon.

Two photos, two memories. Nothing to do with geopolitics, international intrigue, domestic polices, nothing at all. Just a very important man taking the time to do something nice. My mother had a little saying: “Kindliness is always remembered”. And William Wordsworth said something similar when he wrote of:

“. . .that best portion of a good man’s life

His little nameless, unremembered acts

Of kindness and of love. . “

Unremembered? Nixon had a phenomenal memory. Yet even he could have forgotten those quickly passing moments. But I remember, I remember.

Click here for an exclusive interview with Gavin on his new memoir, Speechwright: An Insider’s Take on Political Rhetoric.

Click here to order Speechwright today.

William F. Gavin, the author of “Speechwright: An Insiders Take on Political Rhetoric” served as a speech writer to Presidents Nixon and Reagan, Senator James Buckley, and House Minority Leader Robert Michel.

No related posts.