In celebration of Pat Nixon’s 111th birthday March 16, the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, California hosted the late first lady with cake, free admission, and a talk with Nixon’s life-long friend, Maureen Nunn, who portrayed the first lady in her signature nylon blazer topped off with a customized wig.
The celebration was part of the museum’s day of fun “with a purpose,” wherein local nonprofits—of which Nixon supported—were present to recruit volunteers including the Pat Nixon Republican Women Federated, Guide Dogs of America, Girl Scouts of America, and others.
Onstage in the museum’s chandelier-lit East Room replica, Nunn re-lived some of Nixon’s most intimate life events, including how she came to date and marry the late president.
“The first time I met [President Nixon], he opened the door for me and said ‘you may not know this, but someday, I’m going to marry you,’” Nunn said during her portrayal.
Nunn continued on, describing Pat Nixon’s initial reluctance and eventual marriage to the 37th president.
Attendees were allowed to interact with Nixon, as portrayed, asking her questions including her reaction to the 1972 Watergate scandal, which led to her husband’s resignation.
“My husband didn’t authorize that break-in. So when he found out about it, he tried to protect the people who had [orchestrated Watergate],” the actress said.
It was later revealed that Nixon led a cover-up regarding the scandal and he left office before he could be impeached.
She also recalled Pat Nixon’s difficult beginnings of being orphaned as a teenager, as well as her rise to fame alongside her husband and their legacy while in office.
The actress also recalled the first lady’s pivotal role in U.S. government relations with China as the first presidential family to visit the country.
She said the visit, which happened amid Cold War tensions, played a “major role” in improving relations between the two countries and even resulted in Pandas making their first appearance at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. after her humorous conversation with former Chinese premier Zhou Enlai.
“I’ll give you some [pandas],” the actress said Enlai told Pat Nixon after she conveyed her admiration of the animals following a visit to the Beijing Zoo.
Other festivities included a wreath-laying ceremony during which a local Girl Scouts troop laid rose garlands on Pat and Richard Nixon’s grave, which reside on the museum grounds beside the former president’s childhood home.
The former first lady was also honored March 16th when officials dedicated a 2-mile stretch of the 91 Freeway—in Cerritos, her hometown—in her name, as well as a park.
