Donald Nixon
Encyclopedia
Francis Donald Nixon was a brother of United States President
, Richard Nixon
.
He was the third of five children:
He married Clara Jane Lemke and had two sons (Richard C. Nixon) and Donald A. Nixon
, and a daughter (Lawrene Mae Nixon Anfinson).
In January 1957 Howard Hughes
lent Donald Nixon $205,000 to bail out his "Nixon's" drive-in restaurant in Whittier, California
. The restaurant went bankrupt
less than a year later. Questions about whether this was a political favor dogged Richard Nixon during his campaign for president and later when he sought the governorship of California.
He never lived it down and one of the many speculated motives for the 1972 Watergate burglary
that ultimately led to Richard Nixon's resignation was a desire to find proof that the then-Democratic National Committee
chairman Larry O'Brien
was also secretly working for Hughes. John H. Meier
, one of Hughes's former business advisers, in collaboration with former Vice President Hubert Humphrey
and others, was using Donald Nixon to feed misinformation to his brother the President. Meier told Donald that he was sure the Democrats would win the election since they had a lot of information on Richard Nixon's illicit dealings with Howard Hughes that had never been released, and that Larry O'Brien had the information (O'Brien didn't actually have any documents but Meier wanted Richard Nixon to think he did). Donald then called his brother and told him that Meier gave the Democrats all the Hughes information that could destroy him (Richard Nixon) and that O'Brien has it.
In 1973 financier, Robert Vesco
, fled the United States hoping to avoid prosecution on charges of embezzlement
. Shortly before his departure, in hopes of shutting off the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
investigation into his activities, Vesco routed substantial political contributions to President Richard Nixon through Donald Nixon Jr., Donald Nixon's son.
In 1974 the staff of the Senate
Watergate committee disclosed additional information to support the charge that Charles Rebozo
gave or lent part of a $100,000 campaign contribution to President Nixon's personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods
, and to Nixon's brothers, Donald and Edward Nixon
.
Donald Nixon was portrayed by Sean Stone in the 1995 Oliver Stone
film, Nixon
.
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
.
- Harold NixonHarold NixonHarold Samuel Nixon was a brother of United States President Richard Nixon, the eldest of five children:*Harold Nixon*Richard Nixon *Donald Nixon...
(June 1, 1909 – March 7, 1933) - Richard NixonRichard NixonRichard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
(January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) - Donald Nixon
- Arthur NixonArthur NixonArthur Burdg Nixon was a brother of President Richard Nixon.He was the fourth of five children:*Harold Nixon *Richard Nixon...
(May 26, 1918 – August 10, 1925) - Edward NixonEdward NixonEdward Calvert Nixon is an American entrepreneur and the youngest and last surviving brother of former United States President Richard Nixon. He coauthored his memoir, The Nixons: A Family Portrait, with Karen L. Olson. The book was published in 2009.-Early life:Born in Whittier, California,...
(May 3, 1930)
He married Clara Jane Lemke and had two sons (Richard C. Nixon) and Donald A. Nixon
Donald A. Nixon
Donald A. Nixon, Jr. is the son of President Richard Nixon’s brother, F. Donald Nixon.Donald Nixon, Jr., grew up in Southern California as the nephew of President Richard Nixon. He attended college and later served in the Vietnam War...
, and a daughter (Lawrene Mae Nixon Anfinson).
In January 1957 Howard Hughes
Howard Hughes
Howard Robard Hughes, Jr. was an American business magnate, investor, aviator, engineer, film producer, director, and philanthropist. He was one of the wealthiest people in the world...
lent Donald Nixon $205,000 to bail out his "Nixon's" drive-in restaurant in Whittier, California
Whittier, California
Whittier is a city in Los Angeles County, California about southeast of Los Angeles. The city had a population of 85,331 at the 2010 census, up from 83,680 as of the 2000 census, and encompasses 14.7 square miles . Like nearby Montebello, the city constitutes part of the Gateway Cities...
. The restaurant went bankrupt
Bankruptcy in the United States
Bankruptcy in the United States is governed under the United States Constitution which authorizes Congress to enact "uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States." Congress has exercised this authority several times since 1801, most recently by adopting the Bankruptcy...
less than a year later. Questions about whether this was a political favor dogged Richard Nixon during his campaign for president and later when he sought the governorship of California.
He never lived it down and one of the many speculated motives for the 1972 Watergate burglary
Watergate scandal
The Watergate scandal was a political scandal during the 1970s in the United States resulting from the break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., and the Nixon administration's attempted cover-up of its involvement...
that ultimately led to Richard Nixon's resignation was a desire to find proof that the then-Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
chairman Larry O'Brien
Larry O'Brien
Lawrence Francis "Larry" O'Brien, Jr. was one of the United States Democratic Party's leading electoral strategists when, for more than two decades, he helped reshape American politics...
was also secretly working for Hughes. John H. Meier
John H. Meier
John H. Meier is an American financier and business consultant now living in Vancouver, Canada. He is noted for working as a business adviser for Howard Hughes and for his behind-the-scenes involvement in events that precipitated President Richard M. Nixon's resignation...
, one of Hughes's former business advisers, in collaboration with former Vice President Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr. , served under President Lyndon B. Johnson as the 38th Vice President of the United States. Humphrey twice served as a United States Senator from Minnesota, and served as Democratic Majority Whip. He was a founder of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and...
and others, was using Donald Nixon to feed misinformation to his brother the President. Meier told Donald that he was sure the Democrats would win the election since they had a lot of information on Richard Nixon's illicit dealings with Howard Hughes that had never been released, and that Larry O'Brien had the information (O'Brien didn't actually have any documents but Meier wanted Richard Nixon to think he did). Donald then called his brother and told him that Meier gave the Democrats all the Hughes information that could destroy him (Richard Nixon) and that O'Brien has it.
In 1973 financier, Robert Vesco
Robert Vesco
Robert Lee Vesco was a fugitive United States financier. After several years of high stakes investments and seedy credit dealings, Vesco was alleged guilty of securities fraud. He immediately fled the ensuing U.S...
, fled the United States hoping to avoid prosecution on charges of embezzlement
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
. Shortly before his departure, in hopes of shutting off the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
United States Securities and Exchange Commission
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is a federal agency which holds primary responsibility for enforcing the federal securities laws and regulating the securities industry, the nation's stock and options exchanges, and other electronic securities markets in the United States...
investigation into his activities, Vesco routed substantial political contributions to President Richard Nixon through Donald Nixon Jr., Donald Nixon's son.
In 1974 the staff of the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Watergate committee disclosed additional information to support the charge that Charles Rebozo
Charles Rebozo
Charles Gregory "Bebe" Rebozo was a Florida banker who became famous for being a friend and confidant of President Richard Nixon...
gave or lent part of a $100,000 campaign contribution to President Nixon's personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods
Rose Mary Woods
Rose Mary Woods was Richard Nixon's secretary from his days in the Congress in 1951, through his Vice Presidency, Presidency, and until the end of his political career. Before H.R...
, and to Nixon's brothers, Donald and Edward Nixon
Edward Nixon
Edward Calvert Nixon is an American entrepreneur and the youngest and last surviving brother of former United States President Richard Nixon. He coauthored his memoir, The Nixons: A Family Portrait, with Karen L. Olson. The book was published in 2009.-Early life:Born in Whittier, California,...
.
Donald Nixon was portrayed by Sean Stone in the 1995 Oliver Stone
Oliver Stone
William Oliver Stone is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Stone became well known in the late 1980s and the early 1990s for directing a series of films about the Vietnam War, for which he had previously participated as an infantry soldier. His work frequently focuses on...
film, Nixon
Nixon (film)
Nixon is a 1995 American biographical film directed by Oliver Stone for Cinergi Pictures that tells the story of the political and personal life of former US President Richard Nixon, played by Anthony Hopkins....
.
External links
- Nixon Fun Facts via Nixon Foundation