Wikipedia:Today's featured article/October 13, 2008



Pat Nixon (1912–1993) was the wife of Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States, and served as First Lady of the United States from 1969 to 1974. Born in Nevada, Pat Ryan grew up in Los Angeles, California. In 1940, she married lawyer Richard Nixon; they had two daughters. Richard Nixon was soon elected Vice President under Dwight D. Eisenhower, whereupon his wife Pat undertook many missions of goodwill with her husband. She assisted him both in his unsuccessful 1960 presidential campaign, and later his successful campaign of 1968. As First Lady, Pat Nixon promoted a number of charitable causes, including volunteerism. She oversaw the collection of more than 600 pieces of historic art and furnishings for the White House, an acquisition larger than that of any other administration. Pat became the most traveled First Lady in U.S. history up to that time, visiting about 80 nations; she was the first First Lady to enter a combat zone. These trips gained her favorable reception in the media and the host countries. Her tenure ended when, after being re-elected in a landslide victory in 1972, President Nixon resigned two years later amid the Watergate scandal. Her public appearances became less frequent in her later life. She and her husband returned to California, and later moved to New Jersey. (more...)

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