Bill to Make Nixon’s Birthplace National Historic Site Shelved

At the request of Richard M. Nixon, a bill naming the former President’s home in Yorba Linda a national historic site has been shelved, mainly because of opposition by those who “will never forgive (him),” Rep. Bill Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton), said Thursday.

Instead, a local group--with the backing of the city--decided this week to take on itself the task of refurbishing and opening Nixon’s birthplace to the public.

The Nixon bill died in a U.S. House committee when “it became very obvious” that the issue would be decided “on who loves Richard Nixon and who doesn’t,” said Rep. Bruce F. Vento (D-Minn.), who heads the subcommittee on national parks and recreation where the Nixon bill languished.

A similar bill naming a Plains, Ga., site after former President Jimmy Carter as historic became “a casualty” of the Nixon bill and also was shelved, Vento said.

The official word from the congressional Interior Committee, which oversees the parks subcommittee, is that living people are not typically honored with national historic sites.

Politics Blamed

“It’s just a matter of appropriateness. When Presidents die, they get honored,” said Bob Newman, administrative assistant to Rep. Morris K. Udall (D-Ariz.), who chairs the Interior Committee.

But Dannemeyer, Vento and Yorba Linda officials said it was politics that killed the Nixon bill.

“Some of them are still mad at Richard Nixon,” Dannemeyer said.