Yorba Linda Moves to Declare Nixon Holiday

Yorba Linda, which once fought to be designated as the official birthplace of former President Richard M. Nixon, now wants to declare his birthday a city holiday.

“President Nixon is definitely in fashion again,” declared Yorba Linda Mayor Henry W. Wedaa, who proposed the Jan. 9 holiday for city employees.

The City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday night to request a resolution designating the holiday. In two weeks, the council will decide whether to create a new holiday or substitute Nixon’s birthday for an existing city holiday.

“I think this is a fine idea,” said Councilman Mark Schwing.

In his travels, Wedaa said, he finds that people rarely bring up the Watergate scandal that forced Nixon’s resignation in 1974. Rather, people often recognize Yorba Linda as Nixon’s birthplace and the home of the Richard M. Nixon Presidential Library, which is scheduled to be completed next year, he said.

“This often leads to many positive comments about what a great president history is showing him to be,” Wedaa said, adding that he hopes that the Nixon Library will schedule special events to coincide with the new Nixon holiday.

Yorba Linda has aggressively staked out its Nixon turf, but the road hasn’t always been smooth.

Several years ago, Yorba Linda and Whittier, where Nixon grew up, argued over which city could claim him as a native son. It was agreed that Yorba Linda would be Nixon’s birthplace, and Whittier would be Nixon’s hometown.