Voices : Excerpts of Eulogies for Pat Nixon

Pat Nixon projected a genuineness and kindliness that were real and reflected her own inner feelings. And if Richard Nixon is the most traveled public figure of all time, Pat Nixon must be a close runner-up. When I met her in 1962, she had already been to all 50 states and more than 54 nations. Everywhere that she went . . . she practiced her own very personal brand of diplomacy.

In good times and bad she used her strengths to protect that which she prized above all else, her family. It was obvious to everyone, even the most casual observers, that she loved her family deeply.

I’ve heard the story of one very special night in the White House. It was the celebration of Duke Ellington’s 70th birthday and the Nixons were entertaining a virtual Who’s Who of American jazz. . . . After the evening’s performers had played tributes to Ellington, President Nixon asked for one more song from the evening’s honoree, the grand old man of American jazz. President Nixon escorted the Duke to the piano and the room was hushed as Ellington sat there for a moment in silence, then he said he would improvise a melody. He said, ‘I shall pick a name gentle, graceful, something like Patricia.’ Then the Duke played a lovely soft melody. President Nixon recounted the melody was lyrical, delicate, and beautiful, just like Pat. The song may be over, but that lyrical and beautiful melody called Patricia lingers on today, in the memory of Pat Nixon and all she meant to her family and her country is a legacy we shall always cherish.

--California Gov. Pete Wilson

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(After four years as Pat Nixon’s aide) we were friends and I thought I knew her well. But on the 1958 goodwill trip to South America, our last stop was Caracas. I knew she was tough, but Caracas convinced me that her courage knew no bounds.

The rioting mob that welcomed us had been whipped into a frenzy by their “student” leaders--students in their middle age! Our past brushes with demonstrators and even my combat duty in Korea had not prepared me for the hate and unrelenting fury that was unleased on us.

It was humiliating, infuriating and terrifying! With the foreign minister’s wife, Pat moved slowly and calmly toward the cars while the crowd roared insults and the spit rained down.

During the motorcade she comforted the foreign minister’s wife, who was close to hysterics. We talked quietly, but I can’t remember anything we said except that she asked frequently if the Vice President was all right. I reassured her as best I could with crossed fingers!

Throughout the ride I never saw her flinch when the car was hit with various missiles and clubs. She remained totally composed and that, alone, made it easier for me and the Secret Service. Upon reaching the embassy residence she quickly freshened up and began to talk with the Vice President about our situation. Her principal concern was to get word to Tricia and Julie that they were all right.

We left Caracas the next day through a tear gas mist--with an overabundance of military protection that was noticeably absent the day before.

But we left in the Nixon style with heads up and all flags flying!

In later years she did not lose this touch. She was at home visiting leper colonies or riding in an open-door helicopter to visit combat troops in Vietnam.

--James D. Hughes, retired lieutenant general

*

When the doors of this beautiful library and museum were opened to the public three years ago, Mr. President, you told a story which bears repeating today.

You recalled a campaign stop you once made in Kansas. My predecessor, Sen. Frank Carlson, told you with typical Kansas bluntness: “Dick, you’re controversial, but everybody loves Pat.”

The outpouring of affection and admiration from across America and around the world over the past few days has underscored the truth of those words. Everybody did love Pat.

They loved her for her grace. For her grit. For her heart. For her steadfastness to her family. They loved her because they knew she cared.

Washington, D.C., is a town where the monuments are tall, and the egos even taller. Every once in a while, however, there comes along a rare spirit like Pat, who dispels the cynicism and reminds us that compassion need not be legislated, it need only be felt--and then expressed: by hugging a child, comforting a victim of a natural disaster, or just personally answering a letter from one of the countless real people who turn to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. when all other avenues seem closed.

In an age saturated with the false values or celebrity, Pat Nixon was as genuine as those signatures she insisted on signing on her letters.

She would stand in a receiving line for hours, aware that for her guests, this might be their only White House evening. As a friend of hers told me this week, “Pat treated everyone like a head of state.”

--Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.)

*

I have admired Mrs. Nixon, especially as a mother and grandmother. Any of you who know the Nixon daughters, and admire the fine ladies that they are, women of kindness and grace, can appreciate Mrs. Nixon’s devotion to her family. The girls grew up knowing that they were the most important priorities in both of their parents’ busy lives. The love, devotion, respect, pride and loyalty each member of the family feels for the other is beautiful.

As a grandmother, Mrs. Nixon had a special relationship with each grandchild which she tailored to their unique personalities. I enjoyed watching her spend seemingly endless hours playing imaginary games with her granddaughters, Jennie and Melanie Eisenhower, when they were younger. Jennie used to love to play shoe store clerk and Mrs. Nixon was incredibly patient, playing the role of customer, even allowing Jennie to dump every shoe out of her closet, and trying on pair after pair for Jennie. Melanie enjoyed playing waitress. One evening when I was visiting, Melanie not only took dinner orders but served the dinner while both grandparents played the role of appreciative restaurant patrons. Grandson Christopher Cox spent countless hours with his grandmother and shared her love of the outdoors and of dogs. And Alex Eisenhower had an enthusiastic grandmother rooting for him at many of his baseball games.

--Cynthia Milligan