RICHARD NIXON: 1913-1994 : 400 View Big Event on Cathedral’s Big Screen

They solemnly filed into Orange County’s most famous church on Wednesday wearing business suits and T-shirts, high-heeled shoes and sneakers to watch the funeral of former President Richard Nixon on large-screen television.

About 400 people turned out at the Crystal Cathedral, including Howard and Janet Richards, of Sierra Vista, Ariz. They were vacationing in the area in their recreational vehicle when they heard that the church would air the funeral live on its massive Sony Jumbotron screen.

The Richardses, who are 62 and both voted for Nixon, said they decided to stay over in Orange County another day and watch the services at the Garden Grove church, instead of viewing it in their RV.

“I thought it was a sad day in U.S. history for the President to allow himself to be entangled in that type of affair,” Howard Richards said of the Watergate scandal.

“I think most people would have withdrawn from society, but he didn’t do that,” he said, adding that Nixon may have contributed even more to the world after he left office.

“He’ll be remembered more for his contribution to foreign affairs” than Watergate, he said.

Leo Schmock, 47, of Garden Grove chose to come to the Crystal Cathedral rather than view the funeral at work.

“The screen’s bigger,” Schmock said, “and I wanted to be able to come here by myself so I can reminisce. And I think a religious setting is appropriate.”

Schmock, who as a Long Beach police officer 20 years ago met Nixon when the President was hospitalized for phlebitis, also had viewed the casket on public display at the Nixon Library & Birthplace in Yorba Linda on Tuesday night.

“It took about seven hours, but it was worth it,” he said.

Laura Summers, 30, of Anaheim was about the age her daughter is now when Nixon resigned. Summers grew up in Yorba Linda and her daughter, Nicole, now 10, attended a preschool on the site where the Nixon library now stands.

She said she brought Nicole to the church to see the funeral on television because it was a historic event.

“I like to see anybody down that far fight their way back and die with dignity,” Laura Summers said of Nixon. “I’m a nurse and I just have a lot of respect for life.”

Nine-year-old Amber Sterbling of Garden Grove was one of about 30 youngsters from the Crystal Cathedral’s after-school day-care program watching the services.

Amber knew Nixon had died “of a stroke” and had been the 37th President; that he was 81 years old and “had two kids.”

Did she know anything about Watergate?

“No,” Amber said with a shake of the head.