RICHARD NIXON: 1913-1994 : 2 Receptions Have Feel of Hollywood Premiere

“It was overpowering,” said Orange County Supervisor William G. Steiner as he emerged from the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace on Wednesday, where mourners had filed to attend two receptions after the former President’s funeral.

“I’ve never been in a room with so many world leaders,” said Steiner. “There were 42 U.S. senators and 105 congressmen. Even Bob Hope was there.”

Steiner attended the reception for 400 friends of the Nixon family, who were welcomed into the library lobby by Nixon’s daughters, Julie Eisenhower and Tricia Cox.

A second reception for 200 members of the diplomatic delegation was held simultaneously in the library’s Domestic Affairs Room, hosted by President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. The Clintons, along with the past Presidents and First Ladies attending, joined the larger reception later in the evening.

World leaders, diplomats, family and friends filed into the receptions along a roped-off, carpeted walkway as if at a Hollywood premiere. Curious onlookers, held at bay half a block away in the threatening, cold weather, strained to catch a glimpse of the parade.

The lobby was decorated with a profusion of flowers and contained a buffet of finger sandwiches, mini-quiches, chocolate-dipped strawberries, coffee and soft drinks.

Guests, glad to escape the chilly weather, entered the library shortly after the funeral ended at 5:15 p.m. After paying their respects, some began to leave within an hour.

Mary Roosevelt, widow of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s eldest son, James, said she enjoyed mingling with friends and witnessing the Clintons’ arrival at the reception.

“It was a very warm group of people who have worked together, campaigned against each other, and who all came out of a tremendous respect and affection for Richard Nixon,” she said.

Texas socialite Lynn Wyatt, with oilman husband Oscar Wyatt, left the reception describing its wall-to-wall crush as a “madhouse.” They accompanied Nellie Connally, wife of the late Texas Gov. John Connally.

Hamburger mogul Carl Karcher and wife Margaret departed, remarking that Tricia Cox had joked that she had “had Carl’s for dinner last night.”

Steiner was ebullient as he left, remarking that he’d been rubbing elbows with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, former Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger, former Vice Presidents Dan Quayle and Spiro T. Agnew, California Gov. Pete Wilson, Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan and historian Arthur Schlesinger.

Orange County Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder said she’d encountered former Housing Secretary Jack Kemp and asked him, “When are you going to run for President?” His reply: “Don’t spoil my day.”

Wieder said the mini-quiches and strawberries were particularly good. “Super event,” husband Irv Wieder added.