The two photos above show the Richard and Pat Nixon at Knott's Berry Farm on Aug. 16, 1968. (The top image was taken inside the Chicken Dinner Restaurant.) In fact, all of the images in today's post show Nixon at Knott's. This is a direct response to Daveland's recent "Nixon Family & Disneyland" series, which I really enjoyed. Here are links to each post in that series: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, and Part 7.
The photo above shows Walter Knott and Vice President Richard Nixon at the "Pan for Gold" attraction in 1959. The photo below was taken at a Nixon rally at Knott's Berry Farm a year later. Note the lineup of Nixons and Knotts. 
The last photo, below, shows's Nixon in Fall of 1962, at a political rally held by Japanese Americans in Knott's Wagon Camp. The Wagon Camp is now used for the park's stunt show.
In related news, the Register recently ran an article about yet another Nixon/O.C. story. It seems the famous Frost-Nixon discussions (now the subject of a major movie), took took place in the home of Harold and Martha Smith in the Monarch Beach area of Dana Point. .
Nixon's younger brother, Ed, has a new book out, The Nixons: A Family Portrait. It should be interesting to get his take on growing up with the future president in rural Orange County. Ed Nixon also gave a talk at the Nixon Library & Birthplace on Presidents Day.
.
Nixon's younger brother, Ed, has a new book out, The Nixons: A Family Portrait. It should be interesting to get his take on growing up with the future president in rural Orange County. Ed Nixon also gave a talk at the Nixon Library & Birthplace on Presidents Day.
.
And although I'm late getting to this news, I should also report that John H. Taylor, President Nixon's former chief of staff and executive director of the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace Foundation since 1990, left in February to serve full time as vicar of St. John Chrysostom Episcopal Church and School in Rancho Santa Margarita. Taylor played a critical role in building what is truly an impressive museum and research facility.
Excellent follow-up; great to see what the Nixons were doing over at Knotts!
ReplyDeleteI'll see if I can dig up the 'invites' to a few of these occasions. They're around here someplace...
ReplyDeleteChris, perhaps you have copies as well?
Dear Chris:
ReplyDeleteThanks for the gracious mention and fascinating post about Knotts.
Blessings.
John Taylor
http://episconixonian.blogspot.com/2009/03/knixons-at-knotts.html
Great photos! I enjoyed the Nixons at Disneyland series as well and am even more excited to see them at Knott's. It was a pleasure meeting you at the open house last weekend. I look forward to seeing more from the Knott's collection. Thank you so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI was there that day in 1968 & shook his very soft hand...
ReplyDelete