Richard and Pat Nixon

Although Pat Nixon always supported the political ambitions of her husband, Richard, she was essentially a private person who much preferred the quiet calm of home and family to the public visibility and vicious politicking that came with being a political wife. She was beloved by the press for her warmth and friendliness as a foil to her husband’s famous gruffness and acerbity, and was featured prominently in his political campaigns. By the time she became first lady, however, Pat was pointedly disillusioned with politics and the attitudes of Richard Nixon and his staff kept her from pursuing ambitious projects like those of her highly-active predecessors. She spent a great deal of time travelling, escaping the cutthroat West-Wing to present a kindly face for her husband’s controversial policies.