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In 1952 Richard Nixon saved himself from being dumped as Dwight Eisenhower's running mate after it was disclosed that wealthy Californians had been supplementing Nixon's Senate pay. In what came to be known as the "Checkers speech," Nixon gave an emotional defense of his actions. "We did get something, a gift, after the nomination," he told the television audience. He went on to explain that— a man down in Texas heard Pat on the radio mention the fact that our two youngsters would like to have a dog and, believe it or not, the day before we left on this campaign trip we got a message from Union Station in Washington that they had a package for us. We went down to get it. You know what it was? It was a little cocker spaniel in a crate that had been sent all the way from Texas—black and white, spotted, and our little girl Tricia, the six-year-old, named it Checkers. And you know, the kids, like all kids, loved the dog, and I just want to say this, right now, that regardless of what they say about it, we are going to keep it. . . . more... |
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