Claim: The maiden name of Richard Nixon's wife was Ryan.
Evidence: He and his wife Pat moved to Washington in 1942 to work for the federal government.
Thelma Catherine `` Pat '' Nixon -LRB- née Ryan ; March 16 , 1912 -- June 22 , 1993 -RRB- was the wife of Richard Nixon , the 37th President of the United States , and First Lady of the United States from 1969 to 1974.