Milford chronicle., 1952-10-24
IRISH QUAKER
BACKGROUND
HELPS NIXON
BY MORRIE LANDSBERG
AP NeWsfeatures

o6ACAsfAAAL41N i ". CdllI. - Anyone
who wondered why in the world the
Republicans picked Sen. Richard
Nixon, a political novice, as Gen.
Dwight d. EisenhOwer's running
mate got the answer during the
opening phases of the election
campaign.
Only 80, he had climbed upward
with breathtaking speed, as politi-
cal records go. His record: two
terms in the house and his first
year and a half in the Senate.
Then NixOn's almost single-hand-
ed party victory in the cOmmOtiOn
over his $18,235 expense fund WV
idly pointed up two of his chief
qualities.
He is a quiet, stubborn fighter
a combination Of the Irish and the
Quaker in him.
He has an air of complete sin
cerity which projects to his listen
ers.
Nixon was tapped to be Eisen-
hOwers election partner to typify
active Republican distaste for Com
munism.
NixOn's official biography makes
point of saying he is no reaction
airy. His voting record places him
with the internatiOnalists on for
eign policy.
He was largely instrumental, as
a member of the house committee
on un-American activities, in crack
ing the Alger Hiss case.
Nixon has since expressed a
growing concern over a Communist
fifth column i'm this country. But,
he said in a recent speech, "We
must maintain a balance between
security and freedom" He adVOeat-
ed that witnesses before Congress.
siOnal committees should be allow
ed counsel and the right to tell
their story in any statement they
desire to make.
He got his political start some
what hectically.
In 1945, a citizens committee of
100 small businessmen, housewives,
professional men and farmers pub
lished a call for new blood to run
against Rep. Jerry VOOrhis.
At the last moment and at the
urging of a family friend, Nixon
flew from Maryland, where he was
sweating out his Navy discharge,
for a 10-minute interview at the
last of the committees hearings.
Nixon was accepted He unxeated
VOOrhis in 1916: won both Republi-
can and Democratic nominations in
the 1948 primary, under CalifOrnia's s
crOssfiling system; and went on to
defeat Rep. Helen Gahagan Doug
las, once of the New York stage,
who campaigned as a 100 per cent
New Dealer.
This victory, in a state which
registered Democratic 2 to /,
coupled with his role in the Hiss
case, were enough to set him apart.
Republican leaders decided to keep
an eye on him.
Nixon was born in Yorba Linda,
Calf, Jan. 9, 1913 His is a middle
class backgrOund-hi Quaker par
ents operated a citrus ranch for q
while and later entered the grocery
business in Whittier, Calf
At Whittier College, Nixon got on
the football team-but, he recalls,
never played. Debating was his
true line.
In his election stumping, Nixon
seldom uses a prepared speech, not
that he needs one. He has an in
formal, fOlksy delivery and he can
charm audiences. lie can tell a
humorous anecdOte one minute,
then lower his voice and read a
touching letter he has received
or suddenly sharpen mis- voice,
pump his arms and deliver an an
cry blow at the opposition.
He practiced law ir Whittier five
years before joining the Navy in
August 1912. A lieutenant COM
mander, he served as an aviation
ground officer in the South Pacif-
ic-at BOugainville, Vella Lavella
and the Green Islands. He received
two battle stars and two cOmmen-
dations-bUt he says, 81 was just
there when the bombs were fall
fuoU