Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-27

4
fellow Californian. Senate Re-
publican Leader Knowland.
During his first House term he
also served on the Labor COM
lmittee and helped draft the Taft
Hartley Act. But Mr.. Nixon later
advocated changes in the labor
law ito meet legitimate ohjec-
Itions" to 1t,
At the Republican convention
in 1852. Mr.. Nixon was the vice
presidential choice Of most Of
the party leaders who supported
Mr.. Eisenhower for the presi-
ldential nomination. He was
nominated without opposition,
He was 80 at the time. and one
of the youngest ever to receive
| the nomination.
Lodge Cites Record
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge,
ljr.. the Eisenhower campaign
manager. pointed to the chief
reason for Mr.. Nixon's selection
as the vice presidential nominee.
He said:
HE has done as much to rid
this country OF Communists as
any man ! knew"
But the ambitious and de-
ltermined Mr.. Nixon had no easy
road to the Nations second
highest elective Office. His po-
litical career almost came to an
END more spectacularly than 1t
had begun.
At the height OF the 1852
campaign it was disclosed that
Mr.. Nixon had accepted a pri-
vately-raised expense fund while
serving as Senator.
The fund amounted to $l8,-
235 over a two-year period. and
was contributed by rs prom
lipent Californians. including
Herbert Hoover, jr.. son of the
former President. to help pay
Senator Nixon's Office expenses.
The vice presidential candidate
said there was nothing secret
about the fund and he made
public the names of contributors.
Democrats demanded that Mr..
Nixon withdraw from the race
ion the grounds that his accep-
Itance of the private funds was
morally wrong" There was
criticism. too. from some Repub-
Ilicans who felt that Mr.. Nixon's
presence on the ticket might re-
suit in a Democratic victory. For
ia while it seemed to be touch
Iand-go as to whether the youth
full candidate would be forced to
quit the race.
Denied Charge
. Mr.. Nixon denied any wrong
doing or unethical practice in
accepting the money which he
said was used entirely for polit-
ical expenses. He added that
none of the contributors had
either asked or received favors
from him. He said the fund orig
mated 'tin an earnest and ln-I
selfish desire on the part of the
contributors to support my fight
against communism and corrup-
ton in Government. "
Fighting desperately for his
political lie. Mr.. Nixon took his
Case to the country in d RADIO
televisio1 broadcast that cost
the aRepublican National Com
mittee $4,000.
With his wife. Patricia, seated
nearby. Mr.. Nixon told his view
ers he was the victim OF smear
and misunderstanding. He went
into his personal financial af-
fairs thoroughly and listed his
debts.
Mr.. Nixon submitted his politi-
cal fate to the @. O. p. National
Committee and said he would
abide by its decision.
Il don't think ought to quit
because ! am not a gutter" he
told the Nationwide audience.
After listening to the speech,
Mr.. Eisenhower referred to Mr..
Nixon as a brave and courage
Gus man. National Committee
members backed their vice pres
idential candidate solidly.
Completely INDICATED
Mr.. Eisenhower and Mr.. Nixon
met face-to-face the night fol-
lowing the broadcast and shortly
Iafterward Mr.. Eisenhower said
his running mate had been
completely vindicated."
He is not only indicated
completely as a man of honor
but as far as I am concerned
he stands higher than ever be-
fore" Mr.. Eisenhower said. He
added that Mr.. Nixon had been
subjected to an unfair and vi
Icious attack"
Mr.. Nixon was born January
10. 1918. in Yorba. Calf, a small
citrus center near Los Angeles.
His father. q native Of Ohio, had
gone west in 1906. The elder
Nixon worked as q Los Angeles
streetcar motorman, a citrus
grower and finally as the opera
tor Of a general store and filling
station at Whittier. The Vice
Presidents mother, the former
Hannah Milhous. was born in
Indiana.
The Nixons were Of hard
working Quaker stock. Besides
Richard. there were four other
sons, two Of whom died at early
ages.
Vice President Nixon's grand
Il REAnEY