From an early age, Richard Nixon '34 dreamt of leaving his quiet hometown and attending college at an Ivy League school.
He had been a strong student and excelled in debate and public speaking in high school. Both Yale and Harvard offered him tuition scholarships, but the Nixon family was nearly bankrupt and couldn't afford to send Nixon to live on the East Coast. Instead, he stayed home and enrolled at Whittier College.
Undeterred by his thwarted Ivy League hopes, Nixon seized every opportunity at Whittier. In turn, Nixon’s impact on the campus was legendary.
At Whittier, Nixon was elected to student government, joined drama productions and the varsity debate team, played for three athletic teams, and wrote for the school newspaper, the Quaker Campus. He also co-founded the Orthogonians, one of Whittier's first societies (the College's version of Greek life).
He also helped invigorate student life. At the time, the Board of Trustees enforced a ban on school dances—a policy that Nixon opposed when he ran for student body president. Believing that it was vital for every student to be able to enjoy free or inexpensive school events, Nixon (with help from the College president) convinced the Trustees to compromise: they would fund eight dances, but off campus. He also helped coordinate an "All-College Weekend" featuring attractions and entertainment in the fall semester, unifying students and helping to brighten the difficult days amid the Great Depression.
"By applying his intellect, hard work, and determination, all of Richard Nixon's 'out of classroom' experiences would contribute to his rise towards the highest level of American politics," wrote Joe Dmohowski, a former academic librarian at Whittier College.
Lasting Influence
Nixon's life and legacy, from his undergraduate days to his presidency, are still felt by students today.
Every year, the Nixon Fellowship is awarded to a student (regardless of major) to fund a research project or internship that echoes Nixon's impact in domestic or foreign policy. As just one recent example, following Nixon's advocacy for more funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, Amy Trinh (Class of 2020) examined the federal government's critical role in encouraging better artistic design.
Students also focus on Nixon's environmental legacy with the annual EPA Action Day. In recognition of Nixon's creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, political science professor Sara Angevine mobilizes students to create mini campaigns that encourage their peers to make a difference for the environment.
“When I was designing my syllabus for this fall, I thought it would be great practice for students to learn how to mobilize and run actual campaigns,” Angevine said. “It’s important for our students to get real life experience on issues that are incredibly important."
Content is this blog post is copied and adapted from Joseph Dmohowski's article, Richard Nixon at Whittier College: The Education of a Leader. Read the full article.
