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Historical records matching Julie Eisenhower
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About Julie Eisenhower
Julie Nixon-Eisenhower (born July 5, 1948) is the second daughter of Richard Nixon. In 1968, she married David Eisenhower, grand-son of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. While her father served as President, she wrote several books and worked as Assistant Managing Editor of the Saturday Evening Post. Since her father left the White House in 1974, she has written a few more books and works to support her parents' legacy.
Early life
Julie Nixon was born while her father, Richard Nixon was a Congressman. Much of her childhood coincided with her father's service as Dwight Eisenhower's Vice-President (1953-61). As a teenager she attended the private Sidwell Friends School in Washington along with her sister, Tricia. Julie left school in 1961, after her father lost his presidential bid in 1960, and the family returned to California where her father ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1962. The Nixons moved to New York after the gubernatorial race, and Julie attended Smith College after her graduation from high school and received a master's degree from Catholic University in 1972.
Marriage
On December 22, 1968, after her father was elected president but before he took office, Julie married David Eisenhower, grandson of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The couple had known each other since meeting at the 1956 Republican National Convention. The Reverend Norman Vincent Peale officiated in the non-denominational rite at the Marble Collegiate Church in New York City.
The Eisenhowers have three children:
Jennie Elizabeth (b. San Clemente, Orange County, California, August 15, 1978), an actress[1]
Alexander Richard (b. 1980)
Melanie Catherine (b. 1984)
First daughter
While her father served as President after his election in 1968, Julie became active at the White House becoming spokesperson for children's issues, the environment, and the elderly. She gave tours to disabled children, filled in for her mother at events, and took an active interest in foreign policy. From 1973-75, she served as Assistant Managing Editor of the Saturday Evening Post and helped establish a book division for Curtis Publishing Co., its parent corporation. It was during this time that Julie wrote the book Eye On Nixon. It was a book full of photographs of her father.
Once she appeared on The Mike Douglas Show in 1970, and Mike asked her what she thought about the new fad called "streaking," where someone runs naked in public. She responded, "I don't know how they can come off like that!" which was a double entendre that had left the whole studio laughing.[citation needed]
Watergate
Further information: Watergate scandal
After the news of the Watergate break-in and suspicions that it might reach as high as the oval office began to mount, Julie took on the press at home and abroad. Her defense of her father caused people to wonder why her mother wasn't saying anything about the scandal. Journalist Nora Ephron wrote, "In the months since the Watergate hearings began, she [Julie] has become her father's ... First Lady in practice if not in fact."[2]
Julie's public defense of her father began at Walt Disney World on May 2, 1973. She gave a total of 138 interviews across the country. In the summer of 1973, she and David went to London where Julie appeared on the BBC.[2] On July 4, 1973, she told two reporters that her father had considered resigning over Watergate, but that the family had talked him out of it.[2] On May 7, 1974, Julie and David met with the press in the East Garden of the White House. She announced that the President planned "...to take this constitutionally down to the wire."[2] Just before noon on August 9, 1974, Julie stood behind her father while he gave his goodbye speech to the White House staff. She would later say it was the hardest moment for him.[2]
Life after the White House
Julie and David settled in Devon, Pennsylvania, where she completed several books, including Pat Nixon: The Untold Story, a biography of her mother. She has an extensive record of community service in the Philadelphia area and is co-chair of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Birthplace Foundation.
Despite her and her husband's and father's Republican background and relationships to presidents Richard Nixon and Dwight D. Eisenhower, Julie Nixon Eisenhower supported Democrat Barack Obama for President in 2008. According to Federal Election Commission records, she made the maximum contribution of $2,300 to the Obama campaign during the 2008 primary season.[3]
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Julie Eisenhower's Timeline
| 1948 |
July 5, 1948
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Washington, DC, United States
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