Richard Nixon

=== College and law school ===
Nixon was offered a tuition grant to attend [[Harvard University]], but with Harold's continued illness requiring his mother's care, Richard was needed at the store. He remained in his hometown, and enrolled at [[Whittier College]] in September 1930. His expenses at Whittier College were met by his maternal grandfather.<ref name="archives"/>{{sfn|Black|pp=23–24}} Nixon played for the basketball team; he also tried out for football, and though he lacked the size to play, he remained on the team as a substitute and was noted for his enthusiasm.{{sfn|Gellman|p=15}} Instead of fraternities and sororities, Whittier had literary societies. Nixon was snubbed by the only one for men, the Franklins, many of whom were from prominent families, unlike Nixon. He responded by helping to found a new society, the Orthogonian Society.{{sfn|Black|pp=24–25}} In addition to the society, his studies, and work at the store, Nixon engaged in several extracurricular activities; he was a champion debater and hard worker.{{sfn|Ambrose|1987|p=61}} In 1933, he was engaged to Ola Florence Welch, daughter of the Whittier police chief, but they broke up in 1935.{{sfn|Aitken|pp=58–63}}

After graduating ''[[Latin honors#North America|summa cum laude]]'' with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in [[history]] from Whittier in 1934, Nixon was accepted at the new [[Duke University School of Law]],{{sfn|Nixon Library, Student & Sailor}}<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Whittier College]]|access-date=March 29, 2024|title=Richard M. Nixon's '34 100th birthday celebrated|date=January 9, 2013|url=https://www.whittier.edu/news/richard-nixon-100th-birthday}}</ref> which offered scholarships to top students, including Nixon.{{sfn|Ambrose|1987|pp=33–34}} It paid high salaries to its professors, many of whom had national or international reputations.{{sfn|Aitken|p=67}} The number of scholarships was greatly reduced for second- and third-year students, creating intense competition.{{sfn|Ambrose|1987|pp=33–34}} Nixon kept his scholarship, was elected president of the Duke Bar Association,{{sfn|Parmet|p=81}} inducted into the [[Order of the Coif]],{{sfn|Nixon Library, Family Collection Guide}} and graduated third in his class in June 1937.{{sfn|Nixon Library, Student & Sailor}}