Richard Nixon

== Military service ==
[[File:NH 84098 Lieutenant Commander Richard Milhous Nixon, USN.jpeg|thumb|Nixon as a lieutenant commander in the [[United States Navy]], {{Circa|1945}}]]
In January 1942, the couple moved to [[Washington, D.C.]], where Nixon took a job at the [[Office of Price Administration]].{{sfn|Nixon Library, Student & Sailor}} In his political campaigns, Nixon suggested that this was his response to [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|Pearl Harbor]], but he had sought the position throughout the latter part of 1941. Both Nixon and his wife believed he was limiting his prospects by remaining in Whittier.{{sfn|Morris|pp=124–126}} He was assigned to the tire rationing division, where he was tasked with replying to correspondence. He did not enjoy the role, and four months later applied to join the [[United States Navy]].{{sfn|Kornitzer|pp=143–144}} Though he could have claimed an exemption from [[Conscription in the United States|the draft]] as a birthright Quaker, or a deferral due to his government service, Nixon nevertheless sought a commission in the Navy. His application was approved, and he was appointed a [[Lieutenant (junior grade)|lieutenant junior grade]] in the [[United States Navy Reserve|United States Naval Reserve]] on June 15, 1942.<ref name="navy.mil">{{Cite web |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/biographies-list/bios-n/nixon-richard.html |title=Naval Profiles: Richard Milhous Nixon |date=February 18, 2015 |website=Naval History and Heritage Command |publisher=U.S. Navy |access-date=March 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315133741/https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/biographies-list/bios-n/nixon-richard.html |archive-date=March 15, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{sfn|Aitken|pp=96–97}}

In October 1942, after securing a home in [[Alexandria, Virginia]], he was given his first assignment as aide to the commander of the [[Ottumwa Regional Airport#History|Naval Air Station Ottumwa]] in [[Wapello County, Iowa]] until May 1943.<ref name="navy.mil"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Official Military Personnel File for Richard M. Nixon |url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/57301209?objectPage=30 |access-date=August 21, 2022 |website=catalog.archives.gov}}</ref> Seeking more excitement, he requested sea duty; on July 2, 1943, he was assigned to [[Marine Aircraft Group 25]] and the [[South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command]] (SCAT), where he supported the [[Military logistics|logistics]] of operations in the [[Pacific Ocean theater of World War II|South Pacific theater]] during [[World War II]].{{sfn|Naval Historical Center, Commander Nixon}}{{sfn|Black|pp=58–60}}{{sfn|Armstrong|p=81}}

On October 1, 1943, Nixon was promoted to [[Lieutenant (navy)|lieutenant]].<ref name="navy.mil"/> Nixon commanded the SCAT forward detachments at [[Vella Lavella]], [[Buin, Papua New Guinea#Japan and the USA during World War II|Bougainville]], and finally at [[Nissan Island]].<ref name="navy.mil"/>{{sfn|Armstrong|p=81}} His unit prepared manifests and flight plans for [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|R4D/C-47]] operations and supervised the loading and unloading of the transport aircraft. For this service, he received a [[Commendation Medal|Navy Letter of Commendation]], awarded a Navy Commendation Ribbon, which was later updated to the [[Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal]], from his commanding officer for "meritorious and efficient performance of duty as Officer in Charge of the South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command". Upon his return to the U.S., Nixon was appointed the administrative officer of the [[Naval Air Station Alameda|Alameda Naval Air Station]] in [[Alameda, California]].

In January 1945, he was transferred to the [[Bureau of Aeronautics]] office in [[Philadelphia]], where he helped negotiate the termination of World War II contracts, and received his second letter of commendation, from the [[United States Secretary of the Navy|Secretary of the Navy]]{{sfn|Black|p=62}} for "meritorious service, tireless effort, and devotion to duty". Later, Nixon was transferred to other offices to work on contracts and finally to [[Baltimore]].{{sfn|Aitken|p=112}} On October 3, 1945, he was promoted to [[Lieutenant commander (United States)|lieutenant commander]].<ref name="navy.mil"/>{{sfn|Black|p=62}} On March 10, 1946, he was relieved of active duty.<ref name="navy.mil"/> On June 1, 1953, he was promoted to [[Commander (United States)|commander]] in the U.S. Naval Reserve, and he retired from the U.S. Naval Reserve on June 6, 1966.<ref name="navy.mil"/>

While in the Navy, Nixon became a very good [[five-card stud]] poker player, helping finance his first congressional campaign with the winnings. In a 1983 interview, he described turning down an invitation to dine with [[Charles Lindbergh]] because he was hosting a game.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/for-us-presidents-poker-is-a-main-event/2019/06/16/7a1a5e54-8fb1-11e9-b08e-cfd89bd36d4e_story.html |title=For U.S. presidents, poker is a main event |first=Norman |last=Chad |authorlink=Norman Chad |date=June 16, 2019 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/14681-men-of-action-richard-the-big-bluffer-nixon |title=Men Of Action -- Richard "The Big Bluffer" Nixon |first=Bob |last=Paijich |date=December 25, 2012 |magazine=[[Card Player]]}}</ref>