Death and state funeral of Richard Nixon

{{Short description|none}}
{{Infobox historical event
  |Event_Name     = State funeral of Richard Nixon
  |Image_Name     = File:President_Bill_Clinton_greets_President_Richard_Nixon.jpg
  |Imagesize      = 315px
  |Image_Caption  = [[Richard Nixon]] in 1993 with then president [[Bill Clinton]], a year before his death.
  |Participants   = [[Gerald Ford]]<br/>[[Jimmy Carter]]<br/>[[Ronald Reagan]]<br/>[[George H. W. Bush]]<br/>[[Bill Clinton]]<br/>[[Spiro Agnew]]<br/>[[Bob Dole]]<br/>[[Henry Kissinger]]<br/>[[Pete Wilson]]<br/>[[Edward Heath|Sir Edward Heath]] (former UK Prime Minister)<br/>[[Zou Jiahua]] (Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China)
  |Location       = [[Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum]], [[Yorba Linda, California]], U.S.
}}

On April 22, 1994, [[Richard Nixon]], the 37th [[president of the United States]], died after suffering a significant [[stroke]] four days earlier, at the age of 81.

His state<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/12/03/past-presidential-funerals/2189323002/ |title=From George Washington to George H.W. Bush: The history of presidential funerals |publisher=USA Today |access-date=2018-12-12 |date=2018-12-03 |author=William Cummings |archive-date=2018-12-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216003947/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/12/03/past-presidential-funerals/2189323002/ |url-status=live }}</ref> funeral followed five days later at the [[Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum]] in his hometown of [[Yorba Linda, California]]. He was the first former president to die in 21 years since [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] in [[Death of Lyndon B. Johnson|1973]], while Nixon was president.

Nixon's wife, [[Pat Nixon|Pat]], died on June 22, 1993. Just under ten months later, on April 18, 1994, Nixon had a [[Cerebrovascular disease|cerebrovascular]] accident at his home in [[Park Ridge, New Jersey]], and was taken to [[New York Hospital–Cornell Medical Center]].<ref name="stable">{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02E2DC1431F93AA25757C0A962958260|title=Nixon 'Stable' After Stroke At His Home|date=April 19, 1994|work=The New York Times|author=Perez-Pena, Richard|access-date=2008-08-14}}</ref> After an initial favorable prognosis, Nixon slipped into a deep [[coma]] and died four days later at the age of 81. His body was flown to [[Marine Corps Air Station El Toro]], [[Orange County, California]], via [[SAM 27000]], the presidential plane used as ''Air Force One'' while Nixon was in office.<ref name="nl">{{cite web |url=http://www.nixonlibraryfoundation.org/index.php?src=gendocs&link=RNfuneral |title=Funeral Services of President Nixon |publisher=Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace Foundation |access-date=2008-08-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091219074153/http://www.nixonlibraryfoundation.org/index.php?src=gendocs&link=RNfuneral |archive-date=2009-12-19 }}</ref> His body was transported to the Nixon Library and laid in repose. A public memorial service was held on April 27, attended by world dignitaries from 85 countries and all five living presidents of the United States, the first time that five U.S. presidents attended the funeral of another president.

Nixon's state funeral is unique among recent presidential state funerals in that, in accordance with his own wishes, none of the elements of the state ceremonies occurred in the nation's capital.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1994/04/28/richard-nixons-long-journey-ends/bdc8b001-20c0-4126-9616-441d361a990b/|title=Richard Nixon's Long Journey Ends|date=April 28, 1994|newspaper=The Washington Post|author=William Hamilton and Christine Spolar|access-date=2018-12-12|archive-date=2018-12-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203235526/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1994/04/28/richard-nixons-long-journey-ends/bdc8b001-20c0-4126-9616-441d361a990b/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/08/us/the-40th-president-the-plans-down-to-the-last-detail-a-reagan-style-funeral.html|title=The 40th President: The Plans; Down to the Last Detail, a Reagan Style Funeral|work=The New York Times|author=Elisabeth Bumiller and Elizabeth Becker|date=June 8, 2004|access-date=2018-12-12|archive-date=2018-12-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206021625/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/08/us/the-40th-president-the-plans-down-to-the-last-detail-a-reagan-style-funeral.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Death and tributes==
Nixon suffered a significant stroke at his [[Park Ridge, New Jersey|Park Ridge]], [[New Jersey]] home, while preparing to eat dinner on Monday, April 18, 1994, at 5:45&nbsp;p.m. EDT.<ref name="wapo">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/watergate/stories/nixobit.htm|access-date=2008-08-14|date=April 23, 1994|author=Weil, Martin and Eleanor Randolph|newspaper=The Washington Post|page=A01|title=Richard M. Nixon, 37th President, Dies|archive-date=2008-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830003955/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/watergate/stories/nixobit.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> An ambulance was called and he was taken to [[New York Presbyterian Hospital|New York Hospital–Cornell Medical Center]]. He was conscious but unable to speak, and his vision was impaired.<ref name="cb1051">Black, Conrad (2007), p. 1051</ref> It was determined that a blood clot resulting from his heart condition had formed in his left atrium (upper heart), then broke off and traveled to his brain. His condition was determined to be stable the following day,<ref name="stable"/> as he was alert but unable to speak or move his right arm and leg.<ref name="wapo"/> Nixon's prognosis was hopeful, and he was moved from the [[intensive care unit]] into a private room. His condition worsened that Tuesday night, however, complicated by symptoms of [[cerebral edema]], or swelling of the brain.<ref name="wapo"/> Nixon's [[living will]] stipulated that he was not to be placed on a [[ventilator]] to sustain his life.<ref name="wapo"/> On Thursday, April 21, Nixon quickly sank into a deep coma. The following night, he died at 9:08&nbsp;p.m., April 22, 1994. He was 81 years old.<ref name="wapo"/><ref name="cb1051"/> His daughters, [[Tricia Nixon Cox|Tricia]] and [[Julie Nixon Eisenhower|Julie]], were by his side.<ref name="wapo"/> The Vander Plaat Funeral Home in [[Wyckoff, New Jersey]] handled the funeral arrangements for President Nixon, just as they did for his late wife.

U.S. President [[Bill Clinton]] announced Nixon's death in the [[White House Rose Garden]] and proclaimed a [[national day of mourning]] five days later. Clinton stated that Nixon was "a statesman who sought to build a lasting structure of peace" and praised his "desire to give something back to this world."<ref name="wapo"/> Clinton said that he was "deeply grateful to President Nixon for his wise counsel."<ref name="wapo"/> Tributes also came from former Presidents [[Gerald Ford]], [[Jimmy Carter]], [[Ronald Reagan]] and [[George H. W. Bush]].<ref name="wapo"/> Former Secretary of State [[Henry Kissinger]], former South Dakota Senator [[George McGovern]] (who ran against Nixon in the [[1972 United States presidential election|1972 election]]), former Senator [[Howard Baker]], Senator [[Robert Dole|Bob Dole]], Senator [[John McCain]] and Senator [[Ted Kennedy]] also reflected on Nixon's death.<ref name="wapo"/>

==Events in California==

===Transportation to the Nixon Library===
Following the news of Nixon's death, tributes were placed at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in [[Yorba Linda]], [[California]], the site of his [[Richard Nixon Birthplace|birthplace]].<ref name="nl"/> On April 26, the casket was placed into [[VC-137C SAM 27000]], a member of the presidential fleet used as ''[[Air Force One]]'' while Nixon was in office, and flown to [[Marine Corps Air Station El Toro]], [[Orange County, California|Orange County]], [[California]].<ref name="nl"/> The body was transported in a [[motorcade]], by [[hearse]], to the Nixon Library.

===Lying in repose===
[[File:Presidents at the funeral of President Richard Nixon.jpg|thumb|Nixon's funeral on April 27, 1994, was attended by President [[Bill Clinton]] and First Lady [[Hillary Clinton]], accompanied by former U.S. Presidents (right to left) [[Gerald Ford]], [[Jimmy Carter]], [[Ronald Reagan]] and [[George H. W. Bush]], with [[Betty Ford]], [[Rosalynn Carter]], [[Nancy Reagan]] and [[Barbara Bush]] respectively.]]
Carried by eight military [[pallbearer]]s representing all branches of the [[United States military]], Nixon's body was placed in the library lobby and lay in repose from the afternoon of Tuesday, April 26 to the afternoon of Wednesday, April 27.<ref name="nl"/> Despite severe rain, police estimated that roughly 50,000 people waited in lines up to 18 hours to walk past the casket and pay their respects.<ref name="nl"/>

===Funeral service===
The funeral service was held on Wednesday, April 27, on the grounds of the Nixon Library. The service was attended by over 4,000 people, including family members, President [[Bill Clinton]] and his wife [[Hillary Clinton|Hillary]], former Presidents and First Ladies [[George H.W. Bush|George]] and [[Barbara Bush]], [[Ronald Reagan|Ronald]] and [[Nancy Reagan]], [[Jimmy Carter|Jimmy]] and [[Rosalynn Carter]], and [[Gerald Ford|Gerald]] and [[Betty Ford]].<ref name="nl"/> Former Vice President [[Spiro Agnew]], who served with Nixon throughout most of his presidency, also attended along with former Vice President [[Dan Quayle]]. Former First Ladies [[Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis]] and [[Lady Bird Johnson]] both did not attend due to illness (Onassis died three weeks later from non-Hodgkin lymphoma). A congressional delegation consisting of over one hundred members was present, and a foreign diplomatic corps of over two hundred.<ref name="nl"/> Other members of Nixon's administration who attended included [[Elliot Richardson]], [[James R. Schlesinger]], [[William P. Rogers]], [[James Thomas Lynn]], [[George W. Romney]], [[Alexander Haig]], [[Herbert Stein]], and [[Daniel Patrick Moynihan]]. Other guests included Nixon's opponent in the 1972 election [[George McGovern]], [[Charles Colson]], who served time in prison due to his part in the Watergate Scandal, [[Robert Abplanalp]], [[Bebe Rebozo]], and California State Assembly Speaker [[Willie Brown (politician)|Willie Brown]].<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/27/us/37th-president-dignitaries-list-overseas-guests-for-nixon-s-funeral-short.html|title = THE 37TH PRESIDENT: DIGNITARIES; List of Overseas Guests for Nixon's Funeral is Short|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 27 April 1994|last1 = Apple|first1 = R. W. Jr.|access-date = 27 December 2020|archive-date = 10 October 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161010181533/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/27/us/37th-president-dignitaries-list-overseas-guests-for-nixon-s-funeral-short.html|url-status = live}}</ref>

International guests included: 
*{{flag|United Nations}}: Secretary General of the United Nations [[Boutros Boutros-Ghali]]
*{{flag|People's Republic of China}}: Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China [[Zou Jiahua]] 
*{{flag|Russia}}: Deputy Prime Minister of Russia [[Alexander Shokhin]]
*{{flag|Canada}}: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada [[Lloyd Axworthy]]
*{{flag|United Kingdom}}: former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom [[Edward Heath]]
*{{flag|Japan}}: former Prime Minister of Japan [[Toshiki Kaifu]]
*{{Flag|Israel}}: former President of Israel [[Chaim Herzog]]

The service was officiated by the Reverend [[Billy Graham]], a friend of Richard Nixon's, who called him "one of the most misunderstood men, and I think he was one of the greatest men of the century."<ref name="wapo"/> Eulogies were delivered by Graham, [[Henry Kissinger]], Senator [[Bob Dole]], California Governor [[Pete Wilson]] and President Clinton.<ref name="nl"/> Dole could not hold back his tears at the end of his speech.<ref>{{youTube|wUQfKrt8p40|Bob Dole weeps at Nixon funeral}}</ref>

Following the service, Nixon was buried beside his wife; Pat had died on June 22, 1993. They are buried only steps away from [[Richard Nixon birthplace|Richard Nixon's birthplace]] and boyhood home.

His funeral also marked the last major public appearance of former President Ronald Reagan, whose [[Alzheimer's disease]] was announced in November later that year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-07-11 |title=The American Experience {{!}} Reagan {{!}} Book Excerpt {{!}} Lou Cannon |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/reagan/sfeature/excerptcannon.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030711112601/https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/reagan/sfeature/excerptcannon.html |archive-date=2003-07-11 |access-date=2022-09-14 |website=PBS}}</ref> Reagan would become the next former president to die, ten years later, [[Death and state funeral of Ronald Reagan|on June 5, 2004]].

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book |last=Black |first=Conrad |year=2007 |title=Richard M. Nixon: A Life in Full |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781586485191 |url-access=registration |location=New York |publisher=Public Affairs |isbn=978-1-58648-674-7 |oclc=154699029}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category inline|Death and funeral of Richard Nixon}}

{{Richard Nixon}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nixon, Richard, Death and state funeral of}}
[[Category:Richard Nixon]]
[[Category:Deaths by person in New York City]]
[[Category:State funerals in the United States]]
[[Category:1994 in the United States]]
[[Category:Burials in the United States]]
[[Category:Deaths and funerals of United States presidents]]
[[Category:April 1994 events in the United States]]