Nixon's Checkers speech
Nixon's Checkers speech, delivered during the 1952 presidential campaign, is a significant moment in American political history. Faced with allegations regarding a secret political fund, which was legal but controversial, Nixon took to national television to defend his finances and challenge his political opponents. His speech included a personal narrative about his family's finances and a heartfelt declaration regarding a dog named Checkers, a gift to his daughter. The emotional appeal of the speech resonated with viewers, leading to an unprecedented audience of fifty-five million, a record for television at the time. This moment not only solidified Nixon’s position as Dwight D. Eisenhower’s running mate but also underscored the growing influence of television in politics. Ultimately, the Checkers speech played a crucial role in saving Nixon's political career and shaping the public's perception of him. The event remains a landmark example of how media can impact political narratives and voter engagement.
Nixon's Checkers speech
The Event Nationally televised speech delivered by vice presidential candidate Richard M. Nixon
Date September 23, 1952
Richard M. Nixon’s emotional response to charges that he had misused political funds was so well received that it preserved his place on the ballot and ensured the continuation of a political career that would eventually lead him to the presidency.
During the middle of the 1952 presidential campaign, a newspaper story charged that thousands of dollars had been funneled to Nixon through a secret political fund. Although the fund was neither illegal nor particularly unusual, Nixon faced the threat of being dropped as Dwight D. Eisenhower’s running mate. He responded by defending himself on national television and in a brilliantly delivered speech gave a full accounting of his personal finances and made a stinging attack on the Democrats. He also vowed never to return a dog, named Checkers by his daughter Tricia, that had been sent to his family as a gift. Following the speech, Republicans rallied behind Nixon, and he was greeted as “my boy” by Eisenhower.
Impact
The speech attracted fifty-five million viewers—the largest audience in television history until Nixon’s 1960 debate with John F. Kennedy—and established television as a force in American politics. Moreover, it saved the political career of Nixon and possibly that of Eisenhower as well.
Bibliography
Ryan, Halford. “Senator Richard M. Nixon’s Apology for ’The Fund.’” In Oratorical Encounters: Selected Studies and Sources of Twentieth-Century Political Accusations and Apologies, edited by Halford Ryan. New York: Greenwood Press, 1988. An analysis of the rhetorical strategies used by Nixon in confronting his accusers.
Wicker, Tom. One of Us: Richard M. Nixon and the American Dream. New York: Random House, 1991. Contains a chapter on the speech as a pivotal event in Nixon’s life.