A Dog Helped Save Richard Nixon's Political Career

The political path of Nixon had some difficulties. Early on, Nixon was beset by controversy. After reports that Nixon was profiting from a trust fund filled by his supporters to help cover his political and personal costs surfaced in 1952, Dwight D. Eisenhower contemplated replacing Nixon as his vice-presidential running partner. Nixon skillfully inserted a story about his 6-year-old daughter falling in love with a cocker spaniel named Checkers that had been “donated” by a campaign donor when he addressed the matter on radio and television. The popular opinion changed, and he was kept on the ballot because they thought that a man who liked dogs couldn't be all evil. So, one of the interesting facts about Richard Nixon is a dog helped save his political career, although it was for a short period.

As Nixon later recalled, “it was dubbed the 'Checkers speech,' as though the mention of my dog was the sole thing that saved my career.” “Many of the detractors glossed over the fact that the fund was fully disclosed, my financial situation was openly discussed, and an admittedly sentimental but sincere request was made for public support.”