Nixon Could Play Five Musical Instruments

Nixon was sent 200 miles away to take piano lessons with his aunt, who had attended the Indianapolis Conservatory of Music, in the eighth grade. Nixon's mother required that he practice on the family's upright piano every afternoon. Nixon could also play the saxophone, clarinet, accordion, and violin, despite never learning to read music. One of the interesting facts about Richard Nixon is he was one of the few presidents who was proficient in several musical instruments.

His musical abilities evolved into political advantages. For example, Nixon's 1963 appearance on “The Jack Paar Program,” during which he performed a song he had written, helped restore his reputation after he had lost the California governor's race the year before. He occasionally played the piano while he was president, performing “Happy Birthday” for Duke Ellington at the White House and “My Wild Irish Rose” for his wife at the Grand Ole Opry. Perhaps listening to music helped him unwind after a long day of demanding political activity.