Yorba Linda History


Historic Documents

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close this bookRichard Nixon Collection
View the documentRichard Nixon is Winning Orator
Yorba Linda Star March 29 1929 page 1
View the documentCongressman Tells Y. L. Audience How Communist Spy Ring Works
Yorba Linda Star October 8 1948 page 1
View the documentYorba Linda Does Her Little Part in Electing Favorite Son
Yorba Linda Star November 10 1950 page 1
View the documentYorba Linda Signally Honored by Visit of Favorite Son
Yorba Linda Star October 31 1952 page 1
View the documentResponsibility of Government Passes into Republican Hands as Voters Approve Ike and Dick
Yorba Linda Star November 10 1952 page 1
View the documentVice-President's Visit to Yorba Linda Enjoyed by Large Crowd
Yorba Linda Star November 4 1954 page 1
View the documentMany Yorba Lindans, Many Guests Pay Tribute to the Vice President
Yorba Linda Star January 15 1959 page 1
View the documentBig day for Yorba Lindans when the vice-president visits
Yorba Linda Star June 18 1959 page 1
View the documentYorba Linda leads nation with first “Nixon for President” Club
Yorba Linda Star September 3 1959 page 1
View the documentHome town gives Nixon big vote
Yorba Linda Star November 10 1960 page 1
View the documentBrown elected; Rafferty wins
Yorba Linda Star November 14 1962 page 1
View the documentCity Jubilant over Nixon victory
1968 page 1
View the documentForm committee to preserve Nixon birthplace
Yorba Linda Star November 20 1968
View the documentNorth Hollywood man pays $250 for president-elect Nixon's hat
Yorba Linda Star November 20 1968 page 1
View the documentNixon Birthplace Foundation organized here
Yorba Linda Star December 4 1968 page 1
View the documentDedication on President's birthday
Yorba Linda Star January 12 1972 page 1
View the documentNixon wins big in birthplace city
Yorba Linda Star November 15 1972 page 1
View the documentNixon Impeachment Rally Staged At Local Park
by Julia Carey,
Yorba Linda Star November 7 1973 page 1
View the documentResidents saddened by Nixon resignation
by Julia Carey,
Yorba Linda Star August 14 1974 page 1
View the document10-year effort ends with sale of Nixon home
by Margaret Anderson,
Yorba Linda Star July 15 1978 page 1
View the documentArchives Find Yorba Linda Home
by Janette Neumann,
Yorba Linda Star December 10 1987 page 1
View the documentNixon library site deemed historic by commission
Yorba Linda Star June 9 1988 page 3
View the documentLibrary groundbreaking date set
by Janette Neumann,
Yorba Linda Star July 21 1988 page 1
View the documentNixon Library to break ground
by Janette Neumann,
Yorba Linda Star December 1 1988 page 1
View the documentGround broken for Nixon library
by Janette Neumann,
Yorba Linda Star December 8 1988 page 1
View the documentFanfare greets Nixon Library
by Bruce Bailey,
Yorba Linda Star July 26 1990 page 1
View the document5,000 pay their respects to former first lady
Yorba Linda Star July 1 1993
View the documentTime for tears, celebration
by Bruce Bailey,
Yorba Linda Star July 1 1993 page 1
View the documentMan of vision, man of history
by David Montero,
Yorba Linda Star April 28 1994 page 3
View the documentResidents cherish Nixon's ties to city
by Bruce Bailey,
Yorba Linda Star April 28 1994 page 1

Archives Find Yorba Linda Home

by Janette Neumann,
Yorba Linda Star December 10 1987 page 1   Open this page in a new window

Yorba Linda and the Richard Nixon Presidential Archives Foundation have signed an agreement that will place a $25 million library and museum within the city.

Mayor Roland Bigonger announced the foundation's decision to go with Yorba Linda, dashing any hopes by San Clemente officials to attract the foundation to build the library on a seaside bluff as part of a large development.

Prospects for San Clemente dimmed Oct. 9 when the foundation announced its interest in making Yorba Linda, the former president's birthplace, its location.

It took city officials just under two months to acquire a large portion of the library site and agree to conditions that include deeding the land purchased in October to the foundation.

Tuesday's announcement took place amid the bright lights of various television and media crews. All council members were present at the press conference called by the city.

“All of us on the council couldn't be more pleased to contribute to the preservation of such a valuable piece of our American history,” said Bigonger.

The library will be built next to the house where Nixon was born in 1913 and the Mayor announced plans by the city to acquire all of the land that originally constituted the 9-acre Nixon homestead.

According to Bigonger, the foundation expects to break ground in September, 1988 and complete construction of the library by 1990.

Two private residences at the far edges of the triangular parcel have yet to be acquired by the city.

A 6.1-acre school site purchased from the Yorba Linda School District for $1.3 million is a major portion of the Nixon homestead. Including the historic Nixon homesite, more than eight acres of the library site are now owned by the city.

The foundation, composed of former Nixon aides and friends, had been searching for a place to put the presidential library since March of 1983, when Yorba Linda and Cal State Fullerton competed for selection of the site. That same year, San Clemente—dubbed the “Western White House”—entered its bid for the library location.

The library will contain none of the material Nixon acquired while president, including the infamous tapes and records connected to the Watergate scandal and Nixon's resignation.

Papers and memorabilia from other periods in Nixon's political career will be submitted.

Nixon, president from 1969 to 1974, is happy that the library will be built soon. In a recent letter to former Yorba Linda Mayor Irwin Fried, Nixon thanked the official for acting quickly in his interest.

One reason Nixon decided against the San Clemente site hinged upon problems between the city and Lusk Co., developer of the site which would have included land for the library. These problems, including possible instability of the bluff-top land, would have taken more time to resolve than the former president wanted to take, foundation officials have said.

The agreement with the foundation requires Yorba Linda to remove structures (other than the birthplace) from the land and provide grading and utilities. The city is required to prepare environmental impact reports at no cost to the foundation.

In return, the foundation will develop the library at no cost to the city and restore and furnish the Nixon birthplace home.

An agreement gives the city the right to build a Nixon museum on the site, as long as it meets architectural standards of the foundation and the building is no larger than 3,000 square feet. The city also will be able to use the library's theater which will be located within the complex.

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