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

5,000 pay their respects to former first lady

Yorba Linda Star July 1 1993   Open this page in a new window

The lady is dead, but charisma lives on.

An estimated 5,000 people filed past the mahogany casket of former first lady Thelma Catherine “Pat” Ryan Nixon after waiting for hours in the hot afternoon sun beating down on the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace.

Mrs. Nixon, 81 died of lung cancer at her home in Park Ridge, N.J., June 22.

Though most had never met Mrs. Nixon, all knew of her and loved her for her inner strength and gracious manner.

Gwen Becker of Yorba Linda, who said she knew Mrs. Nixon slightly, said, “she was a perfect lady, I must say.”

That sentiment was echoed by Jeanne Webb of Garden Grove.

“Pat handled everything gracefully and raised a perfect family.”

By the time the library doors opened, well-wishers formed a line more than two blocks long along the front of the library grounds.

Some wore Air Force uniforms. Others came in T-shirts and jeans. Some wore black. Some carried flowers, others brought cards.

All were received, as Mrs. Nixon undoubtedly would have wanted.

They came from Mission Viejo and San Juan Capistrano, Corona, Fullerton, Long Beach, Cypress, Placentia, Brea, Los Angeles, Pasadena and Whittier.

Eighty-year-old Anne Teta, dressed in a knitted cap, rode a series of buses from Pasadena to say farewell to her old acquaintance.

“I once met Pat at Whittier College in the 50's,” Teta said.

“Pat had been an honored guest at a function and I gave her some information about a teacher and she really appreciated that.”

Teta's return trip was easier. Moved by the woman's effort, library staffers decided a bus wasn't good enough.

They provided a car and a member of the city's newly formed Community Action Patrol chauffeured her right to her doorstep.

When Teta left, other lined up in her place.

Karen Danskin, a 17-year-old Yorba Linda resident, made her first visit to the library.

Barbara Pinge said she admired Mrs. Nixon for her loyalty to her husband and family.

Flowers and cards lined the reception counter. Some bore a simple address, “For the Nixon family,” or “Mr. Nixon.” One said “former President Mr. Richard Nixon and Family.”

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