Mark Hatfield: “we are saddened by the passing of Richard Nixon. Throughout his illustrious career, Richard Nixon was known as a…”

“we are saddened by the passing of Richard Nixon. Throughout his illustrious career, Richard Nixon was known as a statesman, peacemaker, and world leader. Up until the moment of his passing, he was on the threshold of new American thinking. My first encounter with Richard Nixon was when he was a U.S. Senator from California attending the 1952 Republican National Convention. I was a delegate pledged to Dwight Eisenhower. Our paths again crossed after Nixon was named Vice President and was asked by President Eisenhower to attend Oregon's centennial celebrations in 1959. At that time, my wife, Antoinette, and I were living in a small apartment awaiting the renovation of our home. The Vice President came to our apartment for lunch and pronounced himself an eternal fan of Antoinette's string bean casserole. It was this Richard Nixon that many Americans, and certainly the media, missed. To many, his humanness was remote. But despite all the difficult times he faced, it was not lost. President Nixon's reserved nature was made more approachable by his gracious and warm wife, Pat, and his impressive daughters Julie and Tricia. His family acted in full partnership with the President throughout his career. The passing of Patricia Nixon last year was a loss to all. As I got to know the President better, through our time spent at Republican Party functions and during his visits to Oregon, I came to admire the intellect of Richard Nixon.”