1950's Government and Politics | "The Checkers Speech"

Speech

By: Richard Nixon

Date: September 23, 1952

Source: Nixon, Richard. "Richard Nixon Defending His Record, Promises To Drive 'The Crooks and the Communists' Out of Washington, Los Angeles, CA, September 23, 1952." Available online at http://www.pbs.org/greatspeeches/timeline/r_nixon_s.html; website home page: http://www.pbs.org (accessed June 18, 2003).

About the Author: Richard Nixon (1911–1994) graduated from Duke Law School in 1934. After serving in the navy during World War II (1939–1945), he pursued a career in politics. Serving as a U.S. representative and then a U.S. senator, he eventually became the vice president under President Dwight Eisenhower (served 1953–1961). He then was elected president in 1968. Nixon will probably be best remembered for the...