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Pat Nixon Facts & Worksheets

Thelma Catherine "Pat" Nixon was an American educator who served as the First Lady of the United States from 1969 to 1974.

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Thelma Catherine “Pat” Nixon was an American educator who served as the First Lady of the United States from 1969 to 1974. She was the wife of the 37th President of the United States, Richard Nixon.

See the fact file below for more information on the Pat Nixon or alternatively, you can download our 21-page Pat Nixon worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION

  • Pat Nixon, born Thelma Catherine Ryan, was born on March 16, 1912 in Ely, Nevada.
  • She was born to William M. Ryan Sr., a farmer and gold miner, and Katherine Halberstadt, a German immigrant and widow.
  • She was born the day before St. Patrick’s Day which is why she was given the nickname “Pat.”
  • Her family relocated to a small truck farm in Artesia, California shortly after Pat’s birth.
  • Pat had two older brothers, and a half-brother and half-sister from her mother’s first marriage.
  • From a young age, Pat was brought up to be diligent and hardworking. She helped with the family farm and household work.
  • Her mother died of cancer in 1924, followed by the death of her father, from lung disease, in 1930.
  • The family’s economic situation worsened following her mother’s death.
  • She graduated from high school in 1929 then enrolled in Fullerton Junior College.
  • In order to pay for her education, she worked numerous jobs, including a janitor at a bank and a driver.
  • She also worked as a secretary and a radiographer in New York from 1930 to 1931.
  • In 1931, she enrolled in University of Southern California where she was a merchandising major.
  • She continued to work part-time jobs, such as a store clerk, a typist, and an extra in movies.
  • In college, she used Pat instead of Thelma, and sometimes she would use Patricia.
  • In 1937, she graduated with honours and earned a certificate to teach high school.

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIFE

  • After graduation, she worked as a teacher at Whittier High School and was part of a theater group, where she met Richard Nixon, a lawyer and a thespian.
  • Richard asked to her marry him on their first date but spent two more years courting her.
  • They married on June 21, 1940 at the Mission Inn in Riverside, California.
  • When the United States began its involvement in the Second World War, the Nixons moved to Washington, D.C.
  • From 1942 to 1946, Richard served in the U.S. Navy. Pat, on the other hand, worked as an economic analyst at the Office of Price Administration in San Francisco, California.
  • In 1946, Pat helped her husband campaign when he ran for Congress.
  • He won a seat and represented California’s 12th congressional district.
  • Also in 1946, Pat gave birth to their daughter Patricia. Two years later, she gave birth to a second daughter, Julie.
  • Pat made sure to keep their family life private and away from the spotlight of the public.

WIFE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

  • After six years as a Congressman, Richard Nixon sought the vice presidential nomination on the Republican ticket.
  • During the campaign period, Richard was accused of accepting campaign funds illegally.
  • Pat urged him to fight the malicious allegations which led to his delivery of the famous “Checkers speech” where he highlighted the modest means by which his family lives. Pat, their daughters, and the family dog was featured on national television.
  • The Checkers speech garnered massive public support for the Nixons and marked the beginning of Pat’s involvement in her husband’s politics.
  • As the wife of the vice president, she made official appearances at ceremonies and luncheons. However, she was most known for accompanying her husband to 53 countries and visited hospitals and orphanages.

BECOMING FIRST LADY

  • In 1960, Richard ran for the presidency, but lost, which led to the Nixons temporarily relocating to California.
  • In 1962, Richard ran for governorship in California, but lost again.
  • In 1963, their family moved to New York City where Richard became a private lawyer.
  • Pat seemed to be happy that their family had put politics behind them, but Richard ran again for presidency in 1968, and despite being reluctant, Pat supported her husband all the way.

FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES

  • When Richard Nixon was elected president in 1968, Pat engaged in the cause of volunteerism.
  • She encouraged people to participate locally and volunteer where their time and services may be needed, such as schools, hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and day care centers.
  • She made the White House more accommodating to the physically handicapped, the deaf, the visually impaired, people who did not speak English, and people who can only do evening visits.
  • She was also a member of the President’s Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, where she worked with organizations devoted to improving the lives of handicapped children.
  • She also traveled abroad to deliver speeches and represent her husband.
  • Pat Nixon held the record as the most traveled First Lady, which is now held by Hillary Clinton.
  • She received less publicity for her initiatives compared to her predecessors Jacqueline Kennedy and Lady Bird Johnson.
  • However, she received many donations for the White House and spent her time in the White House redecorating state rooms.
  • In 1974, her husband was forced to resign as president for his involvement in the Watergate scandal.
  • The Nixons retired to California, then to New Jersey.
  • Pat Nixon died of lung cancer in 1993.

Pat Nixon Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Pat Nixon across 21 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Pat Nixon worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Thelma Catherine “Pat” Nixon who was an American educator who served as the First Lady of the United States from 1969 to 1974. She was the wife of the 37th President of the United States, Richard Nixon.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Pat Nixon Facts
  • Pat Nixon’s Biography
  • Career Checklist
  • Significant Years
  • President Nixon
  • What It’s Like
  • First Lady Comparison
  • Pat’s Legacy
  • My Volunteer Work
  • Traits of a Volunteer
  • A Speech for the First Lady

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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