Just Plain Dick: Richard Nixon's Checkers Speech and the “Rocking, Socking” Election of 1952

A behind-the-scenes look at one of the most famous campaign speeches-Richard Nixon's "Checkers" speech, to be published on its sixtieth anniversary

It all started with some businessmen bankrolling Richard Nixon to become a "salesman against socialization." But in this precursor to current campaign finance scandals, Nixon had some explaining to do to keep his place on Eisenhower's Republican ticket, so he took to the airwaves. In making his speech, Nixon left behind lines about a "Republican ...