“The Checkers Speech”—the dog that saved a Presidency

In 1952, Richard Nixon was running as Dwight Eisenhower’s vice-president when he was accused of taking illegal campaign contributions. Because of the scandal, there was talk of dumping him from the ticket. In September before the November election he went on live television to defend himself directly to the public.

He explained that an independent audit showed that the money was a repayment for expenses and did not count as income. He contended that it was in no way illegal. He recounted his finances in great detail.

Then at one point in the speech, he said:

       ”One other thing I probably should tell you because if we don't they'll probably be saying this about me too, we did get something-a gift-after the election. A man down in Texas heard Pat on the radio mention the fact that our two youngsters would like to have a dog. And, believe it or not, the day before we left on this campaign trip we got a message from Union Station in Baltimore saying they had a package for us. We went down to get it. You know what it was?
       “It was a little cocker spaniel dog in a crate that he'd sent all the way from Texas. Black and white spotted. And our little girl-Tricia, the 6-year old-named it Checkers. And you know, the kids, like all kids, love the dog and I just want to say this right now, that regardless of what they say about it, we're gonna keep it.”

This was the first time a politician had used television to appeal directly to the public over an alleged wrongdoing. It was an effective speech. The public rallied to his defense and he was kept on as vice-presidential candidate.

As Eisenhower’s running mate, he was elected vice president in 1952 and again in 1956. In 1960 he was defeated in his bid for the presidency by John Kennedy. He was elected president in 1968 and re-elected in 1972.

Then there was that Watergate thing.

“The Checkers speech” has been used as shorthand ever since to denote a politician or public figure using television to present their case directly to the public.

Complete text of the “Checkers speech.”

Comments

[Marianne]

What an interesting story! I never knew that about Checkers. Of course I was born in 1952 so.....

[Heather]

I have a masters in political management and we had to study the Checkers speech. It's a big thing in our field. Old Checkers will live on forever. God bless 'im.

[Tor]

If only he'd kept that attitude when it came to Watergate, Ford would never have been prez.

[Ballbehind]

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