Twenty-three years ago today, I had the day off.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

It was a national day of mourning, for Nixon's funeral.

Death and funeral of Richard Nixon

Death and tributes

Nixon suffered a massive stroke (cerebral vascular accident) at his Park Ridge, New Jersey, home while preparing to eat dinner on Monday, April 18, 1994 at 5:44 PM EDT. An ambulance was called and he was taken to New York Hospital–Cornell Medical Center. He was conscious but unable to speak, and his vision was impaired. It was determined that a blood clot resulting from his heart condition had formed in his left atrium (upper heart), then broke off and traveled to his brain. His condition was determined to be stable the following day, as he was alert but unable to speak or move his right arm and leg. Nixon's prognosis was hopeful, and he was moved from the intensive care unit into a private room. His condition worsened that Tuesday night, however, complicated by symptoms of cerebral edema, or swelling of the brain.[4] Nixon's living will stipulated that he was not to be placed on a ventilator to sustain his life. On Thursday, Nixon sank into a coma. That Friday night, he died at 9:08 PM, April 22, 1994. His daughters, Tricia and Julie, were by his side.

U.S. President Bill Clinton announced Nixon's death in the White House Rose Garden and proclaimed a national day of mourning five days later.



Nixon's funeral on April 27, 1994 was attended by President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton, accompanied by former U.S. presidents (right-left) Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, with Betty Ford, Rosalynn Carter, Nancy Reagan and Barbara Bush respectively.
....

Funeral service

The funeral service was held on Wednesday, April 27, on the grounds of the Nixon Library. The service was attended to by over 4,000 people, including family members, President Bill and Mrs. Clinton, President George and Mrs. Bush, President Ronald and Mrs. Reagan, President Jimmy and Mrs. Carter, and President Gerald and Mrs. Ford. Former Vice President Spiro Agnew also attended. A Congressional delegation consisting of over one hundred members was present, and a foreign diplomatic corps of over two hundred. The service was officiated by the Reverend Dr. Billy Graham, a friend of Richard Nixon's, who called him "one of the most misunderstood men, and I think he was one of the greatest men of the century." Eulogies were delivered by Graham, Henry Kissinger, Senator Bob Dole, Pete Wilson, Governor of California, and President Clinton. Dole could not hold back his tears at the end of his speech, a rare show of emotion in public for the Senator.

Following the service, Nixon was laid to rest beside his wife, Pat, who had died on June 22, 1993, making Nixon the most recent President to be widowed. They are buried only steps away from Richard Nixon's birthplace and boyhood home.

The funeral was the last major public appearance of President Ronald Reagan, whose affliction with Alzheimer's disease was announced later that year. Reagan would become the next former President after Nixon to die 10 years later, on June 5, 2004.

[2naSalit]

1. That national day off

screwed up my world with a timing SNAFU that had residual negative affects lasting months. The guy made my life hell while he was in office and then when he finally died. I wouldn't buy the stamps with him on them either since I didn't want to licking the back of that asshole's head either. And I will openly curse that dead person to this day.

[eppur_se_muova]

2. I've always regreted that Pat Nixon didn't survive her husband.

She had to share his ostracism til the end.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. I remember that day, we had the TV on all day at work - and President Clinton spoke.

Thanks for the reminder - and that is one historic photo!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. Regarding Nixon: on April 28, 1970,

1970 – Vietnam War: U.S. President Richard Nixon formally authorizes American combat troops to fight communist sanctuaries in Cambodia.

Cambodian Campaign

Aftermath

....
As foreseen by {Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird}, fallout from the incursion was quick in coming on the campuses of America's universities, as protests erupted against what was perceived as an expansion of the conflict into yet another country. On 4 May the unrest escalated to violence when Ohio National Guardsmen shot and killed four unarmed students (two of whom were not protesters) during the Kent State shootings. Two days later, at the University at Buffalo, police wounded four more demonstrators. On 15 May city and state police killed two and wounded twelve at Jackson State College (now Jackson State University) in Jackson, Mississippi. Earlier, on 8 May 100,000 protesters had gathered in Washington and another 150,000 in San Francisco on only ten days notice. Nationwide, 30 ROTC buildings went up in flames or were bombed while 26 schools witnessed violent clashes between students and police. National Guard units were mobilized on 21 campuses in 16 states. The student strike spread nationwide, involving more than four million students and 450 universities, colleges and high schools in mostly peaceful protests and walkouts.