50th Anniversary: David and Julie Nixon Eisenhower

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Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary to David and Julie Nixon Eisenhower

At First Sight

Eight-year-old Julie Nixon met eight-year-old David Eisenhower on the reviewing stand at his grandfather’s second inauguration as President — and her father’s as Ike’s Vice President — in January 1957.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Vice-President Richard M. Nixon, Barbara Anne Eisenhower, Dwight D. Eisenhower II, Julie Nixon, Tricia Nixon, Washington, D.C., January 20, 1957

Taking a Shine to a Shiner

“I had a dramatic black eye and skinned nose because of a sledding accident the week before,” Julie later recalled. “When photographers began snapping pictures, the President said, ‘Turn this way, Julie, so they won’t see your black eye.’ So I looked toward the President, David, and Anne. David, in turn, stared in open admiration at my black eye. “Ten years later, when David and I became engaged, the picture was resurrected to show that he was interested in me even then. In truth, it was the black eye.” Ike’s inscription read: “To: Julie Nixon, who, even then seems to have, unknowingly, acquired an admirer. ” (Ike’s inscription begins “The 1952 Inaugural Parade” — but he meant “1957.”)

(Courtesy of Julie Nixon Eisenhower)

The Matchmaker

Although they had no contact during the intervening years, in 1967 Julie Nixon was a freshman at Smith College and David was a freshman 7 miles away at Amherst.

David’s grandmother, former First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, prodded him to pay a visit.

First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, White House, Washington, D.C., January 20, 1953 (Richard Nixon Foundation)

An Interesting Courtship

The Engagement

The Wedding

Happily Ever After