AboutTed Nesbitt Expertise I will answer short, to-the-point questions on all aspects of
American politics -- legislative, executive, and judicial for
the federal government and all fifty states. I use the Lexis-Nexis
database for information concerning court cases in the state courts,
the U. S. District Courts, and the U. S. Supreme Court.
I do NOT have the time to work with lengthy problems or to read
and evaluate papers.
Experience I have been politically in a PAC since 1986 and have served state
government in an information capacity since 1980.
I have been a volunteer at the grammar and writing site at allexperts.com for more than two years.
Question During the presidency of Richard Nixon, can you tell me about the stir he made with outfitting the WHite House police with those outlandish uniforms? I remember the plumes in the hats. Can you elaborate? THanks
Larry Weaver
QUincy, CA
Answer Larry:
I have spent the last two hours [plus] searching LexisNexis and the "New York Times Historical Database." All I found were articles that mentioned the uniforms, calling them "bizarre" and referring to Nixon's devotion to them as "unhinged."
I do not have access to a book that discusses the uniforms that Nixon had designed for his White House Marine Guard to wear. You might ask for it at your local library: "Uniforms," by Paul Fussell -- professor emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania.
Here are a couple of comments from the articles I read:
"Part of President Nixon's problem was the credibility his acts gave to charges that his was an imperial Presidency. When Nixon designed uniforms for White House Guards that looked more appropriate for Buckingham Palace than the White House he was forced by ridicule to change back to customary uniforms." [NOTE: There was a rumor, which I CANNOT VERIFY, that the uniforms were donated to a high school band, somewhere in the Midwest.]
"It was said, however, that what gave him the most relief during those travels were the uniforms worn by the palace guards in Brussels and the portable toilet along the route of his motorcade Belgrade." [Sander Vanocur, Washington Post, January 16, 1977]
Back to me --
If Vanocur is right -- that Nixon was inspired by the palace guards in Brussels -- then that "might" account for Nixon's wanting to have his own guard dressed in a similar fashion.
Of course, I'm not aware of the White House being inundated with portable toilets during the Nixon administration!
Check out the "Uniforms" book. It is supposed to have more information about the uniforms.
