La Casa Pacifica

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The property in 1973

The La Casa Pacifica ( Spanish for "The Pacific House" or "The House of Peace") is a large villa in San Clemente in the US state of California , which at the California coast is. The property was the residence of former US President Richard Nixon between 1969 and 1980 . At that time it comprised a total area of ​​around 121,000 square meters. By the sea below the house is the so-called Trestles, one of the most famous surfing beaches in the country. A street near the property was christened Avenida del Presidente in memory of its famous owner .

history

The structure was erected in 1925. The property is kept in the Spanish colonial style and was modeled on the appearance of a country estate near San Sebastián in Spain . The architect of the building was Carl Lindbom. One of the first owners of the house was Henry Hamilton Cotton, a senior member of the Democratic Party . During this time, the future US President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited several times to play poker with him.

Richard Nixon with his wife Pat Nixon in the living room (1971)

When Richard Nixon became President of the United States in 1969 , he hired a campaigner to find a vacation home on the southern California coast . When the choice fell on a property in the then little-known town of San Clemente, the president bought it from Cotton's widow that same year. The house was only about 40 miles (64 km) from his birthplace, Yorba Linda . Initially called "La Casa Pacifica" by Nixon , the house was soon nicknamed "The Western White House" . Today this expression generally refers to the vacation homes of the US presidents in the west of the country.

After purchasing the property, Nixon had several modifications made to suit his needs and the security regulations of the Secret Service . The tennis court was replaced by a swimming pool and a 460 meter long wall was built around the house. During his tenure, the President received several important state guests here, including the Soviet head of state Leonid Brezhnev , the Mexican President Gustavo Díaz Ordaz , the South Vietnamese President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu and the Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Satō .

After the end of his presidency in 1974, he retired with his wife Pat Nixon in San Clemente, where he also wrote his memoirs. Nixon's now famous interview with David Frost in April 1977 should have taken place at La Casa Pacifica, but was held at short notice at a friend's house in the neighboring village of Dana Point . In the late 1980s, he finally relocated to Park Ridge , New Jersey . The house was then bought by Gavin S. Herbert, founder of the Allergan pharmaceutical company.

The property is now privately owned and can therefore only be seen from the beach. However, the history and legacy of Richard Nixon still occupy the city of San Clemente to this day. A street parallel to Interstate 5 was christened Avenida del Presidente in memory of its famous local resident .

In art and media

Some outdoor shots for the film Frost / Nixon (2008) were shot in La Casa Pacifica . The production tells the story of the legendary interview between former US President Richard Nixon and television presenter David Frost in April 1977.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Richard Nixon: 183 - Remarks at a Reception for General Secretary Brezhenev in San Clemente, California. The American Presidency Project , June 23, 1973, accessed March 5, 2009 .
  2. ↑ a b c d Jeff Gottlieb: Nixon Felt at Home in San Clemente. Los Angeles Times , November 15, 2004, accessed October 1, 2009 .
  3. ↑ a b c d e Ashley Powers: Nixon's legacy still splits the city. Los Angeles Times , January 22, 2007, accessed September 21, 2009 .
  4. ^ Vik Jolly: Frost-Nixon talk took place in Dana Point home. Orange County Register , February 19, 2009, accessed September 30, 2009 .
  5. ↑ Production: The Locations & Conclusion. Cinefacts , accessed October 1, 2009 (German).

Coordinates: 33 ° 23 '28 "  N , 117 ° 35' 49"  W.