Richard Nixon’s Roots in Whittier, CA | The Nixon Burger Scandal Explained | Presidential History

Although Richard Milhous Nixon was born in Yorba Linda, he spent his childhood in Whittier, California. He attended Whittier High School and Whittier College, then started his law career here as well. His first law office was in the National Bank of Whittier Building in Uptown Whittier.
His family owned several businesses in the area as well, including a service station (gas station), restaurant/bakery, market, and drive-in restaurant. Follow along with us as we discuss Nixon’s connection to Whittier, including the original Nixon scandal BEFORE Watergate.
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If you'd like to talk to me about Whittier real estate, feel free to email me at [e-mail] or call me at [phone].

[@jimalinc]

Thanks for the video! I was born in Whittier at Murphy Memorial Hospital, closed in the '60s. My dad and uncle both went to Whittier High and had Pat Nixon for their typing teacher. I graduated from Whittier High in 1968. What a great place to grow up in!

[@WhittierCalifornia]

Very cool! Do you still live in Whittier?

[@jimalinc]

@@WhittierCalifornia No, after high school we moved to Costa Mesa. Shortly thereafter I was drafted into the Army. When I was discharged I moved back to Costa Mesa where I lived until last year, when I moved to Old Town Orange.

[@devinlaster371]

So sad what's been happening to Cali and Whittier. My hometown. Maybe one day you'll come back.

[@cmscms123456]

In the 1980's I worked at K-mart in Costa Mesa CA, in the garden dept... a well dressed man came to the cash register holding some plants, set them down and handed me his credit card, I looked at it, and it said Donald Nixon, I looked at him again, and he smiled and nodded, knowing I had recognized that name. I wish I had talked to him, it might have been fun. He was a big man, portly tall and wide, but carried it well. I think I remember he was wearing a suit, not a tied tie, but a nice suit jacket and open collar shirt. I grew up in Whittier, and attended Calhi. in the 1970's I live in OC now, but I always say Whittier is my hometown.

[@WhittierCalifornia]

Thank you for sharing such a cool story!

[@vr_x7364]

Thank you so much for sharing!!! Spent a good part of my youth in Whittier the best days of my life tbh😅😅 Always wanted to know more about Nixons upbringing in Whittier such a cool city with a long history. 😊

[@WhittierCalifornia]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@a990dna]

Awesome look back of Whittier. I've lived in East Whittier since 1960. I've seen many changes and had more orange fights than I can remember. 😂

[@susangallegos6359]

Hi I was a Caregiver to Presidents Nixon Last cousin.. Mr Milhouse in LA Habra Heights Hills.. such a beautiful Family. Remember the Sea fare Inn Seafood restaurant in Whittier... His Restaurant.

[@Boldorion1958]

I remember when Gary Milhous, always wearing a tie featuring fish or sea creatures, would greet customers at Seafare. It's a shame that it had to close.

[@WhittierCalifornia]

Thank you for sharing this memory. 🩷

[@veganconservative1109]

I used to go with mom to that first house. It was an antique store for awhile. So many, many, many years ago. Loved the architecture of it. Sad to learn the new owner purchased it just to want to tear it down.

[@arias1772]

I wish we still had those car hops. Love the mid century modern architecture!

[@WhittierCalifornia]

Let’s go to Chick-fil-A and pretend it’s a car hop 🙃

[@donalddodson7365]

In downtown Whittier in September 1967, I bought my first (and only) pair of "white bucks" shoes. It was required uniform for the University of Relands Marching Band. My friend Gary L. grew up in Whittier and knew this store had them.

[@ignacior.8895]

I grew up on the former site of the Leffingwell Ranch. Lemon St was a real path through the citrus feild and there was a standing adobe type structure on it located just a couple houses away from the Granada school. It's gone now. At the end of my street was Santa Gertrudes and located at that corner across from Creek Park was Mr and Mrs Stevens ranch house complete with a barn and half acre feild for their horse's. Mr Stevens was the last foreman of the Leffingwell Ranch and was able to purchase several acres of land in later years. He passed away in the late 70s and his wife in the 80s. Their property was demolished and replaced with four home's. They'd tell us stories about the back of what is now Creek Park and how several horse thieves were caught and lynched there right where imperial highway crosses the creek and they called that section Dead Man's Trail and so did we as kids. Let me know when you want to make a video about the Leffingwell rancho and the Murphy ranch history. I have a couple hundred photos saved online.

[@player4life11111]

This should be a Cable TV series on Whittier! The Post Offices in Whittier are extremely historical too! The pictures matching is the coolest featurette bonus as well!🥰😊

[@WhittierCalifornia]

Wow, thank you!

[@ignacior.8895]

There was the independent station in the 80s and it had a show called Scuttlebutt.

[@mauriceortiz1557]

Thanx muchissimo for this lovely tour ^_^

[@Boldorion1958]

I ate at Nixon's Drive-in many times. After it folded in 1957, it became Whirly's and featured a huge neon sign with concentric circles that could be seen from a long distance. We were regular customers at Whirly's until it folded in the fall of '62.

[@WhittierCalifornia]

Thank you for sharing this bit of history!

[@RScottPR]

My only comment would be to show what is now where Nixon’s Market, Restaurant and Drive-In used to be. I know the Market is where Sprouts is now and if anyone remembers the Old Stats building that was the original building Nixon’s was in. Too bad it got torn down.

[@WhittierCalifornia]

That’s a great recommendation Ron! I bet the people of Whittier would love that. It’s cool to think that while you’re in Sprouts shopping, you are in the same area that Nixon stocked the shelves many years ago. Love being in touch with Whittier history!

[@lucyv2279]

I remember Stats. I loved going in there to see all the Christmas decorations.

[@Boldorion1958]

I recall when Nixon's Market opened in 1956. However, it didn't last very long. When it was Stat's, one could still find the meat hooks in what was originally the meat department.

[@johnolgin9079]

Great video! Thank you for sharing. I always look forward to your Whittier videos and learning more about my community. :-)

[@WhittierCalifornia]

Thank you so much, John! I always appreciate your comments. What topics would you like to see next?

[@user-ui9ud2iv8r]

My aunt and uncle built a house on Cancho drive (La Habra Heights) just after WWII. My uncle's brother was Gus Lindskog (see Lindskog Ave. just off of Santa Gretrudes). They all shopped at Nixon's. Whittier Blvd was a 2 lane street. I grew up in Rivera not too far from the Nixon drive in at the corner of Rosemead and Washington Blvd. That location became a bowling alley. I was also born at Murphy Hospital.

[@donaldduncan7095]

Great job covering my adopted hometown (I lived there in the awesome 80s). Whittier is a special place.

[@WhittierCalifornia]

Thank you! Whittier’s my adopted hometown too ☺️

[@longuecarbine]

I really enjoyed your video. As a little kid I remember going to Nixons restaurant on Whittier Blvd. quite often and always had a burger and malt. I also attended East Whittier Junior High. I appreciate the positive nature of your video.

[@WhittierCalifornia]

Thank you so much. That’s pretty cool you went to Nixon’s restaurant. Just curious, did you like the burger and malt? Wish I could try it today!

[@longuecarbine]

I was pretty young at the time and not likely able to give a good review on the burgers. I do recall it was a real hamburger not fast food like McD's. What I do remember is the Malts. I always ordered Chocolate and it came with two vanilla wafer cookies. I didn't care much for the cookies so no doubt my Mom ate those.

[@FrancJAG]

Very informative. From an other Whittier local! 👏🏽

[@WhittierCalifornia]

Glad it was helpful, that means a lot coming from another local!

[@stevebobnyc]

I was surprised by the residence on Beverly Blvd. The only ones I was aware of were on Walnut St. (presumably demolished) and the two survivors on Anaconda St. and Honeysuckle Lane.

[@WhittierCalifornia]

Nixon residences are probably the biggest mysteries to me. I did lots of research and found so much information, but none of it definite. Records were not as good back in the day. Just curious, where did find out about his residences? If I ever get better information on his homes maybe I’ll do a deep dive. Since I’m a Realtor I’m always looking to find deeper stories about the historic homes in Whittier. Appreciate the comments and sub btw!

[@stevebobnyc]

@@WhittierCalifornia I'm not sure, other than that it was web-based and found either by Google or in links from within those search results. I do have the street addresses of those I mentioned, but I didn't want to publish them here to protect the privacy of current occupants.

[@markmckerracher8567]

We lived next to some cousins of Nixon called the Parsons. They were lovely. Unfortunately when Watergate happened and they cut down every sign that said “Richard Nixon lived here” that night, our neighbors didn’t show their faces for a long time. My mom still talked through the fence to them in our backyard. It was like when she use to visit her Japanese friend interned in a camp after Pearl Harbor! Our librarian at LHHS was also a Nixon relative

[@the_future_is_anarchy1791]

Oh wow my mom grew up in whitter I didn't know she grew up around nixon businesses and history and I didn't know she went to the same high school funny thing while he was president too

[@WhittierCalifornia]

Super cool right? It's awesome when you dig a little deep and find out about all the rich history the town around you has to offer. Thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@markmckerracher8567]

We lived next to some cousins of Nixon called the Parsons. They were lovely. Unfortunately when Watergate happened and they cut down every sign that said “Richard Nixon lived here” that night, our neighbors didn’t show their faces for a long time. My mom still talked through the fence to them in our backyard. It was like when she use to visit her Japanese friend interned in a camp after Pearl Harbor.

[@ignacior.8895]

I recall a Parsons family from the 70s that lived near First Ave. They had a son around my age used to come to our street and play stick ball with us sometimes on Hillgate Dr.

[@antoniahamilton3201]

I believe there was a Nixon connection to Worsham Drive in the college hills neighborhood above Whittier College.

[@frankn.5439]

Nixon lived in that house. after his brother passed away his family relocated to Whittier and lived there to be closer to their quaker community. The house was used as an antique store in the 70's and 80's. The owner would take us into the tiny bedroom in it and showed us book shelves that Richard Nixon had built when he was a teenager. The family did prosper and relocate. One of the Nixon's owned a small business in Whittier too.

[@veganconservative1109]

Same! Wasn't it painted white though? I seem to remember it being white rather than blue, but the 70's/80's was so long ago my memory might be faulty. Mom would go there with a friend looking for 'flow blue' dinnerware. Thought it was a neat house. Can't believe some developer wants to tear it down. Why do people buy quaint buildings like that just to destroy them?

[@WhittierCalifornia]

What an experience! Thank you for sharing this story.

[@MrDanamp]

This is nice!

[@WhittierCalifornia]

Thank you, Wendy!

[@mlbolts72]

Lived in whittier most my life Really cool stuff here 😎

[@veganconservative1109]

Remember The Quad and Whittwood Mall when it was new? Good times.

[@WhittierCalifornia]

Yes I feel that we’re lucky to live here.

[@whittierlibrarybookstore3708]

Thank you for focusing on Whittier! Keep up the good work.

[@WhittierCalifornia]

Thank you for commenting! Any videos you’d like to see in the future?

[@whittierlibrarybookstore3708]

@@WhittierCalifornia Sure, how about the largest non-profit bookstore in southern California?! :)

[@WhittierCalifornia]

Oooh that sounds like fun! I’ll have to brainstorm some ideas with my husband. If you have any specific ideas, feel free to email me at [e-mail]!

[@whittierlibrarybookstore3708]

@@WhittierCalifornia A splash of history and architecture would be the uptown Whittier post office. (who does vids on Post Offices!) The lobby is wonderful and I see they have a basement but have no clue if there is any interesting history there.

[@Fortdirt1]

I grew up in Whittier and know details

[@frankn.5439]

You should do a video about the KKK that existed in uptown Whittier during the 1920's. There was a men's and women's chapter there. If you're going to do history videos about my home town then please include the dark side of the towns history too so people know. And how about a video on how Whittier built homes on top of the two cemeteries in uptown and left us with a park with lots of original dead Whittier residents still buried there. If you need help with it let me know. I'm a Whittier historian and I work with the Los Angeles historical society.

[@rudylopez7474]

My great, great grandfather, Jose de Jesus Duran Gomez, was buried in one of those cemeteries in 1920. This summer I went back to my home town looking for his grave without success. I would love to know more. Thanks @frankn.5439 for bringing this up.

[@antoniahamilton3201]

You should do a video about the KKK that existed in Whittier during the 1920's. You can convert your negativity and hostility towards Whittier into something more creative and concrete. It would be kind of like putting your money where your mouth is. Also, as a historian, you could gather valuable insight from all the reviews that would be posted about your incisive Whittier documentary.

[@flmlvr]

I could be wrong about this, but I heard that the fountain on the corner of Colima and Mar Vista was commissioned by Nixon for his two daughters. I have never stopped there to see if there is any plaque or anything that confirms that - but hey, it's possible.

[@arias1772]

I think you’re on the right track. I heard it was for pat. I’ll have to check it out sometime this week and let you know if I see anything!

[@JanFrei07]

Nice movie, thank you. I remember going to the Nixon drive in for french fries and a coke. Nixon was also president of the Whittier High student body when he was a senior. My mother was in his graduating class!

[@WhittierCalifornia]

Yumm. The fries and coke sounds like classic Americana. I hope this video brought back good memories! Just curious, did your mom have any cool stories about Nixon in high school? Thank you for commenting btw. I really appreciate it.

[@JanFrei07]

No stories that I can recall. I think she just commented that he was very popular and was pleased that he signed her yearbook.

[@tikiboi2762]

Hey, got a question the picture of the bank is the BofA building. Was is a different bank before BofA ? I know it was BofA as far back as the 60s.

[@WhittierCalifornia]

Yes, I believe it was the “Bank of Whittier” building established by Mr. Washington Hadley in the late 1800s. I’m actually releasing a video today that shows the historical progression of that specific corner so be on the lookout! p.s. love your KZbin name. My husband and I love tiki culture!

[@latinsizer]

I passed by The Nixon steakhouse and it looks like is permanently closed now.

[@bradmckeon2209]

Does anyone know when nixon’s burger joint closed ? I went to bob’s big boy in the mid 60’s but don’t remember Nixon’s drive thu ! Who remembers the taquitos at Terry’s 2 blocks east of e. Whittier jr high ? They were dope !

[@stevebobnyc]

It was short-lived relative to its fame, and the same can be said of its immediate successor: Whirley's. They were staples of the cruising culture of the era, and I would estimate Nixon's was operating from around 1958-60 and Whirley's from around 1960-62. Whirley's readily found adaptive reuse as Pack Motors, a Chrysler-Plymouth dealer.

[@WhittierCalifornia]

I always hear about Bob’s but never Nixon’s! When was this taquito place around? Love how these small eateries bring back so many memories. Thank you for the comment and hope you enjoyed!

[@stevebobnyc]

@@WhittierCalifornia I understand the chronology of the location (south side of Whittier Blvd. at Ocean View, two blocks west of East Whittier JHS) over the past 50+ years to have been Griff's, then Terry's, then Bully Beef, and now Norm's. Unfortunately, I have no idea of the timeline.

[@bradmckeon2209]

Tricky Dick was the bomb ! “I’m not a crook “!

[@bradmckeon2209]

Thank you Steve ! Big Boy was pretty close also . Loved those B Boys combos !

[@nicklausgreggsen7407]

Allegedly Nixon lived in Candlewood Country Club in the late 1950s and allegedly its one of the first houses on the left or right immediately after the country club’s entry on bramblebush I believe there is some publication from a nixon visit to china mentioning it Check into it and see what you can find

[@Boldorion1958]

He lived in a house across the street from the club--which was called the Clock Country Club until 1956 (the Clock was a chain of restaurants). In the mid-fifties, that area was still mostly undeveloped.

[@WhittierCalifornia]

Thank you both for the tips!

[@splitfries69]

*_I hate how the one pres from whittier had to be a CROOK_*

[@veganconservative1109]

And yet.... I've been running across data that he may have been less of a crook and more a victim of a political play. Maybe one day we'll know for sure.

[@sangeronimoband9018]

Well we were one of the first Mexicans living there. When we moved there. They only had one liquor store and if you were Mexican. You could not buy a home, unless one person was white

[@rudylopez7474]

When was that @sangeroninmoband9018? My folks bought in East Whittier in 1960 and experienced the same kind of prejudice.

[@sangeronimoband9018]

@@rudylopez7474 we lived on Cullen. Walking distance to whittwood mall. We went to orchard dale elementary.....1967..we had to go to almost pico Rivera for tortillas......I went to school with kids who never had chorizo

[@jezus1129]

hey sharty

[@SOUTHEASTLA562]

NIXON>trump

[@SOUTHEASTLA562]

@Ramen Lover Yup. Agreed. I'm glad that piece of **** is gone 👏🤣💯

[@SOUTHEASTLA562]

@Ramen Lover Ramen is bommmb lol especially, after a fat bowl of kush 💪😤