The Marriage of Patricia Nixon and Edward Finch Cox

June 12, 1971
Footage and commentary of the White House Rose Garden Wedding Ceremony, produced by the Naval Photographic Center.
From the archives of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum.

[@940hahl]

I watched this wedding on television when I was 25. I was truly struck by Trisha’s poise and beauty. I was 25 then and thought to myself: I wonder if I will ever be lucky enough to meet a girl as beautiful as her: A year later I did at a family wedding, I was the date of the maid of honor at my cousins’ wedding. Her name was Donna and she looked very similar to Trisha (long blonde hair, blue eyes). I was smitten, more than smitten. A year later,in 1973 we were married. Donna died of breast cancer in 2007 after 35 of years. My heart and spirit are still broken, but at least we had those 35 years together.

[@janeforst5973]

Thank you for sharing your beautiful love story. You were truly blessed to have found such a wonderful wife and I have the feeling that Donna in heaven says the same about you. I'm so sorry for your loss. It seems that the years go by so quickly and when you are parted by death, 35 years just wasn't long enough. Donna lives in your heart forever, until you meet again. God bless you and peace be with you. ♥️♥️♥️

[@robertrobbins5691]

Through all that they would soon face, they stood together, devoted to each other, and to their families. They stood by President and Mrs. Nixon and should be much admired for faithfulness and loyalty.

[@morticin3838]

It was good to see the President and First Lady so happy, may they rest in peace.

[@kerriethompson2073]

The most underrated couple in the political world. They really loved and supported each other.

[@riff2072]

Well said.

[@fredsmith3456]

Here, here!

[@lorettazwarts4847]

What a beautyful bride!!!! Thank you for posting this.Tricia and Julie are classic beauties and that wedding dress could still be in style today. A classic style. The First Lady and Mrs. COX are also beautyful!!!

[@chrismcevoy2503]

Rest in peace Richard Milhous Nixon.

[@shimmeringfairydust3275]

Trish & Julie were beautiful! Still are!

[@ladyanne8139]

Always beautuful Tricia and Julie. Esp. Tricia delicate as a flower. ..made me teary as the dignity and class of the wedding seems to have been lost these past 40 yrs. .. I loved watching this. Thank you💞💜

[@robminmonaca]

LadyAnne the reception was very down to earth.

[@hankaustin7091]

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!! I cried through the entire thing, because it was so gorgeous and Tricia was stunning and radiant! Thanks to the Richard Nixon Foundation for posting this in it's entirety!

[@frederickcombs8661]

Amazing movie of a forgotten time. I enjoyed it!

[@62DAP]

With each viewing of Mrs Nixon, my fondness for her only increases.

[@Lucky4991]

Her hair was always so immaculate! I don’t know how they did it back then! every curl was perfect! She was so beautiful!

[@hankaustin7091]

Mrs Nixon had one of the dressing rooms turned in to a beautician's hair salon.. which was in use every day.

[@vivianpowell1732]

I am glad that Tricia wore her hair drawn back and braided for her wedding. The long bouffant curls she usually wore always overpowered her petite frame and delicate face, and the same thing would have happened on her wedding day. Her restrained and classic style complemented her elegant wedding gown and veil. And you noticed the bride instead of her big hair.

[@faithnicholson1945]

Pat Nixon was such a beautiful first lady.

[@kerriethompson2073]

She was just as beautiful and smart as Melania. She was so underrated as first lady!

[@michaelcait2935]

Tricia Nixon was one of the most beautiful daughters of a president to get married in the white house

[@tinalaplaca6638]

Congratulations on your 50th. This was a beautiful video. lm so happy for you. l wasn't that lucky in my marriage. l only made it to 40 years. Many more to you Tricia

[@Dianaemanuel]

What a lovely bride! A very simple, elegant gown too. She clearly had good taste.

[@honestytoafault]

but at that time it was high fashion!

[@Sparrowdean]

shady Lnu The dress was designed and made by Priscilla Kidder of Boston, hardly a high fashion house.

[@honestytoafault]

#skosya

[@ralpholson3328]

Dianaemanuel k

[@carmelabozulich4037]

@@Sparrowdean Priscilla of Boston was a favorite wedding designer, the Vera Wang of her day

[@christineclick1055]

Thank you for sharing this video with us. I enjoyed watching it. I was a toddler when Tricia Nixon married Edward Cox. I've never seen like that before. Tricia looked so beautiful bride back then.

[@airdriver]

Say what you will about Richard Nixon but, in this event, he was simply the father of the bride. Nothing more and nothing less.

[@ralpholson3328]

airdriver o

[@fairfaxcat1312]

airdriver I’ll gladly say what I will about the president. History confirms his wisdom. Just opening channels to peace with the Soviets was accomplishment enough.

[@brett6905]

Do you really believe the "father of the bride" wasn't aware this event had political value to himself... Do you really think he wasn't putting on a show here for the cameras? ... I see him in full political mode with his cheesy jokes, awkward laughter, and dramatic pauses..... You make this sound so romantic, but whatever his feelings were about his daughter, he is clearly also using it for his own purposes.... Nothing more nothing less lol

[@brett6905]

@@fairfaxcat1312 Your judging the president on one accomplishment? Which by the way I am sure that was achieved by an entire group of policy makers, government officials, and foreign relations experts... It just sounds like you have pretty low standards. Apparently all the president needs is to have one big success and that will somehow erase his fundamental character flaws, dishonesty, and insincerity.

[@fairfaxcat1312]

@@brett6905 Is there one big accomplishment you can associate with Slick Willy?

[@sarahkofman1921]

Tricia's dress would work today. A classic beauty

[@Shay-oi5un]

Yes most definitely

[@kerriethompson2073]

It's even more beautiful in person at her father's Library. I would love to wear a gown like that if I ever got married.

[@danitapowell2291]

Very timeless

[@hokwok4774]

Beautiful wedding. Nixon girls are so pretty. Glad they shared this elegant wedding with the public.

[@lisabradford8180]

tricia was a lovely bride. both she and julie are so pretty.

[@materialgirl8707]

yes definitely, Julie looks like actress Leslie Caron and Trisha looks a like Grace Kelly.

[@kerriethompson2073]

And both ladies are very sweet and down to earth. Just like their parents.

[@jensentravis7985]

sorry to be so offtopic but does any of you know a way to log back into an instagram account..? I somehow forgot my login password. I appreciate any tips you can offer me.

[@dashmason322]

@Jensen Travis Instablaster =)

[@lisak7633]

Thanks for upload -. MISS these simper times in traditions of marriage! I remember this as 5yr old in childhood. Rain is good luck 4 wedding day-smile

[@bienkee5278]

Beautiful! A lovely couple and a great tribute to President & Mrs.Nixon and bridegroom's parents.

[@abrakadabrah3031]

She looked stunning!!!! Really a beautiful couple.

[@RattledRivets]

It's difficult to watch people so happy, knowing despair is just around the corner.

[@echarts1946]

That dress would still look in style today.

[@libertyann439]

That birdie in the background sang a sweet song.

[@Farrah300]

I agree that people don't necessarily have to be alike to be married. Happy Anniversary to Ed and Tricia. 50 years is a wonderful thing. My parent's recently celebrated their 50th Anniversary.

[@Lucky4991]

She made a beautiful bride! I love her veil!

[@carmenpersaud3503]

Wonderful Wedding so amazing

[@liaqatmasih4]

beautiful Wedding Ceremony

[@Yobbie72]

It was their happiest day in the White House.

[@larikipe940]

in 1971 I was a young lad of 8 years old and only remember one thing about this wedding -- the huge wedding cake. I had never seen a cake that tall before and remember being in shock that it was an actual tower made out of cake. Of course, at 8, I thought the entire thing was made of cake, didn't know it was really lots of cakes on top of each other all held up by a big frame.

[@judyholiday653]

I turned 6 yrs old on June 29th 1971 and I have absolutely no memory of this wedding..Lol! But I have other memories of Nixon when he was in office when I was around 4 yrs old..

[@MARCBSTN]

38:32 Barbara Walters admiring President Nixon and Tricia dance

[@Farrah300]

So far. Tricia Nixon is the last daughter of a sitting President to be married at the Whitehouse.

[@MyLady120]

Beautiful wedding!!

[@chrisallen7911]

Everything was so elegant, an elegance we haven't seen in the White House in years. God Bless our new President and First Lady and may they revive the beauty and elegance of an age long past.

[@rachelberry1623]

Pat Nixon had class & elegance, she would never have posed nude like the current first lady. Two extremely opposite women.

[@ingeniousmechanic]

Likewise, I'm sure President Nixon wouldn't have been one to coerce oral sex from an intern in the Oval office

[@jolenaagapisou3803]

Hard to believe 49 yrs ago almost to the day, most of these ppl are dead😢😢

[@kerriethompson2073]

Not Tricia and Ed thankfully. They just celebrated their 50th Anniversary last Saturday. And her sister Julie and her husband David are still alive. They've been married almost 53 years.

[@caspence56]

Is it just me, or did Tricia Nixon somewhat resemble Grace Kelly? What a beautiful bride and what a timeless, elegant wedding gown and veil.

[@vivianpowell1732]

Julie Nixon Eisenhower that day reminds me of Ashley Judd in her heyday.

[@janeforst5973]

Now that you mention it, yes, Tricia looked very much like Grace Kelly on her wedding day. I have to think that Tricia was looking to Grace's wedding on how to be a timeless and elegant bride. She succeeded !! ♥️♥️♥️

[@deniserodas6848]

They both had similar wedding hairstyles. The top of head thing (not sure what it is called) attached to their veils was wrapped around their updo buns.

[@vivianpowell1732]

@@deniserodas6848 I think if you look closely at Tricia's hairstyle for the wedding, you'll see that there wasn't a bun at the nape of her neck. I believe her hair was fixed in a thick braid that hung down her back. At least that's the way it looks to me after I really took a close look at the video.

[@denisejohnson7919]

I just love Tricas dress, even though the wedding was long ago, still very classy!

[@kittiesfortrump1070]

I slightly remember watching this event on tv, back in the day. I was just finishing up the 10th grade when this occurred. Those times were waaaaaay better than today. Society looked and acted better, brides were thinner, no tattoos, people actually wanted to marry and have a family of their own. In other words, NORMAL. PERIOD. There, I said it.

[@msjannd4]

✔

[@sarahkofman1921]

A classic beauty

[@sherifwadie6242]

I can't but just comment on every video by saying , president Nixon was in fact a great man for his country and with his family, his legacy will last forever

[@michaelmiller1215]

I was not quite 12 years old when this was shown, and I haven’t seen it again until just now. I remembered Red Skelton waiving!

[@chrismcevoy2503]

Tricia Nixon got married the same year my parents did.

[@thomaspuhringer1314]

wow, what an accomplishment!

[@Shay-oi5un]

Julie got married a week after my parents wedding

[@michaelcait2935]

God Dick Nixon sure looks at peace with himself at daughter Tricia's wedding especially when the band strikes up a chorus of " tutts tutts tuttsey goodbye tutts tuttsey don't cry "

[@cynthiaharrell2144]

Tricia is so petite and beautiful. Gown is a gorgeous classic. Beautiful ceremony too. ❤

[@PHlophe]

Cyn. she was eating a cracker a day for a year before the wedding so.

[@lindacowles756]

Does anyone know what the piece was just before the Clarke "Trumpet Voluntary" as Mrs. Nixon, and bridal party entered?

[@darlahkelley9800]

L❤vely R❤se Garden Wedding Best Wishes San Dieg❤California

[@michaelcait2935]

Despite what you think of President Nixon he was a devoted and loving father and husband to pat, Tricia, and Julie at Tricias wedding he looked very happy and in command

[@alexandradane3672]

An elegant wedding , held by an elegant family amongst whom numbered a first class President .

[@stephaniestanley8041]

Tricia was right, you can't define it, it just is.

[@choirboyproductions340]

Trisha Nixon in her wedding dress was Calvin's 1st 'picture' of me that he gave me, ~1.5 years ago. He said, 'I know you will make me proud.' I didn't understand what it meant then. I am so happy that our engagement has been announced offically. I'm very excited and happy. BTW, Calvin's middle name is Edward. 💞👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨📰💃🥂

[@dadodydo]

From this era to the US today. Sad but true.

[@Lucky4991]

The didn’t have a formal dinner? That’s surprising to me

[@lindacowles756]

Just wondering why they're playing "Swan Lake" Pas de quatre as background music for arrival of guests. Hope they show the wedding with the actual music that was played.

[@gavin4981]

Caring

[@hussienalsafi1149]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸☺️

[@chalk-a-lotjudas8791]

Hi SISTER SALVATION. I can't wait to get to know you again! Mrs. Ryan...is she my mother? I was the triplets who got to know Mr. Nixon very well...do you remember me?

[@viralbuthow000]

Keri Russell and Amy Adams look like her.

[@deniserodas6848]

Does anyone know what song that is that’s playing at 31:48?

[@jaymerosenberger8750]

Trumpet Tune.

[@deniserodas6848]

@@jaymerosenberger8750 Thank you, it’s weird that they played that song without trumpets sound like they used violins.

[@bradysommer5607]

Where's Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein?

[@johnmoore4]

27:40: From behind, the minister looks like Yogi Berra.

[@shelleyharris2850]

Unbelievable 🙏💛🤍⚖🇺🇸

[@mariapiscitelli6090]

Matrimonio da favola a

[@ribbonsandrainbowsribbonsa2529]

Tricia nixon cox

[@georgiasmith64]

A big shin dig at the white house. 😀 whoo hooo☺🎉📣🌹

[@user-xl1yb2hp4j]

생애에는 기쁜 날도 있고 슬픈 날도 있겠고 ~~ 북위 35도 그리고 태양 ~~~비타민 D ~~~ 그저 기도하며 살아갈 뿐이다.

[@Shay-oi5un]

So did they have dinner? Or just cake and dancing?

[@robminmonaca]

It was a very small reception for how big the wedding was.

[@vivianpowell1732]

Most wedding receptions back then featured champagne, canapes, and wedding cake. And the rehearsal dinner included only the engaged couple, the two immediate families, and the members of the wedding party, not everyone who was invited to the wedding like they do today.

[@kerriethompson2073]

@@vivianpowell1732 that's what my parents did back in 1972. They got married in the church and had a small reception with cake and punch. I kind of wish we go back to that.

[@vivianpowell1732]

@@kerriethompson2073 We need to get back to basics like that. Weddings today can be ridiculous extravaganzas, and so much money is wasted on impressing the guests. The loveliest wedding I've ever been to took place about the time of Tricia's wedding. It was held in the backyard of the bride's parents' home, facing a city park. There was a simple canopy like Tricia's. There were only 50 guests and we all stood for the short ceremony. The reception was held in the new family room that opened out into the yard. It was an enchanting occasion. There's an interesting backstory. When the bride told her family about her engagement, her parents jumped into plans for a big wedding and came up with a guest list of 600 people and a ceremony at a large church. The bride said, "Stop." She told her parents to take all that money they'd spend on a big wedding and use it to finish the family room that was still a work in progress. So that's what they did. They built the room where the reception was held, and the wedding at home was just wonderful.

[@janeforst5973]

@@vivianpowell1732 Now there's a bride with a level and mature head on her shoulders , not one who thinks she has to outdo the Kardashians in the millions they spent just to put on a show for the masses and popularity contests. And I'll bet all the Kardashian's money that your friend's quiet and intimate wedding is still remembered in a positive way today.

[@robminmonaca]

For a really big wedding at the time the reception was very down to earth and not a fancy royal wedding like one. The cake was big but their were a lot of people at the wedding here. The closet to come to a possible White House wedding might be soon that’s if Tiffany trump gets married but it should be her and her future husbands decision. I don’t want to make it political but she is in her mid to late 20s but the younger generation dosent get married young anymore it seems.

[@ericapple1711]

ikleit

[@thomaspuhringer1314]

the tax payers paid for the wedding, didn´t they?

[@chrisallen7911]

No, they didn't, The Nixon's had to pay for every dime.

[@Anca820]

No.

[@johnmoore4]

Nice try.

[@judyholiday653]

What no kiss? wow! they were uptight snot's..However , I love her choice for her wedding gown..She was a lovely bride there's no denying that thank God she didn't get her looks from her father..

[@Anca820]

Her father was NOT unattractive, and she does look like him. He was actually a very good President. Sadly, he taped and kept secrets like ALL Presidents but unfortunately got caught. Some missing minutes of tape cost him the office, yet far, far worse has been done by later presidents with zero apologies OR repurcussions.

[@Shay-oi5un]

And kissing would not have been acceptable, it was '71 and a very public, televised wedding.. it was a nice gesture, I'm sure they kissed a whole lot later that evening

[@Shay-oi5un]

My wedding dress looks very similar to hers...very very similar.. and I got married 2 years ago! she had great taste, she looked like a radiant, a beautiful blushing 👰!

[@priscillawurtz553]

But she does look like her father

[@suziecreamcheese211]

It’s possible they didn’t kiss because of being quakers.

[@stalbansgirl-jg9yn]

A hug and shoulder pat when the officiant instructs that he can "salute his bride"...? Weirdos.

[@cibonthesaint8903]

I’m a 23 year veteran of the military who gives a crap about these people.?

[@dadodydo]

Well, some of us actually do.

[@lisabrooks8092]

OMG--I can remember being so underwhelmed by this event as a 10 year-old. I made Jello chocolate pudding early that morning, went outside and shot hoops with my friends until I was nearly dehydrated, came back in and ate the pudding. No way I was going to waste my TV time on the Nixon family's staging of a royal wedding--what dreck! This is America damn it!

[@johntomlinson6849]

What a load of twaddle