Nany Evans oral history.indd - Washington Secretary of State

people. Never. Dan had worked quite a lot on different things with him – commissions,
meetings and different issues over the years. We were laughing the other night just talking
about this. He always asked us the same thing. We would see him in July at a governor’s
conference, or we would see him in October at something. It didn’t matter. We’d go
though the receiving line, or be at the White House. He’d say, “And how is the skiing? How
is the Evans’ skiing?” Even if it was the middle of July — because when he saw us it would
click: “Ah, the Evans. They ski.”
Hughes: He probably had 3x5 cards with notes on every governor.
Evans: So he was not one for casual, light conversation. But Pat Nixon, on the other hand,
was a lovely, lovely lady. She came to the Mansion one time.
Hughes: Yes, there’s a nice picture of that. You know, no matter how hard one’s heart was
about Nixon— that scene of poor Pat, Julie, and Tricia looking on as Nixon addresses the
White House staff on the day of his resignation was heart-rending. Even my mother, who
didn’t like Richard Nixon at all, had tears of sympathy in her eyes for poor Pat.
Evans: I felt badly for her. It was very hard on them, obviously. But she was a great person,
and I invited some friends – four, five or six people over to meet her at the Mansion – and we
were having coffee and tea in the afternoon while the
president and Dan were meeting. I remember that
Gummie Johnson’s wife Betty couldn’t get a sitter at
the last minute for their youngest, who was Mark’s
age. So I said, “Just bring her along. That will be
fine.” The little girl – she was 4 or 5 – came in to the
drawing room where we were. There were strange
people there, and she was just squirmy. And Pat Nixon
said, “Come on over here.” She picked her up and put
her in her lap and talked to her. The Johnsons’ little
daughter was very happy and that worked great. Pat
Nixon was just very easy with all of us. She was very
The Nixons at daughter Tricia’s wedding. Nixon Library
pleasant. Quiet, but very nice person.
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