President Nixon’s Historic Visit to the Lincoln Memorial
May 9, 1970
In the early hours of May 9, 1970, as many as 100,000 protesters gathered in Washington for a demonstration against the Kent State killings and the Cambodian incursion. President Nixon was early and working in the Lincoln Sitting Room. Looking out the window, he noticed the activity on the ground of the Washington Monument.
When his personal aide, Manolo Sanchez, said that he had never been to the Lincoln Memorial, the President decided to make a spontaneous visit to share what he considered the most beautiful spot in Washington — the Lincoln Memorial by night.
In His Own Words
Below are President Nixon’s contemporaneous recollections and reflections on the Lincoln Memorial visit, recorded on dictabelt.
Hugh Hewitt and James Rosen Discuss the Impact of the Kent State Shootings
Nixon Foundation President Hugh Hewitt interviews author and political correspondent James Rosen about the Kent State shootings, and the lasting impact the event had on the President Nixon, the public perception of the Vietnam war, and the effort to achieve a lasting peace.