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Interesting US History
A Website Devoted to Interesting Events in U.S. History

 

 
 

 

ON THIS DAY IN UNITED STATES HISTORY

September 23, 1952

Richard Nixon Makes His Famous "Checkers Speech"

On this day in 1952, Richard M. Nixon, then United States Senator and Republican vice presidential candidate, delivered his famous checkers speech. The purpose of the speech was to defend himself against charges that he used campaign contribution money for personal use.

The reason it has come to be known as the "Checkers Speech", is because he admitted to having received one gift which was a dog that his daughter named "Checkers" and said that no matter what people said about him, he was keeping the dog.