first lady eviction

Richard M. Nixon [1913-1994] boards Marine One for the very last time, August 9, 1974.

"Pat Nixon was the first First Lady in American history to truly be evicted from the White House. She had ordered a new china set for the White House; the usher came to her when she was packing and asked 'What should be done about that?' and she said 'Cancel the order.'"

- Recounted by Helen Thomas [born 1920], who was with UPI during the Nixon administration when she became the first female Bureau Chief of a wire service.

"When I went to sleep that night, I prayed that I would not wake up the next morning."
- Former President Nixon to a White House aide.