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Dog that saved Nixon's career may be buried near master
April 28, 1997Web posted at: 12:41 a.m. EDT (0441 GMT)
YORBA LINDA, California (CNN) -- Checkers, the faithful cocker spaniel who helped keep Richard Nixon's political career from going to the dogs, may be exhumed from his New York resting place and reburied near the former president.
Plans are afoot to exhume the dog, who died in 1964, and rebury him on the grounds of the Nixon presidential library in California, according to a story in U.S. News and World Report. The former president and his wife, Pat, are also buried on the grounds of the Yorba Linda library.
As Dwight Eisenhower's beleaguered running mate in 1952, Nixon invoked Checkers' name in a famous comeback speech. While denying charges that he maintained a private slush fund, Nixon "admitted" accepting the dog as a gift from a Texan who heard that Nixon's daughters wanted a puppy.
The speech is often credited with saving Nixon's place on the Republican ticket and keeping alive his political career, which eventually led to the White House.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- U.S. to pay $26 million for Nixon papers - April 5, 1997
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