Thelma Catherine Ryan was born in the late hours of March 16, 1912 in a miner’s shack in the small town of Ely, Nevada to William and Kate Ryan. At her mother’s insistence, the baby was named Thelma, though her father began calling her Babe, saying that she was “my St. Patrick’s Babe in the [...]

In February 1946, Pat gave birth to daughter Patricia, known as Tricia. In the following weeks she supported her husband’s congressional campaign, setting up the office headquarters and passing out campaign literature at events. Not yet comfortable with public speaking, she thanked volunteers and campaign workers with personal greetings instead. When the election returns were [...]

As the wife of the Vice President, the “Second Lady” traveled globally as an Ambassador of Goodwill on behalf of the United States. Her position finally offered her the opportunity to travel and see the world, just as she had wished as a girl. Mrs. Nixon’s first such trip was in 1953, to countries in [...]

In 1969 the country had a new president – and a new first lady. When asked what her project as first lady would be, she replied “people are my project.” During the Nixons’ first White House Thanksgiving Mrs. Nixon invited 225 senior citizens without families to dinner; she invited wounded servicemen the following year. In [...]