Death and funeral of Richard Nixon
Pat and Richard Nixon
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| Location | Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Yorba Linda, California, USA |
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Gerald Ford Jimmy Carter Ronald Reagan George H. W. Bush Bill Clinton |
On April 22, 1994, Richard Milhous Nixon, the 37th President of the United States, died after suffering a stroke four days earlier, at the age of 81. His public funeral followed five days later at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in his hometown of Yorba Linda, California. In keeping with his personal wishes, Nixon's funeral was not a full state funeral, though his body did lie in repose in the Nixon Library lobby prior to the funeral services.
Nixon suffered a cerebral vascular accident (a stroke) on April 18 at his home in Park Ridge, New Jersey, and was taken to New York Hospital–Cornell Medical Center. After an initial favorable prognosis, Nixon slipped into a deep coma and died four days later. His body was flown to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, Orange County, California, via SAM 27000, the presidential plane used as Air Force One while Nixon was in office. His body was transported to the Nixon Library and laid in repose. A public memorial service was held that evening, attended by world dignitaries and all five living presidents. Nixon's wife, Pat, had died ten months earlier on June 22, 1993. This was the first funeral for a U.S. president since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1973. Nixon presided over President Johnson's funeral, as Nixon was the U.S. president at that time.
Nixon suffered a massive stroke (cerebral vascular accident) at his Park Ridge, New Jersey, home while preparing to eat dinner on Monday, April 18, 1994 at 5:44 PM EDT. An ambulance was called and he was taken to New York Hospital–Cornell Medical Center. He was conscious but unable to speak, and his vision was impaired. It was determined that a blood clot resulting from his heart condition had formed in his left atrium (upper heart), then broke off and traveled to his brain. His condition was determined to be stable the following day, as he was alert but unable to speak or move his right arm and leg. Nixon's prognosis was hopeful, and he was moved from the intensive care unit into a private room. His condition worsened that Tuesday night, however, complicated by symptoms of cerebral edema, or swelling of the brain. Nixon's living will stipulated that he was not to be placed on a ventilator to sustain his life. On Thursday, Nixon sank into a coma. That Friday night, he died at 9:08 PM, April 22, 1994. His daughters, Tricia and Julie, were by his side.
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