Death and state funeral of Richard Nixon facts for kids
On April 22, 1994, Richard Milhous Nixon, the 37th President of the United States, passed away. He was 81 years old and had suffered a stroke four days earlier.
His state funeral took place five days later. It was held at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in his hometown of Yorba Linda, California. This was the first time a U.S. President had died in 21 years. The last one was President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1973.
Planning the Funeral
After President Nixon's death, his body was flown to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. This base is in Orange County, California. The plane used was SAM 27000. This was the special presidential plane, known as Air Force One, when Nixon was in office.
His body was then taken to the Nixon Library. There, it was placed for people to pay their respects.
A Special Public Service
A large public memorial service was held on April 27. Important leaders from 85 countries attended. Also, all five living Presidents of the United States were there. This was a historic moment. It was the first time that five U.S. presidents had ever attended the funeral of another president.
President Nixon's state funeral was different from others. He had wished for his funeral not to be held in Washington, D.C.. His wife, Pat, had passed away ten months before him, in June 1993.
Images for kids
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Nixon's funeral on April 27, 1994, was attended by President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton, accompanied by former U.S. Presidents (right to left) Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, with Betty Ford, Rosalynn Carter, Nancy Reagan and Barbara Bush respectively.
