Ron Ziegler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ron Ziegler
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| 13th White House Press Secretary | |
| In office January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974 |
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| President | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | George Christian |
| Succeeded by | Jerald terHorst |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ronald Louis Ziegler
May 12, 1939 Covington, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | February 10, 2003 (aged 63) Coronado, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Nancy Plessinger (1961–2003) |
| Children | 2 daughters |
| Education | Xavier University University of Southern California (BA) |
Ronald Louis Ziegler (born May 12, 1939 – died February 10, 2003) was an important person in American politics. He served as the 13th White House Press Secretary for President Richard Nixon. This job meant he was the main spokesperson for the President and the White House.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ron Ziegler was born in Covington, Kentucky. His father, Louis Daniel Ziegler, was a production manager. Ron grew up in the Lutheran Church.
He went to Concordia Lutheran School and finished eighth grade in 1953. He then graduated from Dixie Heights High School in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. Ron started college at Xavier University in Cincinnati. Later, in 1958, he moved to the University of Southern California (USC). He earned a degree in government and politics from USC in 1961. While at USC, he joined a college club called Sigma Chi. He was also part of a student group called Trojans for Representative Government. Some of his friends from this group, like Dwight L. Chapin and Gordon C. Strachan, later became involved in the Watergate scandal with him.
Career Journey
Starting Out
Before his political career, Ron Ziegler had an interesting job at Disneyland. He worked as a skipper on the famous Jungle Cruise ride!
Later, he worked as a press helper during Richard Nixon's campaign for governor of California in 1962. Nixon did not win that election. After that, Ziegler worked at an advertising company called J. Walter Thompson. There, he worked with H. R. Haldeman, who later became a very important helper to President Nixon.
Working for President Nixon
In 1969, Ron Ziegler made history. At just 29 years old, he became the youngest White House Press Secretary ever! He worked for President Nixon's team. He was also the first press secretary to use the special James S. Brady Press Briefing Room when it opened in 1970.
Usually, press secretaries had a lot of experience working with news reporters. Some people wondered if Ziegler was ready for such a big job. But he was very good at following directions from Nixon's top helpers. This helped him stay in his important role throughout Nixon's time as president.
Ziegler was the White House press secretary during a big political event called Watergate. In 1972, he first called the break-in at the Watergate Hotel a "third-rate burglary attempt." He also often disagreed with reports from reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in The Washington Post newspaper. However, within two years, President Nixon resigned from office because of the scandal. Ziegler later said he was sorry to The Washington Post for how he had acted.
In 1973, there was a tense moment at a meeting for veterans. President Nixon showed his frustration with Ziegler, wanting him to keep reporters away.
By 1974, Ziegler became an Assistant to the President. This meant he was one of Nixon's closest advisors. He stood by the president during the impeachment process. He encouraged Nixon to keep fighting and not resign. During the political events, Ziegler spoke to Congress many times, at least 33 times in total.
After Watergate
After President Nixon resigned in 1974, Ron Ziegler remained a close friend. He was even on the plane with Nixon when he left Washington D.C. for California.
In 1999, Ziegler was supposed to join a TV discussion with other former Nixon helpers. But his phone connection did not work, so he could not participate.
Business Life
In 1988, Ziegler became the president and chief executive of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. He lived in Alexandria, Virginia. Before that, he was the president of the National Association of Truck Stop Operators. People who worked in the truck stop industry said he helped them a lot. He was praised for getting more members and improving services for them.
Personal Life
In 1961, Ron Ziegler married Nancy Plessinger. They had two daughters named Cindy and Laurie.
Ron Ziegler later moved to Coronado, California. He passed away there in 2003 at the age of 63, due to a heart attack.
