Nixon Foundation Oral Histories

Nixon Foundation Oral Histories

In 2015, The Richard Nixon Foundation launched an oral history program to interview Nixon administration officials and those associated with President Nixon throughout his career.

Individuals interviewed, as well as prospective interviews run the spectrum of the presidency, and the pre- and post- presidential periods.

The oral history program is important because the individual perspectives of the interview subjects offer context for researchers on the vast nature of the Nixon Presidential Library’s archival collection.

Below are interviews that have been conducted to date.

Brown, Robert J.
March 14, 2019
Video 1  • Transcript 1
Video 2 Transcript 2

Robert J. Brown served as Special Assistant to President Nixon. In this role, he advised on Civil Rights issues, and developed the Office of Minority Enterprise, with the mission of investing federal money to support black-owned businesses and historically black colleges and universities, and promoting African Americans to high-level positions in government. He is CEO and founder of B&C Associates, a global management consulting firm. He advised Martin Luther King, Jr., and was contacted by major companies to handle corporate communications during the Civil Rights era.

Bull, Stephen B. 
November 9, 2018
VideoTranscript

Stephen B. Bull served as Special Assistant to the President and Appointments Secretary in the Nixon White House. He graduated from St. Lawrence University in 1963, and served in the United States Marine Corps from 1963 to 1966. He worked as a special projects manager and assistant to the president of Canada Dry Corporation before joining Richard Nixon’s 1968 Presidential campaign as an advance man.

Herbert Sr., Gavin S.
October 17, 2018
VideoTranscript

Gavin S. Herbert, Sr. is the co-founder of Allergan Inc., and from 1961 to 1991 served as its CEO. He is currently chairman of Rogers Gardens and Regenesis. He was a supporter and friend of President and Mrs. Nixon, board director of the Nixon Foundation, and the current owner of La Casa Pacifica, formerly the Western White House in San Clemente, CA.

Herschensohn, Stanley Bruce
May 15, 2019
VideoTranscript

Bruce Herschensohn served as Deputy Special Assistant to the President in the Nixon White House from 1972-1974. A writer and filmmaker, he served as Director of the Motion Picture and Television Service at the United States Information Agency from 1968-1972. He previously worked at RKO Pictures, General Dynamics and as a independent filmmaker.

Hughes, James D.

November 10, 2019
VideoTranscript

General Don Hughes served as military assistant and scheduler to Vice President Nixon, and then as military assistant to President Nixon. A graduate of the United States Military Academy and a pilot, General Hughes thirty-five year career in the Air Force has included combat tours in Korea and Vietnam. Following his service to President Nixon, he became commander-in-chief of the U.S. Pacific Air Forces.