Checkers Speech

Republican Senator Richard M. Nixon's Checkers Speech, Tuesday, September 23, 1952, was one of the most problematical addresses ever delivered. The televised speech, watched by 55 million people, demonstrated the power of television to mediate political communication. Nixon was accused of maintaining an $18,000 slush fund from contributors who wanted political favors. As Republicans were running up against corruption in the Truman administration, Nixon, the party's vice-presidential candidate, felt he had to give a speech to defend the fund and to clear his name.

Nixon's speech had two sections. The first part addressed questions that he framed to his benefit, such as why the fund was necessary and whether or not he feathered his own nest. The speech takes its name [Page 98]from Nixon's mention of his dog Checkers as the only gift he received. Relying on the emotional attachment of his young daughters to the dog, he bluntly told the audience that he would keep Checkers. The only evidence that he offered was an audit of his finances. He never substantiated his claim that he had not given political favors to his contributors.

The second part of the speech was an aggressive assault on Democrats. He attacked Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson, the Democratic presidential candidate, for being rich and for having a slush fund. Nixon assailed John Sparkman, the vice-presidential candidate, for having Sparkman's wife on the government payroll. Nixon used tu quoque, a technique that means “and you, too,” as he demonstrated his opponents were worse than he was.

For President Harry Truman, Nixon used guilt by association to malign Stevenson and Sparkman. Nixon linked them with Truman's unpopular Korean War and with Truman's alleged softness on communism. Nixon averred that he and Eisenhower would clean up the Democratic mess in Washington.

Nixon concluded his address by appealing to the audience. He asked listeners to telegraph or write the Republican National Committee regarding whether he should stay on the ticket or resign. About 2 million telegrams and 3 million letters supported Nixon, and $75,000 in gifts covered the cost of the telecast.

Nixon's delivery was impressive. Without a teleprompter and relying minimally on notes, he established direct eye contact with the camera, hence with his listeners. When he attacked the Democrats, he arose from the desk, went in front of the camera, and used clenched-fist hand gestures to reinforce his language.

Nixon attended to the speech's word choice. He used personal pronouns to gain identification with his audience; he chose homey language, such as “folks,” to speak to ordinary Americans; and he sprinkled verbal fillers, such as “now” and “well,” to communicate down-to-earth talk.

Republican media supported Nixon's defense of his fund, but Democratic papers were not thoroughly persuaded. The best epilogue is left to critics who observed that Nixon did not deal with the appropriateness or propriety of maintaining the fund in the first place.