The Surprisingly Sad and Simple Last Meal Nixon Ate in the White House
On August 8, 1974, Richard Nixon knew his time in office was over. Three days earlier, the Supreme Court had released the “Smoking Gun” tape that proved his role in the Watergate cover-up. That night, he went on TV and said he would resign the next day.
His last meal in the White House was plain: cottage cheese on pineapple slices with a glass of milk. The tray showed the presidential seal but held only a fork, knife, and napkin. White House photographer Robert Knudsen took a picture of it, which the Nixon Library later shared.
The Photograph That Captured the Mood
Image via Wikimedia Commons/US National Archives
The photograph is what made the meal historic. NPR noted in 2015 that it was unusually stark compared to the usual style of White House photography, which focused on people and events rather than objects. Archivist Jon Fletcher pointed out that the only other Nixon-era food photographs came from his 1972 trip to China.
Those images featured large, colorful banquets that conveyed a sense of celebration and festivity. By contrast, this small plate of pineapple and cottage cheese seemed almost clinical, ideally suited to the weight of the moment.
Breakfast Before the Departure
The next morning, August 9, Nixon made an unusual change to his routine. He usually began with fresh fruit, wheat germ with nondairy creamer, and coffee. However, after a restless night of phone calls, he walked down to the White House kitchen in his pajamas around 4 a.m., only to find his watch had stopped, and it was later than he thought. Instead of his usual light breakfast, he ordered corned beef hash with poached eggs.
Within hours, Nixon signed his resignation letter and prepared to leave. On the South Lawn, he delivered his famous wave and salute before boarding the helicopter that carried him and his wife Pat to California. The heavier breakfast served as fuel for the difficult day ahead.