Home in San Clemente
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Home in San Clemente Ex-Presi ent Gives Little Hint of Plans I (In-.) By Bradley C ana Accustomed to staying at one or two Wasb%agton Post latwir Writer places here, reporters now are on their SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., Aug. 10—Out own to find rooms in tourist-frequented of the public arena and home at last, oceanside villages. former President Nixon secluded himself Friday, for the first time since Mr. today in his Spanish.style villa, La Casa Nixon bought the San Clemente retreat, Pacifica, offering little hint of how he the press was barred from covering his plans to restructure his life. arrival within the fences. Florists' trucks carrying "Welcome Now, when one calls the formerly effi- Home" bouquets from area residents cient western White House switchboard, passed in and out of the fenced and it either constantly rings busy or goes guarded compound this weekend. And unanswered. "We are very private people several aides, saying they will stay with today," Diane Sawyer, an aide to spokes- the former President as long as they are man Ronald L. Ziegler, told a reporter needed, shuttled back and forth. who managed to reach the Nixon home But activity was kept to a minimum, through the White House switchboard and the Nixon family was said to be in Washington. reovering from the ordeal of the Water- The residents of this relaxed affluent gate scandal that forced him to resign community nestled along the California as 37th President of the United States shoreline gave Mr. Nixon an enthusiastic on Friday. welcome Friday, and should . the former The aides say they are unsure of what President decide to reside here the people the former chief executive is thinking of San Clemente feel no reserve toward and what his next moves will be. "I don't accepting him in his new status as perma- even know what questions to ask him," nent citizen. one top aide said. • Orange County, which includes San The customary trappings of presidential Clemente, voted heavily for Mr. Nixon power already have begun to disappear. in 1968and 1972. Los Angeles executives In sharp contrast to previous trips, for and retired naval officers number high instance, the press corps is operating among its citizenry, forming the base of without an established headquartely Republican strength here. briefing room, or special communications facilities. See CLEMENTE, A8, Col. 5 CLEMENTE, From Al edly met this weekend to , "Orange County has been discuss protection proce- a frontier," explained San dures for the future and fed- Clemente Mayor Thomas eral grants to sustain them. O'Keefe. "It is made up San Clemente's acting po- largely of people who have lice chief, Mel Porter, said set out to make their he anticipates no change in . own the near future in the level fortunes, people who -be- lieve in freedom of oppor- of Mr. Nixon's protection. If tunity and independence," anything, he said it expects said the mayor, implying it to become an increasingly that it is a place where Ric- local burden hard Nixon could" easily fit Residents have Most the in. , "This town would accept him. There would be no problem," said the local Democratic club president Gregory Joannidi. Although Mr. Nixon used to spend five or six weeks a year at San Clemente, one town official estimated that fewer than 200 residents have ever seen him. In the years of his resi- hope they once had that San House," recognizing that dence as President, he re- portedly only went down- Clemente would become the such promotion was good town twice—once to buy a site of a presidential library. only during the tenure of Mr. Nixon in office. beachbaU and once to buy Rumors of such a library, candy. As much as they Some here even expect expected to lure millions of Mr. Nixon to choose his Key expect the former Pres\ident visitors ,a year, started two to become a friendly neigh- Biscayne, Fla., estate over years ago, and California La Casa Pacifica as his• per- bor, the people of San Cle- communities with any tie to mente still regard him as a manent residence in order recluse. the Nixon name began hag- ., to be close to his friends, C. filing over site selection. ' But a talk to the crowd G. (Bebe' Rebozo and Rob- which greeted him at the As a grand gesture in ert Abplanalp. nearby El Toro Marine Air their own bid for the pro- Nevertheless, so long as Station on Friday, Mr. Nixon ject, San Clemente's leaders he chooses to stay, the peo- indicated he does not intend persuaded citizens to con- ple of San Clemente will to become a recluse at San tribdte funds for a bronze embrace Mr. Nixon. Alfred Clemente. "Having -com- bust of Richard Nixon, Cornwall, owner of Mr. Nix- pleted one task doesn't mean which today sits in city hall. on's favorite restaurant, in we're going to sit in the mar- Members of the town's Re- San Juan Capistrano, in-. velous California sun and do publican club shared with tends to keep the former nothing," he said, adding, the nation shock and disap- President's .favorite dish on "I am going to continue to pointment over Mr. Nixon's the menu. It is called "the work for peace among alI confession last week that he President's choice'' and con- nations." had authorized cover-up of sists of chili, an enchilada. Owners of area drugstores the Watergate break-in six chicken, Spanish rice, and and motels expect to con- days aftpr it had occurred, refried beans. On the front page of San tinue their current practice "The people of San Cle- of providing maps outlining Clemente's Daily Sun-Post mente felt very let down," on Friday, publisher Stan- the route to the gate of the said one Republican, a for- ford Mantling wrote this Nixon compound, though mer mayor, Cliff Myers. greeting when Mr. Nixon palm trees hide the home But other townspeople arrived: "We recognize the from view at the entrance. commented that Mr. Nixon's anguish and.sorrow you and Mr. Nixon's resignation presence should in no way your family have, suffered has posed a difficult ques- taint the community.' Emil' . ' these past months. Amid all tion for town officials, who Radica, executive 'manager the clamor and invective, are now uncertain how of the local Chamber of neighbor, we offer you much of the annual $229,292 Commerce, said area busi- warm wishes and amity here federal grant to strengthen nessmen "a long time ago* in San Clemeete following the local police force for decided to move away from your seemingly endless or- Mr. Nixon's protection will promoting the city as "the deal. Rest your mind and be forthcoming after this home of the western White spirit." year. Since Mr. Nixon pur- chased San Clemente 51/2 years ago, the town has used most of funds to add eight policemen to its force. Local and federal officials report- .