YORBA LINDA — Not all the President’s men were there, but enough to make a strong showing.
Former Cabinet members Henry A. Kissinger and Richard G. Kleindienst were in attendance. So were Watergate figures Maurice Stans, once finance chairman for Nixon’s re-election committee, and G. Gordon Liddy, the convicted mastermind of the bungled burglary.
Former Nixon spokesman Ron Ziegler and Counsel Chuck Colson also paid their respects. Jo Horton Haldeman, the widow of Nixon’s chief of staff, H. R. Haldeman, was in the audience. And so was Rose Mary Woods, the secretary who took responsibility for creating the infamous 18 1/2-minute gap on a critical Watergate tape.
But so was George McGovern, who was among the first named on Nixon’s infamous “enemies list,” and whose presence on the funeral’s exclusive guest list spoke more eloquently of reconciliation than some who eulogized the 37th President.
“This has been a reconciling day for me and, I think, for a lot of other people,” said McGovern, who as the Democratic nominee waged an acrimonious political fight against Nixon for the presidency in 1972 and was buried in a electoral landslide. “I kind of really feel like I’ve lost an old friend, even though we were bitter political enemies through the years.”
Colson, who spent seven months in prison for obstructing justice during the Watergate conspiracy, also spoke of healing.
“I think he achieved in death something he never quite achieved in life–to bring the nation together,” said Colson. “Maybe the wounds of Watergate are now, twenty-some years later, finally healed.”
The guest list for the funeral cut across a broad spectrum of Nixon’s political and private life: Republicans and Democrats, friends and former enemies, family members, entertainers, sports figures, religious leaders and many, many longtime staffers.
At the Yorba Linda Community Center, where many of the guests had gathered before the funeral, the Nixon faithful–wearing either purple or yellow “RN” badges that were their tickets to the funeral–embraced like long-lost friends.
Liddy and Howard H. Baker Jr., the former Tennessee senator and ranking minority member of the Judiciary Committee that held televised hearings on Watergate, rode over to the funeral site together on a shuttle.
Robert H. Finch, who served under Nixon as secretary of health, education and welfare, smiled and shook hands with Donald H. Rumsfeld, the secretary of defense under President Gerald R. Ford.
“I think the Nixon family can feel very, very good about what he accomplished, and who all is here,” Rumsfeld said. “A broad cross-section of the world is recognizing him for what he did.”
From across the Nixon years came Alexander M. Haig Jr., Haldeman’s replacement as chief of staff, and Caspar W. Weinberger, former secretary of health, education and welfare who became Ronald Reagan’s defense secretary. James R. Schlesinger, Nixon’s defense secretary, and William P. Rogers, his secretary of state, joined a few dozen others from the Nixon presidency, including political columnist and presidential aspirant Patrick J. Buchanan, security adviser Brent Scowcroft and former Atty. Gen. Elliot L. Richardson.
Even former Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, who before Nixon’s resignation left office himself in disgrace under a criminal indictment, and his wife, Judy, attended the funeral. Agnew had asked Julie Nixon Eisenhower if he would be welcome at the funeral and was assured that his presence was important. On Wednesday, he was greeted warmly.
“I’m here to pay my respects for (Nixon’s) accomplishments,” said Nixon’s vice president, who resigned in 1973 after pleading no contest to tax evasion. “It’s time to put aside 20 years of resentment, which is what I’m doing at this moment.”
More than 100 members of Congress were on the guest list, including 47 U.S. senators, House Speaker Thomas Foley (D-Wash.), Senate Democratic Leader George Mitchell of Maine and the California congressional delegation.
Representatives from across the globe, from Angola to Argentina and Singapore to Seychelles, also were in force. In all, 86 countries sent dignitaries to pay respects.
But Nixon had other admirers, too, who had little if anything to do with politics. Comedians Bob Hope and Red Skelton and actor Buddy Ebsen attended with their wives. Former Rams star Roosevelt Grier also attended.
“It was a good send-off to Richard Nixon and his future life,” said Ebsen, who also attended Pat Nixon’s funeral last summer. “There was a feeling of togetherness. It stepped across party lines and it was a beautiful happening. We need that to get all of us together.”
Said Hope: “He was a hell of a guy. Playing golf, you learn a lot about a guy’s character. His was a great character.”
The guest list was indeed impressive, with names like Walter Annenberg, George Argyros, Jesse Helms, William Lyon, Ashraf Pahlavi, Bebe Rebozo, Nelson Rockefeller, Henry Segerstrom, Mary Roosevelt and James B. Stockdale sprinkled throughout.
Orange County also had a large contingent, including a gathering of state senators and assemblymen. All five Orange County supervisors were also invited. The local Republican Central Committee distributed 100 tickets to elected officials, volunteers and others affiliated with the local party, chairman Thomas A. Fuentes said, and just about everyone who wanted in got in.
“It was dignified, sentimental and memorable,” Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder said. “I think it was Kissinger who said that when you look at the quality of a person and whether they lived well, you look at the entirety of the life. That’s how I remember Richard Nixon.”
Mourners spoke about healing and the inevitability that Nixon, in death, may finally have been absolved of his perceived sins.
Former Vice President Dan Quayle joked that Kissinger had captured it perfectly when he predicted that Nixon “would’ve liked to have read and reread all the favorable reviews that he’s had this last week.”
The Rev. Robert Schuller said he was pleased to see those reviews.
“I’m very grateful to God for the respect that’s been shown (Nixon) this last week,” said Schuller. “Society does not forgive. People tend to hold on to their hurts.”
But since Nixon’s death, Schuller said, the public is beginning to “recognize Nixon’s greatness.”
Times staff writers Alicia DiRado, Doreen Carvajal and Eric Lichtblau contributed to this report.
On the Guest List
The official U.S. delegation, members of Congress and the foreign delegation attending the funeral of Richard Nixon, according to the White House:
U.S. PRESIDENTS AND THEIR WIVES
* Bill and Hillary Clinton
* George and Barbara Bush
* Ronald and Nancy Reagan
* Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter
* Gerald and Betty Ford
NIXON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS
* Spiro T. Agnew, former vice president
* Peter J. Brennan, former labor secretary
* Frederick B. Dent, former commerce secretary
* Elliot L. Richardson, former attorney general and health, education and welfare secretary
* William P. Rogers, former secretary of state
* Henry A. Kissinger, former secretary of state
* James R. Schlesinger, former defense secretary
* Caspar W. Weinberger, former HEW secretary
* William B. Saxbe, former attorney general
* Alexander M. Haig Jr., former chief of staff
* Brent Scowcroft, former Nixon aide
* Herb Stein, former economic adviser
* James T. Lynn, former HUD secretary
* Charles W. Colson, former special counsel to the President
* Dwight L. Chapin, former deputy assistant to the President
* Kenneth H. Dahlberg, former Midwest finance chairman of the Committee for the Re-election of the President
* Richard G. Kleindienst, former U.S. attorney general
* Ronald L. Ziegler, former press secretary
* G. Gordon Liddy, former White House aide
* Herbert W. Kalmbach, personal attorney to Nixon
* Robert H. Finch, former secretary of health, education and welfare
* Patrick J. Buchanan, speech writer
* Rose Mary Woods, former secretary
* Lyn Nofziger, former staff member
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS
* Defense Secretary William Perry
* Army Gen. John Shalikashvili, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
* Thomas F. (Mack) McLarty, White House chief of staff
* Strobe Talbott, deputy secretary of state
* Carol Browner, Environmental Protection Agency administrator
* Phil Lader, White House deputy chief of staff
* Dee Dee Myers, White House press secretary
* David Gergen, counselor to the President
* Bruce Lindsey, senior presidential adviser
* W. Anthony Lake, national security adviser
* Lloyd Cutler, White House special counsel
* Robert Rubin, director of National Economic Council
* Mark Gearan, White House communications director
* Pat Griffin, White House congressional affairs lobbyist
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
More than 100 members were on the list. Among them:
* House Speaker Thomas Foley, D-Wash.
* Senate Democratic Leader George Mitchell, D-Me.
* Sen. Minority Leader Bob Dole, R-Kan.
* Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-N.Y.
* Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.
* Sen. John Danforth, R-Mo.
* Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M.
* Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.
* Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Tex.
* Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah
* Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C.
* Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Tex.
* Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind.
* Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
* Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga.
* Sen. Bob Packwood, R-Ore.
* Sen. Alan Simpson, R-Wyo.
* Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C.
* House Democratic Leader Richard A. Gephardt, D-Mo.
* House Republican Leader Robert Michel, R-Ill.
* Rep. Newt Gingrich, R-Ga.
* Rep. Carlos Moorhead, R-Glendale
* Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Bakersfield
* Rep. David Dreier, R-San Dimas
* Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-El Cajon
* Rep. Robert K. Dornan, R-Garden Grove
* Rep. Elton Gallegly, R-Simi Valley
* Rep. Wally Herger, R-Rio Oso
* Rep. Christopher Cox, R-Newport Beach
* Rep. Jay C. Kim, R-Diamond Bar
* Rep. Howard P. McKeon, R-Santa Clarita
* Rep. Ed Royce, R-Fullerton
OTHER INVITED GUESTS
* The Rev. Billy Graham, officiant
* Lynda Johnson Robb, daughter of former President Lyndon B. Johnson
* Sen. Charles Robb, D-Va.
* George McGovern, Nixon’s 1972 presidential opponent
* Bob Strauss, chairman of the Democratic National Committee when Nixon was President
* Vernon Jordan, former president of the National Urban League
* Pete Wilson, California governor
* Kenneth M. Duberstein, former White House chief of staff
* Dwayne Andreas, former ambassador to the People’s Republic of China
* Buddy Ebsen, actor
* Bob Hope, comedian
* Red Skelton, comedian
* Rupert Murdoch, media executive
* Thomas F. Riley, O.C. supervisor
* Harriett M. Wieder, O.C. supervisor
* Gaddi H. Vasquez, O.C. supervisor
* William G. Steiner, O.C. supervisor
* Roger R. Stanton, O.C. supervisor
* Thomas A. Fuentes, O.C. Republican Party chairman
* Dan Quayle, former vice president
* Walter F. Mondale, former vice president
* Walter Annenberg, former U.S. ambassador
* George Argyros, O.C. businessman
* Reza and Ashraf Pahlavi, self-proclaimed Shah of Iran and his aunt
* Richard Riordan, L.A. mayor
* Jack Kemp, former secretary of housing and urban development
* Bebe Rebozo, Nixon friend
* Henry Segerstrom, O.C. businessman
* James B. Stockdale, retired vice admiral
* The Rev. Robert H. Schuller
* Howard H. Baker, former Senate minority leader, chief of staff in Reagan Administration and the ranking minority member on the Senate Watergate Committee
* Ji Chaozhu, United Nations undersecretary general from China
* James A. Baker III, former secretary of treasury and state in Reagan and Bush administrations
FOREIGN COUNTRIES REPRESENTED
Angola, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brunei, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Indonesia, India, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Maldives, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Suriname, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia.
Sources: Los Angeles Times, Associated Press
Maine Senate candidate Platner says tattoo recognized as Nazi symbol has been covered
PORTLAND, Maine — His U.S. Senate campaign under fire, Maine Democrat Graham Platner said Wednesday that a tattoo on his chest has been covered to no longer reflect an image widely recognized as a Nazi symbol.
The first-time political candidate said he got the skull and crossbones tattoo in 2007, when he was in his 20s and in the Marine Corps. It happened during a night of drinking while he was on leave in Croatia, he said, adding he was unaware until recently that the image has been associated with Nazi police.
Platner, in an Associated Press interview, said that while his campaign initially said he would remove the tattoo, he chose to cover it up with another tattoo due to the limited options where he lives in rural Maine.
“Going to a tattoo removal place is going to take a while,” he said. “I wanted this thing off my body.”
The initial tattoo image resembled a specific symbol of Hitler’s paramilitary Schutzstaffel, or SS, which was responsible for the systematic murders of millions of Jews and others in Europe during World War II. Platner didn’t offer details about the new tattoo, but offered to send the AP a photo later Wednesday.
The oyster farmer is mounting a progressive campaign against Republican Susan Collins, who has held the Senate seat for 30 years. The crowded Democratic primary field includes two-term Gov. Janet Mills.
Platner said he had never been questioned about the tattoo’s connections to Nazi symbols in the 20 years he has had it. He said it was there when he enlisted in the Army, which requires an examination for tattoos of hate symbols.
“I also passed a full background check to receive a security clearance to join the Ambassador to Afghanistan’s security detail,” Platner said.
Questions about the tattoo come after the recent discovery of Platner’s now-deleted online statements that included dismissing military sexual assaults, questioning Black patrons’ gratuity habits and criticizing police officers and rural Americans.
Platner has apologized for those comments, saying they were made after he left the Army in 2012, when he was struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
He has resisted calls to drop out of the race and has the backing of Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent who has described Platner as a stronger candidate for the seat than Mills. Another primary rival, Jordan Wood, a onetime chief of staff to former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., said Wednesday that Platner should drop out because “Democrats need to be able to condemn Trump’s actions with moral clarity” and Platner “no longer can.”
Platner said he was not ashamed to confront his past comments and actions because it reflects the lessons he needed to take to get where he is today.
“I don’t look at this as a liability,” he told the AP. “I look at this as is a life that I have lived, a journey that has been difficult, that has been full of struggle, that has also gotten me to where I am today. And I’m very proud of who I am.”
Platner planned a town hall Wednesday in Ogunquit, Maine.
Kruesi and Whittle write for the Associated Press. Kruesi reported from Providence, R.I.
Source link
RICHARD NIXON: 1913-1994 : Guest List Covered Wide Spectrum : Audience: Longtime allies, a few ex-enemies and representatives from 86 nations attended.
YORBA LINDA — Not all the President’s men were there, but enough to make a strong showing.
Former Cabinet members Henry A. Kissinger and Richard G. Kleindienst were in attendance. So were Watergate figures Maurice Stans, once finance chairman for Nixon’s re-election committee, and G. Gordon Liddy, the convicted mastermind of the bungled burglary.
Former Nixon spokesman Ron Ziegler and Counsel Chuck Colson also paid their respects. Jo Horton Haldeman, the widow of Nixon’s chief of staff, H. R. Haldeman, was in the audience. And so was Rose Mary Woods, the secretary who took responsibility for creating the infamous 18 1/2-minute gap on a critical Watergate tape.
But so was George McGovern, who was among the first named on Nixon’s infamous “enemies list,” and whose presence on the funeral’s exclusive guest list spoke more eloquently of reconciliation than some who eulogized the 37th President.
“This has been a reconciling day for me and, I think, for a lot of other people,” said McGovern, who as the Democratic nominee waged an acrimonious political fight against Nixon for the presidency in 1972 and was buried in a electoral landslide. “I kind of really feel like I’ve lost an old friend, even though we were bitter political enemies through the years.”
Colson, who spent seven months in prison for obstructing justice during the Watergate conspiracy, also spoke of healing.
“I think he achieved in death something he never quite achieved in life–to bring the nation together,” said Colson. “Maybe the wounds of Watergate are now, twenty-some years later, finally healed.”
The guest list for the funeral cut across a broad spectrum of Nixon’s political and private life: Republicans and Democrats, friends and former enemies, family members, entertainers, sports figures, religious leaders and many, many longtime staffers.
At the Yorba Linda Community Center, where many of the guests had gathered before the funeral, the Nixon faithful–wearing either purple or yellow “RN” badges that were their tickets to the funeral–embraced like long-lost friends.
Liddy and Howard H. Baker Jr., the former Tennessee senator and ranking minority member of the Judiciary Committee that held televised hearings on Watergate, rode over to the funeral site together on a shuttle.
Robert H. Finch, who served under Nixon as secretary of health, education and welfare, smiled and shook hands with Donald H. Rumsfeld, the secretary of defense under President Gerald R. Ford.
“I think the Nixon family can feel very, very good about what he accomplished, and who all is here,” Rumsfeld said. “A broad cross-section of the world is recognizing him for what he did.”
From across the Nixon years came Alexander M. Haig Jr., Haldeman’s replacement as chief of staff, and Caspar W. Weinberger, former secretary of health, education and welfare who became Ronald Reagan’s defense secretary. James R. Schlesinger, Nixon’s defense secretary, and William P. Rogers, his secretary of state, joined a few dozen others from the Nixon presidency, including political columnist and presidential aspirant Patrick J. Buchanan, security adviser Brent Scowcroft and former Atty. Gen. Elliot L. Richardson.
Even former Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, who before Nixon’s resignation left office himself in disgrace under a criminal indictment, and his wife, Judy, attended the funeral. Agnew had asked Julie Nixon Eisenhower if he would be welcome at the funeral and was assured that his presence was important. On Wednesday, he was greeted warmly.
“I’m here to pay my respects for (Nixon’s) accomplishments,” said Nixon’s vice president, who resigned in 1973 after pleading no contest to tax evasion. “It’s time to put aside 20 years of resentment, which is what I’m doing at this moment.”
More than 100 members of Congress were on the guest list, including 47 U.S. senators, House Speaker Thomas Foley (D-Wash.), Senate Democratic Leader George Mitchell of Maine and the California congressional delegation.
Representatives from across the globe, from Angola to Argentina and Singapore to Seychelles, also were in force. In all, 86 countries sent dignitaries to pay respects.
But Nixon had other admirers, too, who had little if anything to do with politics. Comedians Bob Hope and Red Skelton and actor Buddy Ebsen attended with their wives. Former Rams star Roosevelt Grier also attended.
“It was a good send-off to Richard Nixon and his future life,” said Ebsen, who also attended Pat Nixon’s funeral last summer. “There was a feeling of togetherness. It stepped across party lines and it was a beautiful happening. We need that to get all of us together.”
Said Hope: “He was a hell of a guy. Playing golf, you learn a lot about a guy’s character. His was a great character.”
The guest list was indeed impressive, with names like Walter Annenberg, George Argyros, Jesse Helms, William Lyon, Ashraf Pahlavi, Bebe Rebozo, Nelson Rockefeller, Henry Segerstrom, Mary Roosevelt and James B. Stockdale sprinkled throughout.
Orange County also had a large contingent, including a gathering of state senators and assemblymen. All five Orange County supervisors were also invited. The local Republican Central Committee distributed 100 tickets to elected officials, volunteers and others affiliated with the local party, chairman Thomas A. Fuentes said, and just about everyone who wanted in got in.
“It was dignified, sentimental and memorable,” Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder said. “I think it was Kissinger who said that when you look at the quality of a person and whether they lived well, you look at the entirety of the life. That’s how I remember Richard Nixon.”
Mourners spoke about healing and the inevitability that Nixon, in death, may finally have been absolved of his perceived sins.
Former Vice President Dan Quayle joked that Kissinger had captured it perfectly when he predicted that Nixon “would’ve liked to have read and reread all the favorable reviews that he’s had this last week.”
The Rev. Robert Schuller said he was pleased to see those reviews.
“I’m very grateful to God for the respect that’s been shown (Nixon) this last week,” said Schuller. “Society does not forgive. People tend to hold on to their hurts.”
But since Nixon’s death, Schuller said, the public is beginning to “recognize Nixon’s greatness.”
Times staff writers Alicia DiRado, Doreen Carvajal and Eric Lichtblau contributed to this report.
On the Guest List
The official U.S. delegation, members of Congress and the foreign delegation attending the funeral of Richard Nixon, according to the White House:
U.S. PRESIDENTS AND THEIR WIVES
* Bill and Hillary Clinton
* George and Barbara Bush
* Ronald and Nancy Reagan
* Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter
* Gerald and Betty Ford
NIXON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS
* Spiro T. Agnew, former vice president
* Peter J. Brennan, former labor secretary
* Frederick B. Dent, former commerce secretary
* Elliot L. Richardson, former attorney general and health, education and welfare secretary
* William P. Rogers, former secretary of state
* Henry A. Kissinger, former secretary of state
* James R. Schlesinger, former defense secretary
* Caspar W. Weinberger, former HEW secretary
* William B. Saxbe, former attorney general
* Alexander M. Haig Jr., former chief of staff
* Brent Scowcroft, former Nixon aide
* Herb Stein, former economic adviser
* James T. Lynn, former HUD secretary
* Charles W. Colson, former special counsel to the President
* Dwight L. Chapin, former deputy assistant to the President
* Kenneth H. Dahlberg, former Midwest finance chairman of the Committee for the Re-election of the President
* Richard G. Kleindienst, former U.S. attorney general
* Ronald L. Ziegler, former press secretary
* G. Gordon Liddy, former White House aide
* Herbert W. Kalmbach, personal attorney to Nixon
* Robert H. Finch, former secretary of health, education and welfare
* Patrick J. Buchanan, speech writer
* Rose Mary Woods, former secretary
* Lyn Nofziger, former staff member
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS
* Defense Secretary William Perry
* Army Gen. John Shalikashvili, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
* Thomas F. (Mack) McLarty, White House chief of staff
* Strobe Talbott, deputy secretary of state
* Carol Browner, Environmental Protection Agency administrator
* Phil Lader, White House deputy chief of staff
* Dee Dee Myers, White House press secretary
* David Gergen, counselor to the President
* Bruce Lindsey, senior presidential adviser
* W. Anthony Lake, national security adviser
* Lloyd Cutler, White House special counsel
* Robert Rubin, director of National Economic Council
* Mark Gearan, White House communications director
* Pat Griffin, White House congressional affairs lobbyist
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
More than 100 members were on the list. Among them:
* House Speaker Thomas Foley, D-Wash.
* Senate Democratic Leader George Mitchell, D-Me.
* Sen. Minority Leader Bob Dole, R-Kan.
* Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-N.Y.
* Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.
* Sen. John Danforth, R-Mo.
* Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M.
* Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.
* Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Tex.
* Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah
* Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C.
* Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Tex.
* Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind.
* Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
* Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga.
* Sen. Bob Packwood, R-Ore.
* Sen. Alan Simpson, R-Wyo.
* Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C.
* House Democratic Leader Richard A. Gephardt, D-Mo.
* House Republican Leader Robert Michel, R-Ill.
* Rep. Newt Gingrich, R-Ga.
* Rep. Carlos Moorhead, R-Glendale
* Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Bakersfield
* Rep. David Dreier, R-San Dimas
* Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-El Cajon
* Rep. Robert K. Dornan, R-Garden Grove
* Rep. Elton Gallegly, R-Simi Valley
* Rep. Wally Herger, R-Rio Oso
* Rep. Christopher Cox, R-Newport Beach
* Rep. Jay C. Kim, R-Diamond Bar
* Rep. Howard P. McKeon, R-Santa Clarita
* Rep. Ed Royce, R-Fullerton
OTHER INVITED GUESTS
* The Rev. Billy Graham, officiant
* Lynda Johnson Robb, daughter of former President Lyndon B. Johnson
* Sen. Charles Robb, D-Va.
* George McGovern, Nixon’s 1972 presidential opponent
* Bob Strauss, chairman of the Democratic National Committee when Nixon was President
* Vernon Jordan, former president of the National Urban League
* Pete Wilson, California governor
* Kenneth M. Duberstein, former White House chief of staff
* Dwayne Andreas, former ambassador to the People’s Republic of China
* Buddy Ebsen, actor
* Bob Hope, comedian
* Red Skelton, comedian
* Rupert Murdoch, media executive
* Thomas F. Riley, O.C. supervisor
* Harriett M. Wieder, O.C. supervisor
* Gaddi H. Vasquez, O.C. supervisor
* William G. Steiner, O.C. supervisor
* Roger R. Stanton, O.C. supervisor
* Thomas A. Fuentes, O.C. Republican Party chairman
* Dan Quayle, former vice president
* Walter F. Mondale, former vice president
* Walter Annenberg, former U.S. ambassador
* George Argyros, O.C. businessman
* Reza and Ashraf Pahlavi, self-proclaimed Shah of Iran and his aunt
* Richard Riordan, L.A. mayor
* Jack Kemp, former secretary of housing and urban development
* Bebe Rebozo, Nixon friend
* Henry Segerstrom, O.C. businessman
* James B. Stockdale, retired vice admiral
* The Rev. Robert H. Schuller
* Howard H. Baker, former Senate minority leader, chief of staff in Reagan Administration and the ranking minority member on the Senate Watergate Committee
* Ji Chaozhu, United Nations undersecretary general from China
* James A. Baker III, former secretary of treasury and state in Reagan and Bush administrations
FOREIGN COUNTRIES REPRESENTED
Angola, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brunei, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Indonesia, India, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Maldives, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Suriname, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia.
Sources: Los Angeles Times, Associated Press
Source link
I watched my dad die on party boat – ‘clueless’ staff covered him with towel & still partied…Why his death won’t be last
HOLIDAY booze cruises promise a carefree escape with sun, sea and endless partying – but beneath the decks and pounding music lies a darker reality.
For Nakita Colville, a pirate-themed boat trip in Turkey turned to tragedy when her father, Peter, suddenly died while swimming – but instead of rushing back to shore, staff told his shell-shocked daughter, “he’s dead, he’s gone”, covered his body with a towel, and told guests they would go ahead with a planned foam party.
13
13
13
In her first exclusive interview since her father’s heartbreaking death just nine weeks ago, on July 27, she told The Sun how “unbothered and clueless” staff on board just stood there watching as her dad died in front of his children and grandchildren.
She also warned that this wouldn’t be the last tragedy at sea onboard unregulated party boats with shoddy safety standards.
She tells The Sun: “I don’t think people are aware of how dangerous it can be until something like this happens to your family.
“Unless things change, I don’t think this will be the last death.”
Despite thousands of tourists signing up for boat parties and trips every year, what was once a thrill-filled novelty is now a high-risk activity, where the line between fun and danger is perilously thin.
And the risks are compounded once you step outside UK waters, where regulations can be patchy and enforcement inconsistent – and lax safety measures, unlimited drink offers, and drugs circulating on board create a perfect storm.
On one booze-filled stag-do party cruise in Lisbon, laddish “banter” led to the tragic death of city worker Nishanthan Gnanathas.
Thrown from a yacht into the River Tagus in November 2019, Nish – best man and beloved friend – hit his head on a balustrade before crashing into the icy water.
The coroner’s conclusion was stark – what happened was “horseplay that went tragically wrong”.
Dr Fiona Wilcox recorded a conclusion of misadventure, saying: “This was an absolutely tragic accident that could not have been reasonably anticipated.”
Maritime police chief Malaquais Dominguez said “it was a stupid joke between friends”.
“He was pushed and he went overboard. He disappeared in the water. I have no doubt they will live with this terrible moment for the rest of their lives,” Dominguez said.
The story echoes the growing unease around stag and party-boat culture abroad – where cheap alcohol, bravado, and ritualised pranks can lead to tragedy.
In Amsterdam, Neil Stewart’s fiancée arranged a surprise weekend in the Dutch capital – and told her it was “the happiest time of his life”.
But by the end of a night on a party boat, Stewart was dead, swallowed by the inky waters of the Noordzeekanaal after what witnesses believe began as a prank on board.
The Newcastle coroner’s inquest heard Stewart had taken cocaine and cannabis before boarding the boat for the Bounce Til I Die event.
Post-mortem tests later confirmed both in his system, along with traces of cannabis from a “space cake” eaten earlier in a café.
A witness said she saw Stewart “deliberately jump” from the smoking deck and initially thought it was “a silly prank” – especially as he seemed to be laughing in the water before he drowned, and Stewart’s body was recovered two weeks later.
13
13
13
‘Pirate ship’ tragedy
On July 27, grandfather Peter Colville, 60, from Woking, died on board a pirate-themed boat trip in Alanya, Turkey.
Daughter Nakita, 27, told how her father and nine other family members, including children, had boarded the boat.
The “luxury pirate ship” promised entertainment, DJs and a foam party, along with two swim stops for guests to go snorkelling.
The family paid over £200 for tickets to board the “luxurious six-deck yacht” – called Legend Big Kral – at an excursion centre.
Everyone was enjoying the music, blue seas and stunning views of the Mediterranean as the boat, carrying some 600 passengers according to Nakita, set sail.
Nakita, an admin assistant, said: “My dad is very safety-conscious, and I remember as we walked onto the boat, he said it was strange they didn’t seem to tick off names, hand out wristbands or get waivers signed.
“At that point, we just brushed it off – we never could have known what was to come.”
The first swim stop came and went, with most of Nakita’s family getting into the water, including property maintenance boss Peter – who was an avid snorkeller.
13
13
Nakita recalled feeling strange that only the children were given life jackets.
So, being a weaker swimmer, when the second swim stop came at Cleopatra Beach, she opted not to go back in.
But confident swimmer Peter, and Nakita’s brother-in-law, Ben Diamond, 35, were keen to get back in the water again.
The pair were happy snorkelling together one minute – and the next, Nakita heard screams of panic.
She says: “I looked into the water and saw my dad’s face, floating, and people scrambling to get him out of the water.
“My sister and I ran down – and she screamed, ‘Oh my God, he is going purple’.”
Nakita said guests dragged Peter, a dad-of-seven and grandfather-of-six, onto the deck, and one began administering CPR.
As Nakita’s family – along with countless other guests – crowded around, “screaming and horrified”, she claims “unbothered and clueless” staff on board “just stood there watching”.
She alleged staff on board repeated, “he’s dead, he’s gone” before a member of the team suggested covering Peter’s body with a towel – before the coastguard even arrived.
Nakita says: “There didn’t seem to be any system in place to deal with an emergency situation. There didn’t seem to be a plan.
“He was laid on the deck – and then nothing. No proper procedure, no clearing the deck of onlookers, no immediate CPR. They stood there with their arms crossed, clueless.
“Some seemed like they weren’t bothered, some of the younger staff members looked like they felt bad that they didn’t know what to do.
“It didn’t feel like they were adequately first-aid trained. It was the guests giving my dad CPR.”
13
13
13
She claims she asked staff if the boat carried a defibrillator and was told by a crew member that they didn’t have one as they “couldn’t keep it charged”.
She said: “I found that strange, as they had electricity for the DJ decks and foam machines.”
According to UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency advice, all ships should undertake a risk assessment, but “as a general guide, vessels in regular operation carrying in excess of 100 persons” should carry a defib.
But many holiday booze cruises operate in foreign ports with looser safety standards, overcrowded decks, and minimal oversight.
Life jackets may be scarce, crew training is often insufficient, and emergency procedures can be a little more than a box-ticking exercise.
Nakita said the event was so traumatising that her mother and Peter’s wife, Rosalind Colville, 53, collapsed from shock.
And Nakita says it was also guests on board helping Rosalind by bringing her water and getting her a chair – rather than staff.
Nakita says: “My sister and I were just holding my dad’s hand, screaming.
“As far as we knew, or he knew, he was healthy – we have no idea what happened.
“He was smart – if he had been, or felt, unwell, he wouldn’t have got in the water.
“They had covered him with a towel before the coastguard even arrived.”
When they did finally arrive 40 minutes later, Peter was taken to hospital.
The family were asked whether they wished to remain on the boat for the rest of the trip, or get off and go to hospital with him.
The family – including two of his grandchildren – were taken off the boat, and at the hospital Peter was confirmed dead.
Nakita says she learned from other guests at their hotel, who were also on board the boat, that after her family left, the party continued.
The law… and how to stay safe
DAVID McFarlane (Master Mariner), from Maritime Risk and Safety Consultants Ltd in the UK, said crew members on party boats should be adequately trained to deal with emergencies – including saving persons from the water and giving first aid to casualties.
He told The Sun: “With regards to drinking alcohol, there are no distinct rules concerning passengers although crews will be subject to the local law and generally many shipping companies do not allow alcohol to be consumed at all by the crew, but it is up to individual companies to make that decision and on how to implement it.
“All would appear to involve quite heavy drinking by passengers and this is also evident when looking at some adverts on the likes of Facebook.
“It is difficult to see how this practice can be changed; the passenger may see drinking as part of the party experience and the company will no doubt be looking at the profits being made at the bar.
“However, the dangers associated with drinking alcohol cannot be overstated.
“While the sea temperatures in the Mediterranean are much warmer than around our coastline, alcohol reduces the blood sugar levels and this can impair the response to cold with a person losing body heat faster than normal.
“But large amounts of alcohol (and drug consumption) will also impair the individual’s mental faculties that will have to be relied on when getting into difficulty in the water.
“The effects will also impair people’s perception of risk and safety and not worry about leaping into the water or the risk of drowning.
“No one wants to stop people enjoying themselves but there definitely does have to be an element of control.
“This is a very difficult equation to balance for an operator of these vessels. There is profit versus safety.
“But also, the risk of legal action against a company (or individual within that company) when something goes wrong.”
She claims she learned the crew even hosted a foam party for the remaining traumatised passengers.
She said: “I was told the remaining guests were told ‘sorry for the delay’ and they carried on with the party.
“Apparently, it was disturbing – nobody else on board even wanted to party after what they had just witnessed.”
Nakita had to break the news by phone to her four brothers and their families back home.
Postmortems were conducted in Turkey and back in the UK when his body was brought home.
Nakita said neither could find a cause of death, so investigations are ongoing as the family tries to grieve the loss of their beloved father and grandfather.
One Tripadvisor review from the day of the tragedy read: “The way it was handled by the crew was nothing short of horrifying.
“It is unsafe, unprofessional, and the crew is neither trained nor emotionally capable of handling emergencies – or tragedies.”
But Nakita fears tourists don’t realise the risks associated with excursions like this one.
She says: “With these trips, even if safety measures are in place, there are always risks.
“Thinking back, I don’t think there were enough crew members for the number of people on the boat, and to be able to watch all the people swimming in the water.
“We can’t say it was the company’s fault that he died, but maybe he could have been saved.”
Legend Big Kral did not respond to a request for a comment, but a representative did contact Nakita directly after her original story was shared.
They claimed that all ten staff members were first aid trained.
Nakita says the representative also claimed that Peter passed of a heart attack – a fact which has not been confirmed yet by two post-mortems. Coroners say it is still being investigated.
For many Brits, holiday booze cruises start as a fantasy: sun, cheap drinks and a chance to let loose, far away from the office or family life.
But increasingly, these trips are leaving more than just a hangover in their wake.
13
13
Source link
Mould covered the bathroom of my new home – I felt sick but banished it in minutes with a single buy, it’s the best
BANISHING mould from your home can feel like a never-ending chore.
From constant bleaching to pricey products that don’t work, there’s loads of stuff out there, but more often than not the mould returns.
2
2
That was cleaning whizz Nicola’s experience until she discovered a product that actually works and stops mould from coming back.
Taking to Instagram, Nicole explained how the Mould Magic gel worked wonders in her new home.
“If you haven’t seen this before you need to get some, it works on so many different surfaces but I used it mainly on grout in the bathroom,” Nicola explained.
In the viral clip she showed what the bathroom looked like when she first moved in, and sure enough the walls were covered in mould.
The formula is especially easy to apply because it comes in a tube with a nozzle designed to get into those hard to reach places.
Not only that, but according to Nicola the formula is also non-drip, so you don’t have to worry about it slipping and sliding away.
After a couple of hours the product can then be wiped away, leaving your bathroom mould free.
“The mould never comes back,” the cleaning whizz added.
Unsurprisingly, fellow cleaning fans were wowed by the before and after snaps of the bathroom.
One commented on the clip: “It’s brilliant for washing machines too.”
“Oo, thanks I’ll be getting this,” another said.
“Omg we recently got mould in out shower and it’s right in the grout so this will be great,” a third chimed in.
Meanwhile, others wanted to know if the product would work on painted walls and Nicola revealed she’d tried Mould Magic there too and was impressed with the results.
The product can be bought online for as little as £9.95 too, so it won’t break the bank.
More mould cleaning tips and tricks
Use household items
If it’s too late, and any condensation has had a chance to flourish and turn into mould, you can start removing it for nothing.
Natalie, from Which?, said: “A few drops of washing up liquid mixed with warm water can work on smaller areas of mould on hard surfaces like walls or floors.
“Use a sponge, cloth, or brush to work the soapy solution in small circular motions over the mould.
“If you’re trying to remove particularly stubborn mould, try a 1:1 solution of white vinegar and warm water and pour it into a spray bottle to target the affected area.”
If you’ve got a bit more in your budget, you can try buying mould or mildew remover from your nearest supermarket or retailer.
You can get it as cheap as £1.20 from B&M or £2.50 from Dunelm, at the time of writing.
Call in the professionals
You can usually treat smaller patches of mould yourself, but if the problem has gotten out of hand, you might need to call someone in.
Natalie said: “If you find new mould growing quickly in other areas of your home, or the affected area becomes too large to handle, it may be time to get professional help.”
Checkatrade says it costs £25-£35 per hour or £200-£400 per room to call someone in for mould removal.
Meanwhile if you want a specialist to come and take a look to inspect for any mould, that will cost you around £50-£300.
What is mould and how to get rid of it?
Mould is more likely to grow during the winter months.
Olivia Young, Product Development Scientist at Astonish revealed exactly why this is.
“Unfortunately, mould is a common problem many people face during winter. It thrives in conditions that are warm and damp, so your bathrooms are likely to be the most affected place.
“That said, during the colder months most rooms in your home could be vulnerable to mould growing.
“This occurs primarily from condensation that builds up on your windows when you’ve got your radiators on.
“If you think about it, when windows and doors are closed, there’s not much chance for the air to circulate and the moisture to make a swift exit.
“This build up is what can cause dreaded mould to make an appearance, especially in bathrooms, as it creates that warm and wet environment that is a breeding ground for mould.
“If left untreated, not only is it unsightly but it can also pose a serious risk to your health, so it’s really important you treat it.
“The key to tackle mould is to act fast.
“Try to come into as little contact with it as you can. So, grab your gloves, tie up your hair and get to work to remove any signs of mould as soon as you notice them.
“To keep mould at bay, there are some simple solutions you can introduce throughout home.
“The first is keep it ventilated. Yes, even in the cold winter months try to leave your bathroom window open for at least 10/15 minutes post shower or bath. This will get rid of any excess moisture quickly preventing mould gathering.
“If you’re having a repeat problem with mould in one particular area, it might be because the humidity levels are too high. You can get a dehumidifier that will help keep the levels low and reduce the risk of mould returning.
“The golden rule to remember when dealing with mould is the quicker you can treat it, the better. If you leave it, it will only get worse so never ignore it!
“To successfully get rid of mould every time, I recommend opting for the UK’s No 1 Mould & Mildew Remover, that effectively removes mould and mildew stains almost instantly, with no scrubbing necessary.”
Source link