Letters of Support · Finding a Home for Tricky Dicky: the Nixon-Duke Presidential Library Controversy

The Nixon-Duke Library Proposal quickly gained the attention of virtually everyone on campus and beyond. Letters from faculty, alumni, and even nonaffiliated individuals began to pour in to President Sanford’s office. There were eloquent position papers, along with accusations scribbled on newspaper clippings. Though letters from supporters of the proposal were few and far between, English professor Edwin Cady and Curator of Manuscripts Mattie Russell were perhaps stronger voices of support.

Letter, Erwin Cady to Sanford, August 15, 1981. Nixon Library Controversy Reference Collection, 1981-2001, Duke University Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Edwin Cady, a senior professor from the English department, wrote Sanford after being made aware of the proposal through Dean Goodwin. He acknowledges where the concerns about Nixon come in, but quickly points out the other side’s “mistake”. This “mistake” is then cited by supporters many times: “the opposers operate in too narrow a time frame… far too now-minded”. He went on to say that “a great university lives in a time frame wholly other from the brief spans of the people who build at it through centuries as others erect cathedrals”. This is so eloquently put and to the point that Sanford and the Board of Trustees adopted the rhetoric, and urged the opposition to first, think long-term, and then, not fear by association.

This same letter also started a debate because of the way it was distributed. August 18^th, 10 days after the proposal was first mentioned in a confidential memo, Sanford sent out a letter to the Alumni body, informing them of the proposal and invited them to express their opinions. Cady’s letter to Sanford was printed on the back page of the letter, and according to Sanford, “the arguments on both sides are succinctly covered”, though it was clearly only a letter of support.

Letter, Mattie Russell to Sanford, August 13, 1981. Nixon Library Controversy Reference Collection, 1981-2001, Duke University Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Mattie Russell was the curator of manuscripts and a member of the Southern Historical Association on the National Archives Advisory Council. In what’s obviously a letter of support and encouragement, Russell first congratulated Sanford for “the vision and magnanimity you have demonstrated in approaching Mr. Nixon”. She then elaborated extensively on the scholarly value of such proposed library while dismissing the concern about glorification and rehabilitation of Nixon as minor and insignificant. She drew a comparison between Sanford and ex-president Few, during the expansion from Trinity College to Duke University. Russell was put on the Subcommittee of Library Relations for her expertise and her understanding of archives. She continued to support the proposal and was perhaps the most persistent and vocal supporter.