He felt it was important for the first native-born Californian to be elected President to make the West Coast feel - and be - included in the work of the Government based all the way across the continent.
The Nixon's found a historic old Spanish Colonial style home in the small town of San Clemente. In the 1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt had been a guest at the house, and played poker in its small gazebo overlooking the ocean.
The President named their new home La Casa Pacifica - "The House of Peace." The media and the Administration dubbed it the "Western White House."
Many historic events took place at La Casa Pacifica. South Vietnam's President Nguyen Van Thieu came for meetings after the Paris Peace Accords ended the Vietnam War. In the summer of 1973, Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev stayed overnight as the two leaders conducted a series of discussions about the Middle East and signed an agreement to work together toward the prevention of nuclear war.
- La Casa Pacifica
An aerial view of La Casa Pacifica in December 1969. The Western White House complex is at the upper right. - Leonid Brezhnev
President Nixon and Soviet Leader Brezhnev shake hands outside La Casa Pacifica after signing the 1973 Joint U.S. - U.S.S.R. Communique at the end of the Second Soviet Summit in June 1973. - Golf Cart
When the Nixon's Arrived on the helipad at the Western White House complex in San Clemente, they used a golf cart for the ride to their home, La Casa Pacifica.
The home was purchased by President and Mrs. Nixon in 1969, and served as his working Western White House through August of 1974.
- President and Mrs. Nixon hosted various head of state officials at La Casa Pacifica, including South Vietnamese President Nguyer Van Thieu and General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev from the USSR.
The Nixon's lived at the home continuously from his resignation until 1980.
- During the Second Soviet Summit, President Nixon and General Secretary Brezhnev talk informally in Nixon's upstairs study at La Casa Pacifica
I would very much like that the name of this house, La Casa Pacifica, would be symbolic. I would very much like that our relations go down in history as relations of peace, of friendship, of mutual respect between our peoples so that there is no more war.- Leonid Brezhnev, June 1873
- President Nixon says goodbye to South Vietnam's President Nguyen Van Thieu after their April 1973 meeting at the Western White House.
Government is not an exclusively Eastern institution ... The San Clemente operation gives Westerners a symbolic share in the business of government, pulling West closer to East and unifying the nation.-Herbert Klein, White House Communications Director, July 1970
- Nixon and actor John Wayne in the President's office at the Western White House.
Before a dinner party at La Casa Pacifica, the Nixon's sit with their guests
- Comedian Bob Hope
- Tricia Nixon
- Pat Nixon
- Congressman Gerald Ford
- Deloris Hope
- President Nixon
- Betty Ford
- Henry Kissinger
- Golf Pro Arnold Palmer
- Governor and Mrs. Reagan with Mrs. Nixon and President Nixon at La Casa Pacifica in July 1970
- President Nixon meets with West Coast scientific leaders at the Western White House - April 1971
- President Nixon greets Henry Kissinger on the helipad at the Western White House as the National Security Advisor returns from Polo 1 - his first secrete trip to the People's Republic of China- July 1971
The formal entertaining and social functions took place within the beautiful 14 rooms of La Casa Pacifica or around the swimming pool the Nixon's installed in place of a tennis court.
The rest of the work, including Cabinet and National Security meetings, took place in the collection of temporary office buildings that transformed the adjacent Coast Guard station into a working White House. These included a small suite of offices, conference and briefing rooms, and all the communications and office equipment necessary to conduct the country's business 3,000 miles from Washington, D.C.
- President Nixon holds a press conference in front of La Casa Pacifica- August 1973
- The President with his Irish Setter King Timahoe outside La Casa Pacifica
- Shows the original "La Casa Pacifica," close to Trestles Beach in San Clemente, California, December 11, 1969.
- Helicopter Pad
- Western White House
- La Casa Pacifica
- The President and Mrs. Nixon in the living room of their San Clemente home La Casa Pacifica
- Re-creation of President Nixon’s study at La Casa Pacifica
- At his Western White House desk, President Nixon signs Executive Order 11588 providing for stabilization of wages and prices in the construction industry.
- President Nixon, Governor Ronald Reagan, and other officials emerge from meeting in the Administration Building at the Western White House - April 1971
- President Nixon enjoys some reading by the pool at La Casa Pacifica - March 29, 1971
- A view of La Casa Pacifica from the driveway
- The Nixon's sit on a carved log bench overlooking the Pacific Ocean on the grounds of their home, La Casa Pacifica, in January 1971
- by artist Malcom Wilson 1999
