Checkers speech

speech by Nixon

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 24, 2026

Quick Summary

The "Checkers" speech was a pivotal address delivered by Richard Nixon on September 23, 1952, during his campaign for Vice President. Nixon was accused of maintaining a secret political slush fund. In a televised speech, he acknowledged the fund but denied any improper use, detailing his family's finances to prove he hadn't profited. He famously stated that despite criticism, his family would keep a cocker spaniel named Checkers, a gift for his daughter. This speech, demonstrating Nixon's adeptness at using television for political "spin," garnered public support and secured his place on the Republican ticket with Dwight D. Eisenhower.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Richard Nixon
Vice presidency
…televised address, the so-called “Checkers” speech, in which he acknowledged the existence of the fund but denied that any of it had been used improperly. To demonstrate that he had not enriched himself in office, he listed his family’s financial assets and liabilities in embarrassing detail, noting that his…
Read More
…televised address, the so-called “Checkers” speech, in which he acknowledged the existence of the fund but denied that any of it had been used improperly. To demonstrate that he had not enriched himself in office, he listed his family’s financial assets and liabilities in embarrassing detail, noting that his…
Read More

Television in the United States
Nixon’s Checkers speech
…people in a nationally televised speech, for which his party bought time in the slot following the popular The Texaco Star Theatre. The choice of time slot and the speech itself exhibited a stunning level of acumen regarding the power and workings of television. Nixon brought his wife onto the…
Read More
…people in a nationally televised speech, for which his party bought time in the slot following the popular The Texaco Star Theatre. The choice of time slot and the speech itself exhibited a stunning level of acumen regarding the power and workings of television. Nixon brought his wife onto the…
Read More

United States presidential election of 1952
General election campaign
…has been dubbed the “Checkers” speech, in which he acknowledged the existence of the fund but denied that any of it had been used improperly. The speech is perhaps best remembered for its maudlin conclusion, in which Nixon admitted accepting one political gift—a cocker spaniel that his six-year-old daughter,…
Read More
…has been dubbed the “Checkers” speech, in which he acknowledged the existence of the fund but denied that any of it had been used improperly. The speech is perhaps best remembered for its maudlin conclusion, in which Nixon admitted accepting one political gift—a cocker spaniel that his six-year-old daughter,…
Read More