Buzz
Long before Bill Clinton played the saxophone with Arsenio Hall’s band and Barack Obama sang a snippet of “Let’s Stay Together,” another U.S. president revealed an unexpected aspiration: Richard Nixon once shared his desire to pursue a career in rap music.
This surprising revelation resurfaced in 1997 when a Washington Post reporter, exploring the Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, California, stumbled upon one of the countless recordings made by the former president—both during and after his tenure. Nixon, who resigned in 1974 due to the Watergate scandal, was heard saying:
“I’ve often wondered if a talented rap group had existed back then, I might have opted for a life in music rather than politics.”
Long before the notion of the reserved and serious Nixon rapping became a topic of discussion, media outlets had fun imagining his potential stage names, with Trik-E-Dik being a memorable suggestion. However, the idea wasn’t as far-fetched as it might appear. As a child, Nixon’s mother, Hannah, purchased multiple instruments for him, such as a piano, clarinet, saxophone, accordion, and violin. Young Nixon diligently practiced the piano daily after school. He even showcased his musical talent on The Jack Paar Program in 1963, where he played a self-composed piano concerto:
Nixon passed away in 1994, a few years after the quote emerged, but he never publicly commented on it.
In 1990, Spy magazine inquired with Kid, from the famous duo Kid ‘n Play, about how a Nixon rap performance might unfold. “I imagine him as a solo rapper, likely accompanied by two dancers,” he remarked. “They’d probably wear something resembling intelligence or Watergate break-in outfits … he’s skilled at cutting, especially tape.”
