Edward Nixon

Edward Calvert Nixon was born on May 3, 1930, in Whittier, California. He was the youngest child of Francis Nixon and Hannah Nixon. He had four siblings, including his elder brother Richard Nixon, who served as the 37th President of the United States. His brothers Harold Nixon (1909–1933), Donald Nixon (1914–1987), and Arthur Nixon (1918–1925) predeceased him, with Harold and Arthur passing away at young ages before Edward's birth.

Nixon graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1952. He furthered his education at North Carolina State College, earning a Master of Science degree in geology in 1954. His academic background was complemented by a career in the United States Navy, where he served until 1962 as a naval aviator and helicopter flight instructor.

Throughout his professional life, Nixon maintained a focus on energy and resource utilization. He was considered an expert on global energy consumption, providing consultancy services to various companies on natural resource management. Additionally, he held academic roles, including serving as an assistant professor of naval science at the University of Washington. Nixon also earned credentials as a helicopter flight instructor.

Involvement in his brother Richard Nixon’s political campaigns was a significant aspect of his extracurricular activities. He served as co-chairman of Richard Nixon's 1972 presidential campaign. During the Watergate scandal investigations in 1974, Edward Nixon was the first witness for the defense in the conspiracy trial of Maurice Stans and John N. Mitchell. His testimony challenged the statements of two of the prosecution's key witnesses. That same year, information was disclosed linking Charles Rebozo to a purported campaign contribution to President Nixon's secretary, Rose Mary Woods, and to Edward and Donald Nixon, raising questions about campaign finance matters.

From 1971 until his death, Edward Nixon was the president of Nixon World Enterprises, Inc., an international consulting firm headquartered in Washington state. His career also included teaching roles; he served as an assistant professor of naval science at the University of Washington and worked as a helicopter flight instructor.

In 2009, Nixon co-authored and published a memoir titled "The Nixons: A Family Portrait" with Karen L. Olson, providing a familial perspective on his life and his family's history.

In his personal life, Edward Nixon married Gay Lynne Woods on June 1, 1957. The couple resided for a period in Alderwood Manor, a suburb of Seattle, Washington. Gay Lynne Woods was a schoolteacher at Woodway High School and Meadowdale Junior High School in Edmonds. Together, they had two daughters, Amelie Peiffer and Elizabeth Matheny. Edward Nixon and his wife remained married for 56 years until her death on January 20, 2014.

Edward Nixon was the last surviving sibling of the Nixon family, following the death of Richard Nixon in 1994. He passed away at a nursing facility in Bothell, Washington, on February 27, 2019, at the age of 88.

In popular culture, Edward Nixon was portrayed by Mikey Stone in the 1995 film "Nixon" directed by Oliver Stone.