The Story of Tricia Nixon’s Wedding ceremony Costume in 1971

An early sketch of Tricia Nixon’s marriage ceremony gown.

The robe was designed by Priscilla Kidder, of Priscilla of Boston bridal salon. Kidder, additionally notably designed the robes for Grace Kelly’s bridesmaids for her royal marriage ceremony to Prince Rainier in 1956. In 1966, she designed Luci Baines Johnson’s gown (President Lyndon B. Johnson’s daughter) for her White Home marriage ceremony reception, and in 1968, she dressed Tricia’s older sister, Julie Nixon, for her marriage ceremony to Dwight “David” Eisenhower II, the grandson of former president Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Tricia’s sister Julie Nixon’s gown was additionally designed by Priscilla of Boston. Tricia, in pink, was her maid of honor at her December 1968 marriage ceremony.

From her expertise dressing First Daughters, Kidder was a pure alternative for Nixon’s gown, however the alternative of a sleeveless robe was a controversial one on the time; in keeping with the New York Instances, it was “thought of unusually revealing for that decade.” Kidder was described on the time as “the queen of Alencon lace, phantasm silk and removable trains.”

Tricia’s gown was designed by priscilla kidder

Writing for the Richard Nixon Basis, historian Jennifer Boswell Pickens explains, “Kidder took many precautions to guard the design of the bride’s gown. Tricia recollects after seeing the unique sketches she shared with Priscilla that her favourite interval of trend was extra of the Edwardian type and that she most popular one thing less complicated. The 2 had a detailed working relationship for Priscilla had even created her debutante robe years earlier, together with lots of her mom’s, the First Girl’s ensembles.”

Pickens continues, “Priscilla flew from Boston with the marriage robe in her personal suitcase the place she would strap it right into a first-class seat beside her for a becoming. (Reportedly the airline was going to cost her half fare for the case, however when Priscilla informed them that Luci Johnson’s robe had flown free of charge the airline succumbed). The top end result was an ideal robe for the bride.”

Tricia Nixon and Edward Finch Cox after they exchanged marriage ceremony vows in a White Home rose backyard ceremony.

Kidder additionally designed clothes for the bridesmaids and the mom of the bride.

On her marriage ceremony day, Tricia integrated the normal one thing outdated, one thing new, one thing borrowed, and one thing blue. Her “one thing outdated” was her engagement ring, which belonged to Cox’s grandmother, her “one thing new” was the gown, her “one thing borrowed” was her sister’s diamond and pearl drop earrings, and her “one thing blue” was an inscription inside her gown in blue thread, which learn “Robe by Priscilla of Boston for the White Home marriage of Tricia Nixon to Edward Finch Cox, June 12, 1971.”

A memo launched by the White Home on the time provides the total particulars of Tricia’s robe, describing it as “silk organdy appliqued with Alencon lace and embroidered lilies of the valley over silk crepe”:

White Home weddings are considerably akin to America’s equal of a royal marriage ceremony; by the way, Tricia Cox practically dated Prince Charles. The now King Charles recalled in 2015 that in his first go to to the U.S. in 1970, “they have been attempting to marry me off to Tricia Nixon.” The 2 danced on the White Home, and Tricia informed reporters that the Prince of Wales is an “wonderful dancer,” and that the White Home “goes to appear empty with out them.”

But, it was not a match, and Tricia married legislation pupil Edward Finch Cox a 12 months later.

Tricia Nixon and Edward Cox pose for a proper portrait.