Health and Medical History of President

Richard Nixon

It is widely believed that Nixon ordered US military forces to DEFCON 3 during the Arab-Israeli war of 1973 to warn the Soviet Union that American vital interests were at stake. In fact, the National Security Advisor, Henry Kissinger, gave the order alone (which included launch of nuclear-armed B-52 bombers to airborne holding points). Nixon was indisposed, having "sufferred something like a nervous breakdown, telling Kissinger that he was being attacked [by his critics in the worsening Watergate scandal] 'because of their desire to kill the President. And they may succeed. I may physically die.'" 5a

In Nixon's final days as President, Schlesinger instructed the military to double-check attack orders from the White House with him or with Secretary of State Henry Kissinger 7. It has been correctly stated that "This was an unambiguously illegal circumvention of the president's authority. But everyone should be grateful Schlesinger acted." 7

Dr. Zebra also remembers the sweat on Nixon's upper lip during the speech. A commentator at the time said it was a chronic problem for Nixon, but in this case no attempt was made to disguise it.

About this time, the Secretary of Defense, James Schlesinger, told the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to get his (Schlesinger's) approval before executing "any emergency order coming from the president" 9a.

On October 23, he had groin pain and persistent left leg enlargement. He was re-admitted to the hospital. A retrograde venogram showed a clot extending into the left iliac vein. On October 29 Dr. Eldon Hickman performed a one-hour operation, clipping the vein above the clot. 2

The remainder of the hospital course was difficult. About six hours post-operatively, Nixon stood up to urinate and fainted. Fearing a bleed, his anti-coagulation was stopped and reversed (with vitamin K) and he was given three units of packed red cells. Platelets and more red cells were given in the days to come. Nixon developed a large hematoma in the flank, and a left pleural effusion (felt secondary to the bleed). 2 Comment: Thus, Nixon had the Grey Turner sign of retroperitoneal hemorrhage.

When discharged on November 14, he had lost 15 pounds, was depressed, and tired. 2

In his Sept. 8 speech granting Nixon's pardon, President Ford cited the threat to Nixon's health as part of the justification for the pardon 3c. Ford visited Nixon in the hospital in October 3d.

On Nov. 25, the physicians found Nixon unsteady on his feet, quiet, subdued, and appearing chronically ill. Nixon told "how awful the intravenous Heparin therapy" had been in the hospital. He took one or two short walks each day, still had pain in his leg, had difficulty concentrating, had noticed a change in personality, had a poor appetite, and was sleeping 12 hours a day (never sleeping more than 7 previously). The physicians examined him (see 2 for findings).

The physicians concluded that Nixon could clearly not travel, and could not even give a deposition at his home for another 6 weeks. 2