Some great poker trivia,
poker stories, poker myths and poker
quotes.
Richard Nixon -
Poker Professional?
Richard Nixon's poker career
Former U.S. President
Richard Nixon, even though raised as an
evangelical Quaker, meaning strictly no drinking,
dancing, gambling, or swearing, loved to play
poker. He reportedly financed his first political
campaign with money he won playing poker in the
U.S. Navy during World War II. The winnings helped
pay for his successful U.S. Congress run in
1946. While he was in the US Navy in
World War II, he aledegdly won over $10,000 in his
first two months playing poker.
Quite a bit of cash in
those days! His Navy nickname was " Nick " - maybe
because he nicked more than a few sailors! He
became such as dedicated player that he once
turned down a chance to have dinner with Charles
Lindbergh when it conflicted with a
game.
Apparently, Nixon
decided that his lucrative pastime would not sit
well as his political career gained momentum, and
he gave up poker in 1952 when he became Dwight
Eisenhower's running mate.
In his
autobiography, Nixon wrote: "I learned that the
people who have the cards are usually the ones who
talk the least and the softest; those who are
bluffing tend to talk loudly and give themselves
away."