Unificationists Inspire President Nixon At The National Christmas Tree Lighting

At the Christmas Tree Lighting, President Nixon smiles and waves to Unificationists who chant: “We want the president, We want the president …”

True Father issued his “Answer to Watergate” on November 30, 1973. He then organized the National Prayer and Fast for the Watergate Crisis Committee (NPFWC), which organized vigils, rallies, letter- writing and leafleting in all 50 states in accordance with its “Forgive, Love, Unite” theme.

A highlight was the December 1973 National Christmas Tree Lighting at which President Richard Nixon turned on the lights of a new permanent national Christmas tree near the White House. According to one press account, the president “was greeted by several thousand wildly cheering young supporters who carried signs that read ‘God Loves America. God Loves Nixon. Support the President.’”

Unificationists gathered at Lafayette Park across from the White House held a candlelight rally during which President Nixon emerged from the White House and crossed over to the park with a security escort to greet and thank them. HSA-UWC President Neil Salonen presented the president with a poster-size Christmas card and a huge candle which he told the president was big enough to burn for the duration of his term.

At Rev. Moon’s suggestion, a plan had been made for four large Unificationists, who called themselves the “four horsemen,” to pick up President Nixon and carry him around Lafayette Park on their shoulders. However, President Neil Salonen called off the plan, at the last minute, due to security concerns.