Commemorative stamp honors Nixon

YORBA LINDA, Calif. (AP)ÄOn the eve of the anniversary of former President Richard M. Nixon's funeral, his daughters unveiled a commemorative postage stamp in his honor.

''He was so proud to serve America,'' Julie Nixon Eisenhower said at ceremonies yesterday on the grounds of the Nixon Library & Birthplace.

''The Postal Service is proud to recognize the 37th president of the United States,'' Postmaster General Marvin Runyon said.

He joined Nixon's daughters, Mrs. Eisenhower and Tricia Nixon Cox, in pulling the blue shroud off a giant replica of the stamp. It features a smiling likeness of Nixon in a business suit.

Nixon was buried on the library grounds April 27, 1994. He died five days earlier after suffering a massive stroke.

More than 2,000 people witnessed the ceremony in the library gardens, including Nixon's brother, Ed.

It was the first presidential stamp issue since Lyndon B. Johnson, whose stamp was released in 1973.

There was no mention of the Watergate scandal that brought down Nixon, the nation's first chief executive to resign in disgrace. Nixon turned over the reigns of power to Gerald Ford on Aug. 9, 1974.

The 32-cent, first-class stamp goes on sale nationwide Thursday.

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