family life is large and in -- will enrich our own. our every day for the very happy future and i know it will be hours. and for the very happy tomorrow that we will all share together. ♪ ♪ ♪

the first rose garden wedding. the naval photographic center produced this film. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [applause] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ one of the most important days and trisha nixon's life was --

the wedding was over, but a new life and career was just commencing. at a press conference, she once said, the most important thing in life it's something you can't really define. you can say, i love this about a person. he's very intelligent. but then there are these little intangibles that you just can't define. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> the events leading up to this memorable day all started back on the night of march 16th. the father of the bride to be announced his daughter's engagement. the occasion was and evening at the white house, a celebration in honor of the prime minister of ireland and mrs. nixon's birthday.

>> i understand that i'm supposed to make a surprise announcement. >> [laughs] >> the difficulty is that every time i'm supposed to make a surprise announcement, i find that in some way it is leaked before i get to make it. and this seems to be no exception. under the circumstances, at first i was wondering whether making an announcement to this very distinguished group of our very close friends from all over the united states, making such an announcement would seem to be an anti climax for this wonderful evening. but i discussed it with the prime minister and he has given his permission and he is one who has such great success. and i will take his advice. he tells me that even though the information may have leaked

out, until i say it, it's not official. >> [laughs] >> and so tonight, mrs. nixon and i are very honored to announce the engagement of our daughter to mr. edward cox. >> [applause] >> we are just so happy that it has been made official and we can share the happy news. this engagement is supposed to be a fun time and especially the engagement party. it's tradition. it's supposed to be a surprise. [applause] ♪ ♪ ♪ >> the announcement the start

of an exciting round of showers and receptions by friends and family. the first official event was a miscellaneous shower hosted by the vice president's wife. other resident in the sheridan park hotel on june 1st. beside mrs. nixon and trisha, special guests included, julie eisenhower, -- mrs. cox and ed's sister, marianne. among her many gifts, trisha received her china, the -- her silver elephants by -- and or nick, baroque design and her crystal. -- ♪ ♪ ♪

prior to her party, and informal shower was held on may 26th. trisha was the first white house bride to be to have a shower given in her honor by a member of the washington women's press corps. helen thomas, united press international correspondent in washington, was host of the party at which mrs. nixon, julie and -- we're honored guests. other guests included members of mrs. nixon staff and women reporters. one of trisha's gifts from a lady of the press appeared to be an expression of sympathy for trisha and ed's desire for autonomy tv. for the amusement of all, trisha dawned her disguise. ♪ ♪ ♪ on friday evening, june 4th, at

washington's beautiful anderson house, mrs. william p. rodgers, wife of the secretary of state, hosted a reception for the diplomatic corps. -- lead the way through the receiving line. the secretary of state was unable to be there, she was attending meetings in portugal and france. trisha graciously accepted the gift from ambassador -- in his remarks to this international group of guests, the president expressed this wish for his daughter and her future husband. >> i would like to leave one thought with you on this occasion, which is my wish for the bride and groom, after the wedding ceremony. first, the chance to lift their own lives, but second, more than anything else, the chance to know the world as i have had a chance to know it. and i look forward to a time when that will truly be an open world where they will have the

chance to go to your countries and all the countries of the world and know the people of those countries because what a wonderful future it is for your children and our children to know each other. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> while trisha entertained at a white house dinner on june 10th for the members of her wedding party and the wives of the groomsmen, -- was hosting a bachelor party at the -- >> trisha chose as members of her wedding party, her sister as matron of honor. as sister, marianne, as maid of honor. and as junior bridesmaids, her cousins, beth and amy nixon. ed chose his brother howard as best man and college friends as groomsmen. hansen david eisenhower was unable to be in the wedding as he was on duty --

as god parents, -- we're host at a luncheon. -- and out of town guests at -- ♪ ♪ ♪ the time slipped quickly away. in the rose garden, which trisha had chosen as the setting for her marriage, the members of the wedding party through hurst their roles. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> one of the most important things for two people who -- if the fact that they accept one another. even though they are very different, they accept the differences and the person.

i guess you might say that we should compliment one another. we should each be different -- i don't think necessarily people have to be a like to be married, to have a happy marriage. ♪ ♪ ♪ he was my first love. we met at a christmas dance. i'll never forget that because we were dancing together and the only thing that i remember is that i was dancing with someone who is so tall. i think that he is more intelligent than i am. i would find -- i think one of the things i have always respected about him is his sincerity. he just is a completely sincere person.

>> that evening, as father and mother were posts at the rehearsal dinner. before he -- included side members of the wedding party, mainly eisenhower, wives of the four groomsmen, the presidents brothers and their wives, and a few other friends and relatives. members of the wedding party exchanged traditional gifts. millions of people throughout the world waited and anticipation as the white house prepared to people throughout the world waited and anticipation as the white house prepared to celebrate the wedding. historians took note that trisha was the eighth daughter of a president to be married in the white house, that hers was the first june wedding held

their, and the first marriage ceremony to be performed out of doors at the executive mansion. ♪ ♪ ♪ the father of the bride to be unexpectedly visited the press center, and expressed a point of view to reporters about the possibility of rain when he explained a soft rain caresses the marriage. and then, in a more light hearted vein, he said: >> a little rain will keep people cool, and then they will remember it more. >> in spite of threatening --

trisha decided to go forward with her plans for the out of doors ceremony. the preparations shifted into high gear. a light rain continued to fall, but the guests were as eager as trisha to have the ceremony in the rose garden. the 400 guests invited to the wedding included members of the cabinet, ambassador sylvia sacoolas to representing the diplomatic board, former white house brides, i'm and lynda johnston -- young friends of

trisha and ed and relatives and friends of the family. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

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♪ ♪ ♪ >> at 4:30 after a half hour delay, the rain stopped. and the lovely list of all white house weddings began. ♪ ♪ ♪

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♪ ♪ ♪ >> dear friends. we are gathered together to unite patricia and edward in marriage, which is an institution founded in nature, ordained by the state, sanctioned by the church, and made honorable by the faithful keeping of good men and good women in all ages. it is therefore not by any to be

entered into an advisedly, or lightly. but discreetly, advisedly, and with due reverence. this celebration is the outward expression of a sacred, and inward union of hearts. a union created by love and purpose, and kept by abiding will. the union into which you are about to enter is most precious, because it will bring you together in a relationship so intimate, and so close that it will and have been doubly and profoundly influence your future. that future with extremists, and disappointments. pleasures, and sadness is. successes, and failures. cannot be foreseen.

of course, these elements are found in every life and therefore are to be anticipated in your own. and so, unaware of what definitely is before you, you accept one another to love is to appreciate and cherish our beloved as a unique person, deep, extraordinary, exceptional. it is to visualize him or her as an equal, yet complementing individual. love each other, but do not make a bond of your love. stand together, but not too near together just as the fillers of a temple stand apart, yet stand together. thus, these thoughts are most awesome. it is a

beautiful tribute to your love of each other that cognizant of their importance, you are here to say them as a bows each to the other. because these words involve such implications, it is appropriate that you exemplify the principle of altruism. love gifts and forgives, accepts and adjusts, sacrifice is frequently offered grudgingly. love can make it generous, and often. love can make it a joy. ideally, married of self and is in the spirit and for this purpose that you have

come hither to be joined together and who giveth hither to be joined together. who giveth patricia to be married to edward? [inaudible] clasp your right hands together. and edward, repeat after me -- i, edward, take the patricia, to be my weathered wife, to have and to holes, to honor and to comfort, in --

and in joy, to love and to cherish from this day forth. patricia, you repeat after me, looking at edward. i, patricia, take the, and word, to be my wedded husband. to have and to hold, to honor and to comfort, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, to love and to cherish from this day forth. >> may i have the ring? the wedding ring is the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace, signifying to

all the uniting of patricia and edward in a holy matrimony. let us pray. bless, oh lord, this ring, that he who gives it and she who wears it, may know thy peace and continue in thy favor all the days of their lives, amen. edward, place this ring on the third finger of patricia's left hand and repeat after me. in symbol and pledge of our constant faith and love, with this ring i thee wed. you let us pray you. our father,

who are to heaven, how low would be and i name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. give us this day our daily bread. and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. amen. clasp your right hands together. for as much as they have witnessed the same before god and this company, and you thereto have pledged their

faith to the other, and on the same by joining hands, i pronounce that they are husband and wife together. let us pray. eternal god, creator and preserver of all mankind, giver of all spiritual grace, send thy blessing upon patricia and edward, that they may surely perform and keep the covenant made between them. may their hearts be one in pure love and fidelity. may they do be a blessing and a comfort to each other. and to everyone else they touch, may they be sharers of each other's joy, consolers

of each other's sorrow. helpers to each other in all. and may they ever remain in perfect harmony together, living according to the golden rule. look benevolently upon them that they may cherish one another. thank and given faithfulness and patience, and wisdom and true kindness, that their home may be a haven of happiness. and a place of serenity. this moment is the beginning of a new day. in the evening of their lives together, may they be able to look back and say how splendid the day

has been, amen. you may kneel. may the lord bless you and keep you. may the lord make it his faith to shine upon you and be gracious until you. and give his light of continents upon you. and give you peace and may all that is noble, lovely and true abide with you forever, amen. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

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♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ not only for trisha and ed but for posterity, the wedding party assembled in the blue room for the official portrait. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ the ♪ ♪ ♪

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procession of well-wishers began with mamie eisenhower, the vice president and mrs. agnew and chief justice and mrs. burger. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [applause] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ he's

♪ ♪ ♪ really a splendid dancer. the most fun is to dance a wall setting. because he does it so beautifully. [inaudible] it's very you know someone today who knows how to do the waltz. >> [applause] ♪ ♪ ♪ >> i've been trying to figure out all my life how to dance. >> [laughs] >> i'm going to limit my exposure. [applause] ♪ ♪ ♪ [applause] ♪ ♪ ♪

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♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> the six teared wedding cake, an exquisite creation nearly seven feet high awaited the bridal couple in the hall, confirming the success of white house pastry chef's recipe, they expressed delight with the cake. referring to her abilities and the kitchen, trisha has said: >> i am not a good cook, but i try. >> a final but brief ceremony

remained to be performed. on the arm of her husband, she tossed her wedding bouquet as thousands of brides have done before. marianne, ed's sister, caught the bouquet. ♪ ♪ ♪ with a new and very different life ahead of them, trisha and ed -- ♪ ♪ ♪ a new and very different life ahead of them, trisha and ed left the white house for their

honeymoon at a secret location. >> do you think i will miss most as my parents. because, we are very close, and i look forward talking to them, visit with them, be with them, i think that is what i will miss most. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

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this session first ladies impact and influence will explore the many ways in which first ladies? to the president