Jack Brennan
Jack Brennan | |
---|---|
Birth name | John Vincent Brennan |
Nickname(s) | "Jack" |
Born | Fall River, Massachusetts, U.S. | August 16, 1937
Died | October 20, 2023 | (aged 86)
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Marine Corps |
Years of service | 1956–1975 |
Rank | Colonel |
Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Awards |
John Vincent Brennan (August 16, 1937 – October 20, 2023) was a United States Marine Corps officer and political aide.[1] He is best known as being President Richard Nixon's post-resignation chief of staff.
Early life and education
Brennan was born on August 16, 1937, in
Career
Marine Corps Aide to the President
In 1969, then-
He made a positive impression on Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev, who described Brennan as having "machismo."[3] In addition, he met Pope Paul VI; he later said that, as a Catholic, it was a special honor for him.[3] Brennan remained attached to Nixon during his resignation after the Watergate scandal in 1974; he was aboard the helicopter and airplane that flew the Nixon family back to their home state of California.[2]Nixon's Chief of Staff
When Nixon returned to La Casa Pacifica in San Clemente, California, nicknamed "The Western White House" during his administration, Brennan left the Marines and served as the ex-president's chief of staff.[2] He originally refused the position after some of Nixon's associates made it sound like a business proposal; the financial aspect was not of interest to Brennan. However, after repeated requests from Nixon, Brennan agreed to leave his career of over 16 years and join the former president's staff. In the role of chief of staff, Brennan managed the small staff, appointments, mail and budgets, and was the liaison to the General Services Administration and members of the United States Congress who wanted information for any ongoing investigations from the former President's Administration. Due to the circumstances of Nixon's departure, he did not receive the level of information and courtesy offered to previous former presidents. During this period he was also Nixon's golfing partner and confidant.[3]
During his time with the Nixons, Brennan helped the family with two major health crises: Richard Nixon suffered from a dangerous case of
Role in Frost/Nixon interviews
While chief of staff, Brennan negotiated the
The Nixon interviews drew the largest television audience for a political interview in history.
Brennan was consulted for the film version. His input led the
Personal life and death
Brennan resided in Palm Springs, California, and spent summers in Little Compton, Rhode Island. He was a booster for the Providence College Friars and donated his papers from his work for Nixon to the school's archives. At his request, a Friars basketball jersey was placed in his office set in the film Frost/Nixon, but it was not visible in the film.[2]
Brennan died on October 20, 2023, at the age of 86.[7]
Awards and decorations
Valor device
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Purple Heart | |
Army Commendation Medal
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Combat Action Ribbon | |
Presidential Service Badge |
References
- ^ a b http://www.providence.edu/library/archives/brennan/rppc_msbrennan.html[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Is Frost/Nixon true? Lets ask PC grad Jack Brennan he was there". providencejournal.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Harry Benson, Ex-Leatherneck Jack Brennan Talks About Life with the Former President He Still Chooses to Serve, People, August 16, 1976, Accessed January 25, 2009.
- ^ "First Lady Biography: Pat Nixon". The National First Ladies Library. 2005. Archived from the original on 2012-05-09. Retrieved 2007-08-15.
- ^ "Profile:Sir David Frost". UK News. BBC. 2005-05-28. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ^ Lynn Sherr, Diane Sawyer on Fact vs. Fiction in Frost/Nixon Archived 2009-01-23 at the Wayback Machine, The Daily Beast, December 6, 2008, Accessed January 27, 2009.
- ^ "Remembering Colonel Jack Brennan". Richard Nixon Foundation. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.