Richard Nixon’s Orange County Hacienda Is Up for Sale

Keep the ‘-gate’ jokes to a minimum, please

June 11, 2018 9:00 am

Let’s talk about a presidential getaway.

No, not Margaritavilla Mar-a-Lago, thank goodness. Rather: “La Casa Pacifica,” the former Orange County stronghold of Richard Nixon, now listed and asking for a definitely-not-”cool” $63.5M.

OC (6 images)

Also known as the “Western White House,” the San Clemente, California surfside perch was built in 1926 and purchased by #37 in 1969, just a few months into the first four years of his presidency. Over the years it played host to Soviet dignitaries, pool parties, Japanese ministers, private interviews… and of course, the tortured ruminations of an excommunicated executive.

But (troubled) history aside, what an absolutely stunning place to live. Nine bedrooms and 14 baths, spread across 15,000-square feet and five-and-a-half acres of Spanish Mission splendidness. There’s a lighted tennis court, oceanfront swimming pool, two bedroom guest house and … the three requisite gates to call the place “compound.”

The one downside, assuming you’re at peace with the property’s former owner, is an unfortunate, near guaranteed abuse of the “-gate” suffix. Host a dinner party and burn the lasagna? Lasagna-gate. (And so on and so forth).

Still, those views should help. Find the full Zillow listing here.

Images: CRMLS 

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