The trauma associated with losing a father is an important element that undermines emotional security, a trauma that would also affect Richard's father Francis. At the age of seven Francis lost his father to tuberculosis, an ailment that would also claim Francis' sister and Richard's two brothers (N v. N). The tragic past of Nixon's family imbedded the type of cynicism and tough-minded outlook the Nixon Presidency was known for. As a result Nixon was a realist, "whose realism tilts towards cynicism or one might say, whose realism is infused with cynicism- (friedman). The loss of his brothers, left him feeling powerless, it could be for this reason that Richard Nixon always demanded absolute power and ruled beyond the knowledge of most Americans. .
Richard Nixon and his family were members of the Society of Friends, more commonly known as Quakers. They were very poor after Samuel, Richard's Grandfather, lost his fathers farm. The Nixon's would suffer financially for years after, forcing Francis Nixon to work two jobs and his wife Hannah to work as well.( ) Richard was left to fend for himself most of the time, but managed to excel in public school. After public school Nixon went on to study at Whittier College, a Quaker institution, where he majored in history ( ).This is where Nixon first started becoming politically active, he was president of the freshman class, star of the debate team and in his senior year became the Southern California Intercollegiate Extemporaneous Speaking champion and class President ( ). During this time Richard made the distinction between the "have-nots-, which he was, and the people who have everything and do nothing. .
"What starts the process really are laughs and slights and snubs when you are a kid. But if you are reasonably intelligent and if your anger is deep enough and strong enough, you learn that you can change those attitudes by excellence, personal gut performance, while those who have everything are sitting on their fat butts- (Nixon).