Ken Khachigian used his passion for politics to work all the way up from his hometown of Visalia, to one of the most prominent and distinguished roles in the White House.
Khachigian was President Reagan’s chief speechwriter and go to political advisor, and he was also President Nixon’s personal adversary and strategic confidant, assisting both figures to emerge through crises and make the most out of their careers.
He covered the details of his career and his newly published memoir, Behind Closed Doors: In the Room with Reagan and Nixon, at a Fresno State discussion in the Satellite Student Union on Sept. 5.
“When you’re at that level everybody is talented, but he had a personality that people gravitated to because he was the kind of person that could literally translate their thinking, their beliefs into something they wanted to communicate,” said Brian Melikian an attendee of the discussion.
Jim Boren, director for the Institute for Media and Public Trust, held a public interview-style discussion with Khachigian. The two discussed the unseen workings of how Khachigian was of service to the two presidential giants and how his strategies helped shape the trajectories of their presidential careers.
“I thought it was an informative lecture, sort of really characterizing the past, some of our past national leaders, Presidents Nixon and Reagan, who really had a transformative impact on national policy,” said Blake Zante, executive director of the Maddy Institute.
Khachigian’s political interest began when he became a member of Boys State, a summer program for juniors in high school that were interested in the mechanics behind American government and politics.
He eventually was recruited to Sacramento for a civic government workshop, where he met future President Nixon while he was running for governor of California in 1962.
Khachigian soon later attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where he met Ronald Reagan at the time he was running for governor. Khachigian went on to attend Columbia Law School in 1968, where former Vice President Nixon solidified his presidential candidacy.
Khachigian took this as his chance to take the next step into his political career.
Khachigian was hired by Pat Buchanan, candidate Nixon’s assistant and special consultant, after submitting a letter in search of a job.
He quickly became Nixon’s speech aide, answering letters and assisting with speeches.In 1969 he graduated from Columbia Law School, Nixon became president and Khachigian’s job became permanent.
One of the biggest moments Khachigian experienced throughout his time speechwriting for President Nixon was the Watergate scandal of 1972. It diminished Nixon’s career, brought forth his impeachment and ruined his reputation.
Khachigian went on to describe how all efforts, both from the Democrats and even his Republican “supporters,” were stacked against him. Khachigian remained Nixon’s defender while others quickly vanished out of his support system.
As President Nixon’s aide, Khachigian’s main purpose at this point in time was to restore the president’s financial security and support him through the memoirs and tedious David Frost interviews to come.
Khachigian helped Nixon rebuild his life and as Reagan entered his season of running for office. Khachigian was the median between the two, keeping Nixon involved post-scandal.
“I became sort of the secret agent man for Nixon,” Khachigian said.
Khachigian took what he learned in his time with President Nixon and applied it to his time with President Reagan. Khachigian and Reagan developed a special relationship, all by the help of Reagan’s wife, Nancy.
Nancy taught Khachigian how to understand and communicate best with President Reagan. Her husband and his well-being was her biggest and only concern.
After several long and hard-working years, Khachigian desired to go home to his young family. Soon after, he received a call from Nancy stating, “Ronny needs you,” and pleading with Khachigian to return back to the White House after they were unhappy with the work being done in place of Khachigian. So he returned.
Khachigian and Reagan underwent a lot in their time working together. Khachigian was Reagan’s senior speechwriter at the time of the president’s attempted assassination on March 30, 1981.
Had the speechwriter not stood back in the office this one event, he was in the pathway of being shot as well.
“I literally dodged a bullet that day,” Khachigian said..
However, the most prominent moment of Khachigian’s career was the 1985 speech of President Reagan at the Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp in west Germany.
This was in honor of the Jews held there during World War II. Reagan’s goal of the speech was to atone for the controversy he caused after placing wreaths on the gravesites of the Nazi German soldiers to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the end of World War II.
This stirred up the Jewish community, leading them to believe Reagan was anti-Jew. It was up to Khachigian to get him out of his first personal crisis and to do it efficiently and genuinely.
“It was the lowest moment I had ever seen him,” Khachigian said. “I had to come up with the absolute right words to try to make him understand what it was like, the feeling of the concentration camps, and have sensitivity for what they felt.”
Experiencing a discouraging amount of writer’s block, Khachigian confided in colleagues to be able to put the right words down on paper. He ended up visiting the Arlington Armenian Genocide Memorial where Khachigian’s thinking bulb lit up.
Being an Armenian himself and of descendants who escaped the Armenian genocide, Khachigian was able to connect the feelings of pain and anguish the Armenians had to go through to the feelings of the Jews who experienced the Holocaust.
He grasped those heartfelt emotions and was able to transfer it into President Reagan’s speech. This speech ended up reportedly being Reagan’s best speech ever.
“Well Ken, I just want to thank you…you know, I think I could’ve been elected president of Germany,” Khachigian said, referring to a phone call from President Reagan following the speech.
Attendees of the discussion were a very diverse group of individuals, in a range of ages and backgrounds.
“Being a young Armenian student in the valley, I still have so much to learn about Armenian history and its influence all around,” said Lori Agazarian, Fresno State student. “Ken’s reference to the genocide specifically enhanced my perspective I think because it shows the ways that Armenian history has a lasting influence on Armenians, to the point where those thoughts and emotions can be present in a famous and historical presidential speech.”
Three Fresno State graduates, Jim Booze as well as Brian and Janalee Melikian had their insight to give about the discussion with Khachigian.
“We’re getting the inside look that I would’ve never heard,” Booze said.
Khachigian concluded his discussion with a Q&A and book signing session.
“It felt like you were put back in time to being at the table with really important people,” Brian Melikian said.
“I thought he was warm and welcoming,” Janalee Melikian said.
Serving for nine presidential campaigns, Khachigian built up respect and honor, leading him to be listed among the 100 Armenians who have changed the world.
From a small town to the White House, Khachigian’s prestige led him to political and literary greatness, all uncovered in his thought-provoking memoir, Behind Closed Doors: In the Room with Reagan and Nixon.
