Actually I don't think Nixon looks that uncomfortable in the Sammy Davis shot. One could imagine a similar response by many if surprisingly hugged from behind while in front of a large audience. But boy does the first photo (Nixon on beach in suit and tie) really look silly.

BTW, this awkwardness was apparently the driving force behind Nixon's career. I heard recently that Nixon had, in college, been rejected as too nerdy and odd by a fraternity on the campus of the school he attended (A California school who's name I cannot recall right now - Nixon had been accepted by Harvard on a full scholarship but his parents were so poor they could not afford the train ticket to send him.) So Ni...

Actually I don't think Nixon looks that uncomfortable in the Sammy Davis shot. One could imagine a similar response by many if surprisingly hugged from behind while in front of a large audience. But boy does the first photo (Nixon on beach in suit and tie) really look silly.

BTW, this awkwardness was apparently the driving force behind Nixon's career. I heard recently that Nixon had, in college, been rejected as too nerdy and odd by a fraternity on the campus of the school he attended (A California school who's name I cannot recall right now - Nixon had been accepted by Harvard on a full scholarship but his parents were so poor they could not afford the train ticket to send him.) So Nixon started his own fraternity and invited all the rejects. This made him popular with the majority of students and led him to be student body president and to a career in politics.

Compare this history to the silver-spoon fed spoiled brat that stinks up the Oval Office today and, well, we have a new embodiment of "worst president ever".