Editing Checkers speech (section)

== Background ==
In 1950, [[California]] Congressman Richard Nixon was [[United States Senate election in California, 1950|elected to the Senate]], defeating Representative [[Helen Gahagan Douglas]]. With the six-year term secured, Nixon campaign officials discussed how to further his career. Campaign manager [[Murray Chotiner]] and campaign chairman Bernie Brennan proposed a year-round campaign for the next six years, leading up to a re-election bid in 1956. Nixon's [[Southern California]] campaign treasurer Dana Smith suggested what became known as "the Fund," to be administered by himself, which would pay for Nixon's political expenses.{{sfn|Morris|1990|pp=633–634}}

As Smith wrote to one potential contributor, money donated to the Fund was to be used for:

{{blockquote |
Transportation and hotel expenses to cover trips to California more frequently than his mileage allowance permits. Payment of airmail and long-distance phone charges above his allowance&nbsp;... Preparation of material&nbsp;... to send out to the people&nbsp;... who have supported him&nbsp;... Defraying expenses of his Christmas cards to the people who worked in his campaign or contributed financially&nbsp;... paying for getting out material for radio broadcasts and television programs.&nbsp;... and various other similar items.{{sfn|Morris|1990|p=634}}
}}

As a senator, Nixon received an annual salary of $12,500 ({{inflation|US|12500|1951|fmt=eq|r=-3}}).{{sfn|MeasuringWorth}} While he received an expense allowance of over $75,000, more than most senators received (because California was one of the most populous states), that money went to pay his staff of twelve and to cover the cost of stationery, telephone service, telegrams, and other office expenses. It also paid for the one set of round-trip airline tickets between Washington, D.C., and California that Nixon was allowed to buy for himself and his family at taxpayer expense each Congressional session.{{sfn|Morris|1990|p=634}}

Nixon later characterized the attitude of his backers and aides as, "We want you to start campaigning right now for 1956, and we think the way to do it is to have available the funds to make speeches, make trips to California, and so forth."{{sfn|Morris|1990|p=634}} Contributors were drawn only from his early supporters, and contributions were limited to $1,000 ({{inflation|US|1000|1951|fmt=eq|r=-3}}). Nixon was not to be informed of the names of contributors; however, the fundraising letter stated that Nixon "will of course be very appreciative of your continuing interest".{{sfn|Morris|1990|p=635}} By October 30, 1951, some $16,000 ({{inflation|US|16000|1951|fmt=eq|r=-3}}) had been raised, of which Nixon had spent approximately $12,000 ({{inflation|US|12000|1951|fmt=eq|r=-3}}), principally from contributors in the Los Angeles area.{{sfn|Morris|1990|pp=635–637}} The senator's<!-- Nixon took office December 1, 1950, because Downey resigned early --> [[Christmas card]] expense for 1950 and 1951 totaled $4,237.54 ({{inflation|US|4237.54|1951|fmt=eq|r=-2}}).{{sfn|Parmet|1990|p=239}} Despite the initial fundraising success, only $2,200 could be raised from November 1951 to July 1952, and an engraving bill was unpaid pending a hoped-for contribution of $500.{{sfn|Morris|1990|pp=635–637}}