The legacy of Richard Nixon's '34 presidency remains a constant source of study at Whittier College
Caleb Britton ’19, a social work and Spanish double major, is studying how social welfare policies changed during Nixon’s tenure. His research is part of a Nixon Fellowship, an annual opportunity for students to examine the various aspects of the 37th president’s impact or to research topics that echo his domestic or foreign policy.
Britton was surprised to find that during Nixon’s presidency welfare programs like Medicaid and federal aid to dependent families with children actually expanded, despite the fact that Republicans are traditionally considered to be against expanding the government’s role in people’s lives.
Britton spent a semester digging through memos, legislation, and more in order to better understand what key players influenced changes to the federal welfare policies of the era. The nearby Richard M. Nixon Presidential Library and Museum was an invaluable resource for his research.
At the end of the day, there’s proof of a more bipartisan coalition in Washington D.C. during Nixon’s era than there appears to be today, Britton said. Studying that time frame shows that during any administration “there’s still a possibility of providing social programs to communities in need,” he added.
Originally a political science major, Britton switched to social work believing this field could offer him more tools to become an effective advocate for marginalized communities.
“I want to help people live their best lives. That’s a really fulfilling thing for me and I really saw that in the social work department,” Britton said. After Whittier, Britton has his sights on graduate school.