Ronald Ziegler

By: Hana Bailey

Ronald Ziegler, born in 1939 in California, was Richard Nixon’s youthful and fiercely loyal White House Press Secretary in 1969—just 29 years old when he took the role, making him the youngest person ever to hold the position at the time. A former advertising executive and advance man for Nixon’s campaign, Ziegler was articulate, sharp-suited, and deeply committed to protecting the President’s image. His job was to manage the press during one of the most turbulent eras in American politics, often deflecting criticism with careful phrasing, evasion, or flat-out denial.

In public, he was polished, formal, and precise, often appearing tense under pressure. Privately, he was known to be ambitious, pragmatic, and devoted to Nixon. Though still relatively inexperienced in 1969, Ziegler already understood the performative nature of politics and the importance of controlling the narrative—skills that would become increasingly vital in the years leading up to Watergate.