Since the United States was founded in 1776, only 46 individuals have beat the odds to become president. That means only 46 families in the country of 336 million current citizens can say that they are related to one of the world’s most powerful leaders. Visiting Blair for the second time on Tuesday, September 26, for Skeptics will be Christopher Nixon Cox, the son of former President Richard M. Nixon’s eldest daughter, who plans to speak about his unique upbringing and his own path to public service. 

“I’ve always been interested in public service,” said Mr. Cox in a pre-event interview. “At my alma mater, Princeton University, part of our unofficial motto at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs was to lead not only the United States but also all nations in this effort for service in humanity. It was there where I started to become even more serious about my own political career and figure out the steps needed to achieve my goals.”  

Prior to committing to a career in public service, Mr. Cox fortified his skills and found success in both legal and business endeavors. After graduating with his bachelor of arts in politics at Princeton in 2004, Mr. Cox obtained his JD from the New York University School of Law while simultaneously working to get a certificate in finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business. 

Shortly after graduating, Mr. Cox served as the New York executive director for the John McCain campaign for the presidency in 2008. Today, he splits his time between running private equity firm Lightswitch Capital as its CEO and working in public service as an aid at the Richard Nixon Foundation. Most recently, Mr. Cox worked on initiatives to assist Ukraine in their war against Russia.

Mr. Cox looks forward to sharing his recent endeavors and unique background with eager Blair students. “I’ve spoken at Blair before about fifteen years ago after one of my best friends, Blair alum and Board of Trustees member Victoria (Cummings) Bailey ’97, connected me with the institution, so I’m fully aware of the Skeptics program and can’t wait to connect with the students,” said an equally excited Mr. Cox.

“I look forward to talking about my grandfather and our stories while weaving in my own anecdotes and telling the students that they can most certainly chart their own careers. Being at Blair means they are already a part of an elite group of people who will have the power to make a positive change in the world.”

All are welcome to hear Mr. Cox speak in the forum of the Chiang-Elghanayan Center next Tuesday at 7 p.m.

History of Skeptics
 
The Society of Skeptics was established as a forum for students and faculty to discuss and debate important global issues; it has grown to become one of the premier high school lecture series in the United States. Each week, speakers from the political, social, scientific, economic and literary arenas share their unique perspectives with students, who are encouraged to engage with presenters, asking questions and debating points of view.
 

The program, which is funded in part by the Class of 1968 Society of Skeptics Endowment Fund, is an outgrowth of the Blair International Society, begun in 1937. Forty years later, former history department chair Elliott Trommald, PhD, Hon. ’65, established the modern Skeptics program as a regular forum for student discussion and debate; history teacher Martin Miller, PhD, took over in the mid-1980s and molded the program into a weekly lecture series, one that has since continued without interruption. Under the tutelage of Dr. Miller and his successor, history department chair Jason Beck, Skeptics has featured a wide variety of speakers who are thought-provoking, engaging, accomplished in their respective fields and often controversial. For a listing of upcoming Skeptics programs, please visit Blair’s website.