 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 . " Contributors were drawn only from his early supporters , and contributions were limited to $ 1 @,@ 000 . 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 " . By October 30 , 1951 , some $ 16 @,@ 000 had been raised , of which Nixon had spent approximately $ 12 @,@ 000 , principally from contributors in the Los Angeles area . The senator 's Christmas card expense for 1950 and 1951 totaled $ 4 @,@ 237 @.@ 54 . 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 . 
