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Personality and public image
Nixon's career was frequently dogged by his persona and the public's perception of it. Editorial cartoonists and comedians often exaggerated his appearance and mannerisms, to the point where the line between the human and the caricature became increasingly blurred. He was often portrayed with unshaven jowls, slumped shoulders, and a furrowed, sweaty brow.[314]

With Elvis Presley in December 1970: "The President & The King"
Nixon had a complex personality, both very secretive and awkward, yet strikingly reflective about himself. He was inclined to distance himself from people and was formal in all aspects, wearing a coat and tie even when home alone.[315] Nixon biographer Conrad Black described him as being "driven" though also "uneasy with himself in some ways".[316] According to Black, Nixon

thought that he was doomed to be traduced, double-crossed, unjustly harassed, misunderstood, underappreciated, and subjected to the trials of Job, but that by the application of his mighty will, tenacity, and diligence, he would ultimately prevail.[317]
Presidents Gerald Ford, Nixon, George H. W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, and Jimmy Carter in 1991
Campaign button
Nixon sometimes drank alcohol to excess, especially during 1970. He also was prescribed sleeping pills. 