evidence: Claudia Taylor Johnson (1963-1969) [...] Thelma Patricia Ryan Nixon (1969-1974) Thelma Patricia Ryan Nixon, or Pat, dedicated herself to social issues including education and volunteering. She became the first president’s wife to visit a combat zone when she went to South Vietnam in 1969. She also sought to make the White House more accessible, opening up the property for tours and creating brochures in languages other than English.