Dick Nixon and Star Trek refers to former President-turned-Hollywood legend Dick “Tricky D” Nixon, and his often controversial association with the Star Trek franchise. Although best known for his proposed role as the Vulcan officer Xon in the abandoned Phase II television series, Nixon’s involvement with Star Trek allegedly stretched from the late 1970s through the 1990s and included friendships with cast members, cameo appearances, and one particularly ill-advised holodeck consultation involving Lieutenant Reginald Barclay.
Origins
According to numerous disputed accounts, Nixon’s interest in Star Trek developed through his friendship with William Shatner.
The two men reportedly met while co-starring in the mid-1970s NBC TV detective series San Clemente Coast, in which Shatner portrayed a maverick detective while Nixon played a by-the book detective with a keen executive mind. The show, a spin-off of Police Woman, also featured Bob Denver as the mysterious beach bum Sandy.
Former production assistant Carol Fenwick later recalled:
“Bill thought Dick was fascinating. Dick thought Bill was a great American (despite Bill being born in Canada). Neither man was entirely sure what the other actually did.”
By 1977, Shatner reportedly suggested Nixon’s name to producers of Star Trek: Phase II.
The Xon Casting
When negotiations with Leonard Nimoy stalled, producers sought alternatives to the popular Mr. Spock character.
The result was Xon, a younger full-blooded Vulcan intended to serve as the Enterprise’s science officer.
Multiple former studio employees claimed Nixon aggressively pursued the role.
According to production folklore, Nixon argued:
“I have spent my life suppressing emotion in highly stressful situations. I believe I am uniquely qualified.”
Nixon’s version of Xon reportedly differed significantly from the scripts.
Characteristics attributed to the “Nixon Xon” interpretation included:
- Excessive administrative oversight.
- Mandatory fuel-consumption reports.
- Frequent references to efficiency metrics.
- Heavy breathing during moments of logical contemplation.
- An unusual tendency to answer questions with numbered memoranda.
The role became controversial among writers, some of whom feared the character was becoming “less Vulcan and more federal agency.”
The cancellation of Phase II in favor of Star Trek: The Motion Picture ended Nixon’s tenure before filming of a full season could begin.
The Voyage Home Bus Cameo
Although his starring role disappeared with Phase II, Nixon allegedly remained friendly with several members of the production community.
According to persistent fan rumors, Nixon appears briefly in the 1986 film Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.
The supposed cameo occurs during the famous bus sequence in which Spock incapacitates a loud punk rocker using the Vulcan nerve pinch.
Advocates of the theory claim Nixon can be seen seated several rows behind Spock.
The figure reportedly glances up from a newspaper moments before the nerve pinch occurs.
Supporters cite:
- Similar facial features.
- A distinctive suit.
- The appearance of what some insist is a yellow legal pad.
Skeptics note that the alleged Nixon figure is visible for only seconds and could easily be another passenger.
The controversy remains unresolved.
The Barclay Consultation
Perhaps Nixon’s most famous Star Trek appearance allegedly occurred during an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
According to the story, Lieutenant Reginald Barclay became concerned that personal holodeck recordings and embarrassing log entries might become accessible to senior officers.
Seeking advice from a historical figure experienced in managing sensitive records, Barclay created a Nixon simulation.
The resulting consultation reportedly unfolded poorly.
The Nixon hologram allegedly advised:
“Mr. Barclay, transparency is generally preferable to concealment. Speaking from experience, one should avoid creating additional problems while attempting to solve the original problem.”
Barclay initially appeared receptive.
However, after ending the simulation, he reportedly employed unauthorized “digital plumbers” to erase and alter files.
The effort only increased scrutiny and generated additional records documenting the attempted cover-up.
As the situation deteriorated, the Nixon hologram allegedly observed:
“This is precisely the sort of thing I was warning you about.”
No official production records support the existence of the scene.
Nevertheless, the story remains popular among Star Trek and Nixonverse enthusiasts.
Legacy
Although Nixon never became a permanent member of the Star Trek cast, his alleged contributions left a lasting mark on franchise folklore.
Fans continue to debate:
- Whether Nixon truly filmed material as Xon.
- Whether he appears aboard the San Francisco bus in The Voyage Home.
- Whether the Barclay consultation ever existed outside discarded scripts and convention stories.
Regardless of the answer, Nixon’s place in Star Trek history remains a fascinating example of what many scholars refer to as the Nixonian Convergence Principle: the apparent tendency of Richard Nixon to appear in virtually every major cultural phenomenon of the late twentieth century.
See Also
- Nixon as Xon
- Nixon Age Fluidity Paradox
- Nixonian Cultural Gravity Thesis
- Richard Nixon and Grease
- Richard Nixon and They Live
- Buzz Feldman
- San Clemente Coast (1975 TV Series)