The two were sometime allies. When Richard Nixon was a political star on the rise, he complimented a speech by Reagan and the compliment made news. When Nixon returned to California after living in New York, Reagan offered him public support. When both seemed poised to run for the presidency in 1968, the two men were careful around each other, but when Nixon finally emerged as the candidate, Reagan immediately asked the Republican party to support Nixon.

Former presidents Richard Nixon (l.) and Ronald Reagan (r.)