Vasquez Got 94 Guests Into Funeral for Nixon : Protocol: Other supervisors attended but did not bring guests. Vasquez sat with dignitaries, unlike colleagues.

SANTA ANA — For the hottest political event in town, the recent funeral of President Richard Nixon, access was no problem for at least one local official: Supervisor Gaddi H. Vasquez.

The supervisor was able to score 94 admissions for his staff, close friends and political associates.

But Vasquez’s guest list for those admissions did not include the other four county supervisors, who managed to get invitations of their own if not for guests. Some of those supervisors already have publicly expressed their dismay with Vasquez’s guest list preparations and their exclusion from a high-profile, post-funeral reception.

Supervisor Roger R. Stanton, who was turned away at the reception door following the funeral, said Thursday that he didn’t know about Vasquez’s private guest list.

“I just wish this thing would go away,” Stanton said, declining further comment.

Vasquez released his list of guests Thursday, but refused to discuss the matter further.

“Supervisor Vasquez will not be offering any comment on questions regarding invitations to the memorial service or the reception that followed,” stated a memo from the supervisor’s office. “To do so, in his opinion, would be disrespectful to the memory of President Nixon and highly insensitive to the Nixon family.”

However, the supervisor’s funeral invitations and his special access to the reception has not set well with Supervisors Harriett M. Wieder and William G. Steiner, who arrived at the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace along with Stanton and board Chairman Thomas F. Riley only to be escorted to distant seats while they watched Vasquez take his place among the dignitaries. Following the ceremony, Vasquez was the only member of the board with security clearance high enough to attend the reception hosted by the Nixon family.

Wieder and Steiner have said they ultimately were able to slip in. Meanwhile, Stanton was left at the door and Riley headed for home.

Library officials declined to comment about the reception arrangements or Vasquez’s invitation list, but it was believed that no others in Vasquez’s party attended the exclusive reception.

In his written invitation to his guests, Vasquez said: “The family of President Nixon has asked me to cordially invite you to join them for memorial services. . . .”

Among the invitees were officials from the cities within Vasquez’s 3rd District, current and former staffers in his county office, members of the clergy, Orange Police Lt. Timm Browne and Ben Davidian, director of the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission.

Christine Diemer, Orange County Building Industry Assn. director and Vasquez colleague in the administration of former Gov. George Deukmejian, said Thursday that she received one of the invitations and gladly attended.

Diemer said Vasquez has enjoyed a close relationship with the Nixon family and had been a supporter in the development of the Nixon Library & Birthplace.

“I thought it was a generous gesture (by Vasquez) to give the tickets to true friends rather than to use it for political leverage,” Diemer said. “I felt like, ‘Gee, I really have a good friend in Gaddi.’ He wasn’t running around cashing in political chits.”

Diemer said she did not attend the reception and was happy to sit in the bleachers for the event.

“I was just very happy to be there.”