Home   Calendar   Holidays   Checkers Day

Sep23 Fun Holiday – Checkers Day

September 23 is Checkers Day. The unofficial holiday is not about the board game but has a political origin. The holiday commemorates a speech given by American President Richard Nixon on this day in 1952 as a Vice Presidential candidate.

Cocker Spaniel running in a meadow.

Checkers was a cocker spaniel who never had the opportunity to live in the White house.

©iStockphoto.com/LorenzoPatoia

In the now-famous speech, Nixon denied taking political gifts. It is popularly called the Checkers Speech or the Fund Speech because during the address he announced his intention of keeping Checkers, a dog given to his kids as a gift.

In addition to helping boost Nixon's political position in the upcoming presidential elections, the 30 minute long Checkers speech marked the beginning of the involvement of the television in American politics. The address was aired live all around the country and was watched by an estimated 60 million people.

The holiday is also sometimes known as National Dogs in Politics Day.

How to Celebrate?

  • Wear checkered clothing.
  • Even though the holiday itself doesn't have anything to do with the game, no one will judge you if you decided to observe it by playing a game or two of checkers.
  • Read more about Nixon’s life and his Checkers Speech.
  • If you have children and young adults in your life, Checker's Day is a good day to introduce them to American politics and the role of television in politics around the world.

Did You Know…

…that Richard Nixon was the only president in the history of the United States to have resigned from office?

Checkers Day Observances

Fun Holiday: Checkers Day Observances
YearWeekdayDateName
2024Mon23 SepCheckers Day
2025Tue23 SepCheckers Day
2026Wed23 SepCheckers Day
2027Thu23 SepCheckers Day
2028Sat23 SepCheckers Day
2029Sun23 SepCheckers Day
2030Mon23 SepCheckers Day
2031Tue23 SepCheckers Day
2032Thu23 SepCheckers Day
2033Fri23 SepCheckers Day

See all Fun Holidays

Other Fun Holidays around 23 September

21 Sep

Miniature Golf Day

The made-up holiday honors and celebrates the miniature version of golf.

22 Sep

Hobbit Day

Celebrate Bilbo and Frodo Baggins' birthday by reading the works of JRR Tolkien and his son, Christopher JR Tolkien.

24 Sep

Punctuation Day

Let's eat grandma or let's eat, grandma? This made-up, but important holiday ensures that we all use appropriate punctuation in our writing.

25 Sep

Comic Book Day

Celebrate your favorite comic book hero, villain or character.