Presidential pad is priced down

A San Clemente estate that became known as the Western White House during Richard M.

Nixon’s presidency has come back up for sale at $ 69 million, down from $ 75 million last year.

Called La Casa Pacifica when Nixon took ownership in 1969, the sprawling 5.45- acre compound occupies an ocean bluff in a gated enclave. While the 37th U. S. president lived there, he replaced an existing tennis court with a swimming pool and built a 1,500- footlong wall to enclose the property.

The California Colonial Revival

main house, built in 1926, spans about 9,000 square feet with tile and hardwood f looring, arched doorways and detailed groinvaulted ceilings. Many of the main rooms open to a center courtyard with a tiled fountain.

Among other features is an ocean- view office used by Nixon and an entertainment pavilion. Including a two- bedroom guesthouse, staff residences and offices, there are about 15,000 square feet of living space, nine bedrooms, nine full bathrooms, a three- quarter bathroom and four powder rooms.

A greenhouse, a pool, a tennis court, formal gardens and expanses of lawn complete the grounds. Views take in Santa Catalina island.

World leaders who visited the property included Japanese Premier Eisaku Sato, South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev.

Crooner Frank Sinatra, actor John Wayne and the Rev. Billy Graham also made the guest list.

The seller of the oceanfront estate is former Allergan Pharmaceuticals Chief Executive Gavin S. Herbert, who bought the property from Nixon in the 1980s.

Rob Giem of Hom Sotheby’s International Realty is the listing agent.