When San Diego Became America's Finest City and Why

San Diego has been nicknamed America’s Finest City for more than 50 years.

It’s now been long enough for many in San Diego who are old enough to have forgotten and others who are young enough to have never heard, why the city’s motto is America’s Finest City.

Those who do know, know the reason involved politics. Not a surprise probably.

Back in 1972, the Republican Party was all set to hold its convention in San Diego. Then president Richard Nixon wanted it in San Diego, saying it was one of his favorite cities and the western White House was nearby in San Clemente.

All was set. But then a scandal…when news broke that the IT&T phone company had helped bankroll the costs of the convention and Nixon in return had made antitrust litigation against the company go away.

So the Republicans announced they were moving their convention to Miami. And they did.

A lot of city and tourism leaders were not happy.

So then-Mayor Pete Wilson came up with the slogan of America’s Finest City in an effort to attract more visitors. And after all these years, it has stuck.

But with problems like homelessness, budget deficits and of course politicis we’re still trying to live up to our nickname.

READ MORE about what happened in 1972.

(Photo Getty Images)