A: U.S. President Richard Nixon liked a bit of pomp in the right circumstance. And when Tricky Dick glanced over the Atlantic, what caught his eye was the look of Britain’s famous Beefeaters, the guards who stood outside Queen Elizabeth’s official London residence. In fact, he must’ve noticed other heads of state protected by similarly clothed guards (bright-colored uniforms with shiny trim and tall fur hats) and been totally envious.

After all, what did the White House have? Men in dark, plain security uniforms. So, like any great president would under the circumstances, Nixon ordered a redesign of the outfits worn by White House guards (Secret Service Uniformed Division). Unveiled in 1970, the new duds featured gold-trimmed tunics and rigid, peaked hats reminiscent of 19th-century Prussia.

Unfortunately for Nixon (and appreciators of camp), the new royalist look didn’t go over so well. Critics howled; comedians snickered; the Beatles broke up. Rather quickly, the White House decided to do away with the Prussian hats. Within a few years the rest of the ornamental outfit was thrown out as well. And not long after that, Nixon himself would be similarly disposed of. Evidently, not only did everyone dislike his choice of uniforms; his decision to send burglars into the Democratic Party headquarters at Watergate also met with disapproval.