rebozo first met then-u.s. representative nixon in 1950 through florida representative george smathers. smathers had recommended key biscayne as a vacation destination to nixon, who eventually established a residence there which was later nicknamed the "winter white house" by journalists. while nixon was vacationing in key biscayne, smathers had rebozo take nixon deep sea fishing. rebozo and nixon then started a friendship that endured 44 years.