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| Richard Nixon |
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China. But the Watergate scandal brought fresh divisions to the country and ultimately led to
his resignation.
His election in 1968 had climaxed a career unusual on two counts: his early success and his
comeback after being defeated for President in 1960 and for Governor of California in 1962.
Born in California in 1913, Nixon had a brilliant record at Whittier College and Duke University
Law School before beginning the practice of law. In 1940, he married Patricia Ryan; they had
two daughters, Patricia (Tricia) and Julie. During World War II, Nixon served as a Navy
lieutenant commander in the Pacific.
On leaving the service, he was elected to Congress from his California district. In 1950, he
won a Senate seat. Two years later, General Eisenhower selected Nixon, age 39, to be his
running mate.
As Vice President, Nixon took on major duties in the Eisenhower Administration. Nominated
for President by acclamation in 1960, he lost by a narrow margin to John F. Kennedy. In 1968,
he again won his party's nomination, and went on to defeat Vice President Hubert H.
Humphrey and third-party candidate George C. Wallace.
His accomplishments while in office included revenue sharing, the end of the draft, new
anticrime laws, and a broad environmental program. As he had promised, he appointed
Justices of conservative philosophy to the Supreme Court. One of the most dramatic events of
his first term occurred in 1969, when American astronauts made the first moon landing.
Some of his most acclaimed achievements came in his quest for world stability. During visits
in 1972 to Beijing and Moscow, he reduced tensions with China and the U.S.S.R. His summit
meetings with Russian leader Leonid I. Brezhnev produced a treaty to limit strategic nuclear
weapons. In January 1973, he announced an accord with North Viet Nam to end American
involvement in Indochina. In 1974, his Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, negotiated
disengagement agreements between Israel and its opponents, Egypt and Syria.
In his 1972 bid for office, Nixon defeated Democratic candidate George McGovern by one of
the widest margins on record.
Within a few months, his administration was embattled over the so-called "Watergate"
scandal, stemming from a break-in at the offices of the Democratic National Committee
during the 1972 campaign. The break-in was traced to officials of the Committee to Re-elect
the President. A number of administration officials resigned; some were later convicted of
offenses connected with efforts to cover up the affair. Nixon denied any personal
involvement, but the courts forced him to yield tape recordings which indicated that he had,
in fact, tried to divert the investigation.
As a result of unrelated scandals in Maryland, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew resigned in 1973.
Nixon nominated, and Congress approved, House Minority Leader Gerald R. Ford as Vice
President.
Faced with what seemed almost certain impeachment, Nixon announced on August 8th, 1974,
that he would resign the next day to begin "that process of healing which is so desperately
needed in America."
In his last years, Nixon gained praise as an elder statesman. By the time of his death on
April 22nd, 1994, he had written numerous books on his experiences in public life and on
foreign policy.
his resignation.
His election in 1968 had climaxed a career unusual on two counts: his early success and his
comeback after being defeated for President in 1960 and for Governor of California in 1962.
Born in California in 1913, Nixon had a brilliant record at Whittier College and Duke University
Law School before beginning the practice of law. In 1940, he married Patricia Ryan; they had
two daughters, Patricia (Tricia) and Julie. During World War II, Nixon served as a Navy
lieutenant commander in the Pacific.
On leaving the service, he was elected to Congress from his California district. In 1950, he
won a Senate seat. Two years later, General Eisenhower selected Nixon, age 39, to be his
running mate.
As Vice President, Nixon took on major duties in the Eisenhower Administration. Nominated
for President by acclamation in 1960, he lost by a narrow margin to John F. Kennedy. In 1968,
he again won his party's nomination, and went on to defeat Vice President Hubert H.
Humphrey and third-party candidate George C. Wallace.
His accomplishments while in office included revenue sharing, the end of the draft, new
anticrime laws, and a broad environmental program. As he had promised, he appointed
Justices of conservative philosophy to the Supreme Court. One of the most dramatic events of
his first term occurred in 1969, when American astronauts made the first moon landing.
Some of his most acclaimed achievements came in his quest for world stability. During visits
in 1972 to Beijing and Moscow, he reduced tensions with China and the U.S.S.R. His summit
meetings with Russian leader Leonid I. Brezhnev produced a treaty to limit strategic nuclear
weapons. In January 1973, he announced an accord with North Viet Nam to end American
involvement in Indochina. In 1974, his Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, negotiated
disengagement agreements between Israel and its opponents, Egypt and Syria.
In his 1972 bid for office, Nixon defeated Democratic candidate George McGovern by one of
the widest margins on record.
Within a few months, his administration was embattled over the so-called "Watergate"
scandal, stemming from a break-in at the offices of the Democratic National Committee
during the 1972 campaign. The break-in was traced to officials of the Committee to Re-elect
the President. A number of administration officials resigned; some were later convicted of
offenses connected with efforts to cover up the affair. Nixon denied any personal
involvement, but the courts forced him to yield tape recordings which indicated that he had,
in fact, tried to divert the investigation.
As a result of unrelated scandals in Maryland, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew resigned in 1973.
Nixon nominated, and Congress approved, House Minority Leader Gerald R. Ford as Vice
President.
Faced with what seemed almost certain impeachment, Nixon announced on August 8th, 1974,
that he would resign the next day to begin "that process of healing which is so desperately
needed in America."
In his last years, Nixon gained praise as an elder statesman. By the time of his death on
April 22nd, 1994, he had written numerous books on his experiences in public life and on
foreign policy.
Born on January 9th, 1913, Richard
Milhous Nixon was the 37th
President of the United States as a
member of the Republican Party.
Nixon served from January 20th,
1969 to August 9th, 1974, when
resigned the office. Nixon died at
the age of 81 on April 22nd, 1994.
Reconciliation was the first goal set
by President Richard M. Nixon. The
Nation was painfully divided, with
turbulence in the cities and war
overseas. During his Presidency,
Nixon succeeded in ending American
fighting in Viet Nam and improving
relations with the U.S.S.R. and
Milhous Nixon was the 37th
President of the United States as a
member of the Republican Party.
Nixon served from January 20th,
1969 to August 9th, 1974, when
resigned the office. Nixon died at
the age of 81 on April 22nd, 1994.
Reconciliation was the first goal set
by President Richard M. Nixon. The
Nation was painfully divided, with
turbulence in the cities and war
overseas. During his Presidency,
Nixon succeeded in ending American
fighting in Viet Nam and improving
relations with the U.S.S.R. and