Richard Nixon

Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 until his resignation in 1974. Before becoming president, he was a member of the Republican Party from California and served in both houses of the United States Congress. He was also the 36th vice president under President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 to 1961.

During his time as president, Nixon helped reduce U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. He also worked to improve relations between the United States, the Soviet Union, and China. One of the biggest moments of his presidency was when humans first landed on the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission. He also created important agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency to help protect nature.

Nixon was re-elected in 1972 but his second term was troubled by the Watergate scandal. This scandal began with a break-in at the Democratic National Committee office and grew into a big problem for his administration. Facing likely removal from office, Nixon chose to resign, becoming the only U.S. president ever to do so. After leaving office, he wrote books and traveled. He passed away in 1994 after suffering a stroke.

Early life and education

Richard Milhous Nixon was born on January 9, 1913, in Yorba Linda, California, in a house built by his father. His parents were Francis A. Nixon and Hannah (Milhous) Nixon. His mother was a Quaker, and his father also became a Quaker. Nixon grew up with four brothers.

Nixon went to East Whittier Elementary School and later to Fullerton Union High School, where he was good at debating. He then transferred to Whittier High School, where he finished third in his class. He went to Whittier College and later to Duke University School of Law, where he graduated third in his class.

Early career and marriage

After finishing school, Richard Nixon wanted to work for the FBI, but he couldn't get the job. He then studied to become a lawyer and started working in California in 1937. He helped businesses with their legal problems and didn't like handling divorce cases.

In 1938, Nixon met a teacher named Thelma "Pat" Ryan while performing in a play. They dated for two years and got married on June 21, 1940. They had two daughters, Tricia and Julie, born in 1946 and 1948.

Military service

In January 1942, Richard Nixon began working in Washington, D.C., but he wanted to join the military after events like Pearl Harbor. He applied to the United States Navy and was accepted. He became an officer and served in many places.

Nixon first worked at a naval air station in Iowa and later asked for a more active role. He was sent to the South Pacific during World War II, where he helped plan flights and manage aircraft for important missions. He was promoted several times and received awards for his work. After the war, he served in different offices before leaving active duty.

U.S. House of Representatives (1947–1950)

Further information: 1946 California's 12th congressional district election and 1948 California's 12th congressional district election

In 1946, Richard Nixon won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in California. He started working in Congress in 1947. Nixon helped pass laws to monitor labor unions and joined a committee studying aid to European countries.

Nixon became known for his work on a special committee that looked into people who might be against the United States. His efforts uncovered important facts. He was easily reelected in 1948.

U.S. Senate (1950–1953)

See also: 1950 United States Senate election in California

In 1949, Nixon thought about running for the United States Senate. He started his campaign in November 1950. His opponent was Helen Gahagan Douglas. They had a busy campaign, and the Korean War was an important topic. Nixon talked about their different voting records. He won the election by a large margin.

After becoming a senator, Nixon spoke out against the spread of communism around the world. He stayed friendly with Joseph McCarthy from Wisconsin, even though they did not always agree. Nixon also talked about helping new states like Alaska and Hawaii, and supporting countries such as India and Yugoslavia during hard times. He voted for laws that supported civil rights for minorities.

Vice presidency (1953–1961)

See also: Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower

Further information: Checkers speech

Richard Nixon gave a speech at a fundraiser in New York City. Governor Thomas E. Dewey thought Nixon would be a good choice for vice president. After Dwight D. Eisenhower was chosen to lead the Republican Party, Nixon was selected as his running mate.

During the campaign, Nixon had questions about a fund for his political expenses. In a famous television speech, Nixon defended himself and kept his place. The American public supported him, and Eisenhower and Nixon won the election.

As vice president, Nixon had many important duties. He attended meetings with the president and helped with foreign affairs, traveling to many countries. Even when President Eisenhower was unwell, Nixon managed the government's work. He worked closely with Eisenhower and helped pass important laws.

1960 presidential campaign

See also: 1960 Republican Party presidential primaries and 1960 United States presidential election

In 1960, Richard Nixon ran for President of the United States for the first time. He announced on January 9, 1960. He chose Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. to be his vice president. His opponent was John F. Kennedy from the Democratic Party.

The race was very close. Nixon talked about his experience, but Kennedy said it was time for new leaders. Kennedy also faced questions about his religion.

The 1960 campaign was the first to have televised presidential debates. In the first debate, Nixon did not look his best, while Kennedy looked better on TV. Many people who watched on TV thought Kennedy did better, but those who listened on the radio thought Nixon had won. Nixon lost the election by a very small margin, with Kennedy winning by just 112,827 votes nationwide.

After the election, there were claims of problems with voting in some states. However, Nixon decided not to challenge the results. He believed it would be bad for the country. When his time as vice president ended in January 1961, Nixon and his family moved back to California. There, he worked as a lawyer and wrote a popular book called Six Crises.

1962 California gubernatorial campaign

Main article: 1962 California gubernatorial election

Many in the Republican Party asked Richard Nixon to run against Pat Brown for governor of California in 1962. Nixon was not sure at first, but he decided to run. Some people thought he might not really want to be governor and might be preparing for another try at the presidency.

Nixon lost the election to Brown by a small margin. After the loss, Nixon gave a speech the next morning. He talked about how the media had treated him unfairly. This speech helped him gain more support from people.

Wilderness years

In 1963, the Nixon family went to Europe. Nixon talked to reporters and met leaders of the countries he visited. The family moved to New York City. Nixon became a senior partner in a big law firm.

In 1964, Nixon got some votes in early elections for president. He was a strong candidate but kept his promise not to run that year. He supported Senator Barry Goldwater, who became the Republican nominee. Goldwater lost, but Nixon was still respected by many Republicans. He helped the party win more seats in Congress during the 1966 elections. In 1967, Nixon worked on a legal case about privacy and the press. The case went to the highest court in the United States. The court ruled against him, but Nixon was praised for his arguments. This was the only time he presented a case before that court.

1968 presidential campaign

See also: 1968 Republican Party presidential primaries and 1968 United States presidential election

In 1967, Richard Nixon decided to run for president again. He thought the Democrats were divided, especially about the Vietnam War. This gave him a good chance to win.

The primary elections were busy. In January 1968, there was a big surprise in the war called the Tet Offensive. In March, President Johnson decided not to run anymore. In June, Senator Robert F. Kennedy won an important election but was killed soon after.

Nixon faced some other Republican leaders but he won the nomination. He picked Spiro Agnew to be his running mate. His opponent in the final election was Vice President Hubert Humphrey. Nixon promised to be a calm and steady leader during a time of big changes. He said he would work to bring peace to the country and end the Vietnam War, but he did not say exactly how.

Nixon won the election by a very small margin. He became the first vice president to win the White House without being the current president. In his speech, he promised to bring the country together.

Presidency (1969–1974)

Main article: Presidency of Richard Nixon

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of the Richard Nixon presidency.

Nixon became president on January 20, 1969, and took his promise to work together and seek peace.

Foreign policy

Main article: Foreign policy of the Richard Nixon administration

China

Main article: 1972 visit by Richard Nixon to China

Nixon worked to improve relations between the United States and China. With help from his advisor Henry Kissinger, he visited China in 1972. He met with leaders and saw important places like the Great Wall. This visit started better relations between the two countries.

Vietnam War

Main articles: Vietnam War, Vietnamization, and Role of the United States in the Vietnam War

When Nixon became president, the Vietnam War was very unpopular, and many soldiers were dying. Nixon wanted to end the war safely. He pulled out American troops and helped Vietnamese soldiers take over, called Vietnamization. Peace agreements were signed in 1973, and American troops left Vietnam. Sadly, fighting continued after they left.

Latin American policy

See also: United States intervention in Chile

Nixon opposed the leader of Cuba, Fidel Castro, and worked against the elected leader of Chile, Salvador Allende. Later, a military leader, Augusto Pinochet, took control of Chile.

Soviet Union

Nixon worked to improve relations with the Soviet Union. He visited Moscow in 1972 and signed agreements to limit nuclear weapons. Both countries agreed to work for peace and better trade.

Middle Eastern policy

During Nixon's time, a big war called the Yom Kippur War happened in 1973. Nixon helped Israel and supported peace talks after the war. He also visited Israel.

South Asia policy

Nixon supported Pakistan during a conflict with India and sent a ship to show support.

Domestic policy

Economy

Further information: Nixon shock and 1970s energy crisis

When Nixon took office, there were economic problems like high prices. Nixon tried to control prices and change how the US handled money. These actions helped for a short time but caused problems later.

Governmental initiatives and organization

Nixon wanted more power for local governments and changed government organizations. He created the Environmental Protection Agency to protect nature and supported laws to keep air and workplaces safe.

In healthcare, Nixon suggested ideas like requiring employers to provide health insurance and helping poor families with medical costs.

Civil rights

Nixon worked to integrate schools in the South and supported fair treatment for all people. He also endorsed a change to the Constitution to give women equal rights.

Space policy

Further information: Space policy of the United States

In 1969, humans landed on the Moon for the first time. Nixon spoke with the astronauts and supported space exploration.

Reelection, Watergate scandal, and resignation

1972 presidential campaign

Nixon ran for reelection in 1972 and won by a large margin against his opponent, George McGovern. Many people voted for Nixon because they thought McGovern had extreme views.

Watergate

Main articles: Watergate scandal and Impeachment process against Richard Nixon

Watergate was a big scandal where people working for Nixon tried to break into the Democratic Party’s office. Reports showed that Nixon’s team tried to hide what happened. Tapes from the White House showed Nixon knew about the problems sooner than he said.

Resignation

On August 8, 1974, Nixon announced he would leave the presidency the next day. He said it was for the good of the country and asked people to support the new president, Gerald Ford. Nixon talked about his achievements and quoted Theodore Roosevelt about trying hard even if you don’t always succeed.

Post-presidency (1974–1994)

Pardon and illness

Further information: Pardon of Richard Nixon

After leaving office, Richard Nixon and his wife returned to their home in California. Many people still thought he should face consequences for his actions. President Ford later granted Nixon a full pardon, which stopped any legal trouble for him. Nixon said he was very sorry for the mistakes he made that caused big problems for the country and the presidency.

Later, Nixon became ill and needed surgery. During this time, he was getting ready for legal issues about some of his former staff. Even with health problems, Nixon kept working on writing about his experiences.

Return to public life

In the years after leaving office, Nixon worked to rebuild his reputation. He wrote diaries and memoirs, sharing his thoughts on many events. He also gave interviews where he talked about his time in office and admitted he had made mistakes. These interviews were watched by millions of people.

Nixon also traveled to meet leaders from other countries and gave speeches. He stayed active in writing and speaking about important issues, even though not everyone trusted him again.

Author and elder statesman

Nixon wrote several books after his presidency, sharing his views on world events. He visited many places, including the White House and other countries, meeting with leaders and talking about important topics.

He stayed busy with speaking and writing during the 1980s and early 1990s. Nixon focused on issues like the end of the Cold War and supported changes in Russia after the fall of communism. He kept sharing his ideas through writing and meetings with world leaders.

Death and funeral

Main article: Death and state funeral of Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon became very sick on April 18, 1994, at his home in New Jersey. He was taken to a hospital but sadly passed away on April 22, 1994, at the age of 81.

His funeral took place on April 27, 1994, in Yorba Linda, California. Many important people attended, including Presidents and leaders from around the world. Nixon was buried next to his wife, Pat, at the Nixon Library, and many people came to show their respect.

Legacy

Main article: List of awards and honors received by Richard Nixon

People have different ideas about Richard Nixon's time as president. Some think he did good things, like making peace with China and the Soviet Union and starting the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Others remember him for leaving office in a bad way.

Nixon thought his biggest work was in foreign policy, especially with Vietnam, China, and the Soviet Union. Some experts think this work was very important, while others say he was just following old policies.

At home, Nixon helped pass laws to protect the environment and wildlife. Even though he didn’t think these were his main achievements, they still matter today. Some people say his time as president made them trust the government less.

Personality and public image

Richard Nixon had a complicated personality. He was very private and formal, even when he was alone at home. Many people found him hard to know because he kept his feelings inside.

Nixon sometimes had health problems and used medicines that changed his mood. Writers and historians called him a talented but unusual leader who had trouble trusting others. Even his closest friends sometimes felt far away because he liked to keep his thoughts private.

Books

Richard Nixon wrote many books about his life and ideas. Some of his well-known books are Six Crises, RN: The Memoirs of Richard Nixon, and Beyond Peace. In these books he shares his thoughts on big events and what it means to be a leader. Each book has a special number called an ISBN, which helps people find and buy the books.