Richard M Nixon

2 Pages 498 Words

Nixon, Richard Milhous (1913-1994), was the only president of the United States ever to resign from office. He left the presidency on Aug. 9, 1974, while facing almost certain impeachment for his involvement in the Watergate scandal. This scandal included a break-in at the Democratic national headquarters and other illegal activities by employees of Nixon's 1972 reelection committee. Nixon's attempts to cover up these crimes became a major part of the scandal. See Watergate.

Nixon was succeeded as president by Vice President Gerald R. Ford. One month after Nixon resigned, Ford pardoned him for all federal crimes he may have committed during his presidency.

Although Nixon left office in disgrace, he won respect for his conduct of foreign policy. As president, he ended U.S. military participation in the Vietnam War in 1973 and eased the tension that had existed for years between the United States and both China and the Soviet Union. Nixon became the first president to visit China while in office. He also visited the Soviet Union. Nixon won congressional approval of U.S.-Soviet trade agreements and agreements to limit the production of nuclear weapons.

At home, Nixon was challenged by sharply rising prices. He placed government controls on wages and prices to halt inflation, but the controls had little effect. Nixon ended the military draft and created an all-volunteer system for the U.S. armed services.

When Nixon was elected president in 1968, he climaxed one of the most extraordinary political comebacks in U.S. history. In 1960, while serving as vice president under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Nixon ran for the presidency and lost to John F. Kennedy. In 1962, Nixon was defeated when he ran for governor of California, his home state. After this loss, Nixon held what he called his "last press conference." Reporters wrote his political obituary.

But in 1968, Nixon showed that he was politically very much alive. He w...