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 * Name:** President Richard Nixon
 * Birth-Death Date:** January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994
 * Political Party:** Republican Party
 * Terms of Office:** 1 (January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974)
 * Vice President:** Spiro Agnew and Gerald Ford

Because of his involvement in the Watergate scandal, President Richard Nixon became the only president to resign from the presidential office. Before the Watergate scandal, Nixon did well for the nation especially in foreign relations like ending American fighting in Vietnam and improving relations with the Soviet Union and China. Nixon therefore deserves a B- for his impacting accomplishments as well as the Watergate scandal.

One of Nixon’s major goals as he first entered the presidency was ending the war in Vietnam. While the war was being fought, Nixon’s national security advisor Henry Kissinger was involved in many negotiations to end the war. Later, the U.S. and North Vietnam signed a peace treaty, which resulted in American prisoners of war returning home, continued presence of US civilian advisors, and attempting to reach a final peace agreement that sadly failed. His other major goal was to open American relations with China by visiting China in February 1972. Another goal of Nixon’s was to pursue a policy called detente with the Soviet Union. The détente policy was created to find ways the United States and the Soviets could work together to reduce tension and coexist in spite of the two nation’s differences. The SALT I, which was Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, was a treaty signed during Nixon’s visit to the Soviet. Nixon also imposed a wage price freeze to fight against inflation. By doing so, he removed the United States from the gold standard. The freeze was later removed and replaced by wage price controls.

During Nixon’s presidency, the Democrats were the majority in Congress. Nixon was given the power to set wages and prices through the passing of the Economic Stabilization Act. Although, Congress did not believe that the Nixon would use the new controls and felt that it would make him look indecisive. Even though Nixon and Congress relationship was so-so, they passed many bills such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA) which prevented on the job accidents and deaths. He also helped passed bills concerning the environment such as EPA and NOAA and amendments made to the Clean Air Act for reductions in automobile emissions and the national testing for air quality. One of Nixon’s passed welfare reform was the Supplemental Security Income, which provided income for the elderly and disabled citizens.

Nixon had a lot of positive actions during his presidency especially in foreign affairs. One would be the opening relationship with Communist China and another would be the signing of the peace treaty with Vietnam. Also, withdrawing troops as well as returning American prisoners from the war. One positive action that sticks out to me the most would be the détente with the Soviet Union. Treaties were signed to control the growth of nuclear arms, which further reduced and eliminated arms. The most negative action was Nixon’s involvement in the Watergate Scandal. Members of Nixon’s reelection committee were caught in a breaking at the offices of the Democratic Party in the Watergate building. President Nixon tried to cover up the involvement of his staff in the break-in. It later became known that Nixon made tapes of all his conversations and telephone calls, which was evidence to prove that he was fully involved.

By setting up nuclear agreements with the Soviets, this set the stage for arms reduction and careful diplomacy bringing about an end of the Cold War. The Nixon Doctrine, which supplied aides to allies, set the pathway for the Reagan Doctrine, which supported proxy armies, and also the Weinberger Doctrine that sent U.S armed forces into combat. Nixon’s involvement in the Watergate scandal made people skeptical about political leaders and also shows a valuable lesson that even presidents have faults and can be misleading.

The nation was worse off at the end of his term and when he left because of inflation and recessions in the economy. The nation’s foreign affairs were greatly improved than before and relations with China and the Soviet Union were the result of those improvements. Despite his involvement in the scandal, Nixon’s actions involving foreign affairs are the reason why he is graded with a B-.


 * Bibliography:**

"Richard M. Nixon | The White House." //The White House//. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Dec. 2009. .

"Presidents: Richard Nixon." //American History and World History at Historycentral.com the largest and most complete history site on the web//. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Dec. 2009. .

"American President: Richard Milhous Nixon: Impact and Legacy." //Miller Center of Public Affairs//. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Dec. 2009. .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Nixon