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 * Name:** Richard Milhous Nixon
 * Party:** Republican
 * Birth Date:** January 9, 1913
 * Death Date:** April 22, 1994
 * Term in Office:** January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974
 * Vice Presidents:** Spiro T. Agnew (1969-1973), Gerald R. Ford (1973-1974)

**President** Nixon deser ves a "B" for his presidency. He passed several key pieces of legislation that greatly improved foreign relations and life in the U.S. He helped to diminish the arms supplies of the U.S. and the Soviets and was the first president to reach out to the Chinese. Nixon brought us closer to peace and safety and improved the standard of living. The Watergate scandal eclipses much of the good that Nixon did. Although he faced the infamous Watergate Scandal, he was a great president that accomplished many things in office. Nixon had several goals before entering the White House. His main goal was to end the Vietnam War as quickly and honorably as possible. He did not want to hastily withdraw our troops knowing that the South Vietnamese could defend themselves if U.S. forces were taken away. His solution was to train the South Vietnamese military while slowly withdrawing American ground forces. He achieved this goal although the plan to have the South Vietnamese defend themselves did not work. The North Vietnamese quickly overran them when U.S. forces were all but pulled out. Another goal of Nixon’s was to make America safer and more conscience of natural resources. He passed several laws that helped fight crime and promote people and businesses to be more eco-friendly. He also established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Nixon accomplished the goals that he had set at the beginning of his presidency. Nixon had a somewhat decent relationship with Congress. He passed a lot of important legislature and made several Supreme Court appointments even though he did not have a majority in either house of Congress. Nixon made peaceful negotiations with the Soviets. Two of the most important agreements were the Chemical Weapons Treaty, 1970 and the SALT agreement. The Chemical Weapons Treaty was an agreement that our chemical and biological weapons would be destroyed. It also banned the research and development of new biological and chemical weapons. The SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) created two limitations. They were that each side could only have two antiballistic missile sites each, and that both countries would stop producing offensive ballistic missiles. Nixon also passed several laws to promote law and order. These laws made harsher punishments for both organized crime and drug trafficking. He also established the EPA to help protect the environment. Nixon was also impeached which was not good for his relationship with Congress. He was tried for three different offenses, obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and failure to comply with congressional subpoenas. Nixon resigned before he was convicted. His relationship was fairly decent considering the circumstances. The most positive thing that the Nixon administration did was to create the 26th Amendment. This Amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. This allowed more people to vote and be properly represented. The most negative thing that the Nixon Administration did was the Watergate Scandal. Five men were caught trying to break into the Democratic National Headquarters. This attempted burglary set off a series of events that would reveal the biggest scandal ever in the White House. Nixon was forced to resign because of the impeachment, he would have been found guilty had he not resigned. He had listening devices planted within the Democratic headquarters. When the tapes were subpoenaed Nixon refused to hand them over, and when he did there were large pieces of conversations missing. He was also accused of trying to cover up the Watergate robbery attempt, but it was discovered by officials. This scandal was the largest one so far to come from the White House. It destroyed the credibility of the Nixon administration. The biggest impact that Nixon had on the future of the presidency was the handling of the Vietnam War. It made future presidents wary to go to war other than when absolutely necessary. The public was outraged by the war and led several demonstrations against it. Some of those demonstrations ended in bloodshed. It also showed that it is very unwise to pull out of a country that we have been aiding too quickly. The South Vietnamese were incapable of defending themselves from the Northern attackers. Had the U.S. forces remained until the Southerners were capable it would have ended much better for both of us. The Vietnam War had major affects on future presidents. It made them more cautious to go to war without the support of the people, and made them more cautious when removing troops from allied nations. America was better off at the end of Nixon’s presidency. He passed several important laws that had affects at home and abroad. He brought us one step closer to peace and safety from foreign enemies as well as domestic. He passed laws to preserve our environment, and made an agency to enforce them. Nixon also made public officials think twice about what will happen to them if caught doing what they shouldn’t do, by getting caught himself. He made America safer and healthier than before he took the oath of office. The only thing that smears his reputation is the Watergate Scandal. This is why he serves a "B" as president.