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//January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994// //Political Party: Republican Party// //Terms in Office: January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974// //Vice President: Spiro Agnew (////January 20, 1969 – October 10, 1973) and Gerald Ford (////December 6, 1973 – August 9, 1974)// Richard Nixon was a man who believe in peace more then war; consequently he acquired more peaceful relations with several countries, including the Soviet Union. Nixon met with the leading officials of the Soviet Union on May 22, 1972 to negotiate agreements with them. They agreed on increased trade and two-landmark arms control treaties, SALT I and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. SALT I stopped the increase of ballistic missile launchers, the current amount could not be surpassed. The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty banned the creation of systems that were designed to intercept incoming missiles. With these two agreements America and the Soviet Union grew even closer together which helped America’s cause in the Vietnam War. Both the Soviet Union and China cut back on their support for North Vietnam due to our now friendly relations. Since Nixon was so big on peace, he decided it was important to keep the Vietnam War under control. The War was very opposed in the United States and protested by many. Nixon wanted an arrangement that would let American troops withdraw while still securing the South Vietnam. In mid-1969 Richard Nixon tried to negotiate peaceful agreements with the North Vietnamese, but his agreements were never met. Nixon also attempted a strategy of replacing American troops with Vietnamese troops as the U.S. withdrawal troops. The troops were slowly removed by Nixon and were eventually reduced to all-volunteer forces in 1973. The Paris Peace Accords was then signed causing a cease-fire and allowed the remaining troops to be sent home. Nixon therefore appeased the American citizens by pulling out of the war.
 * __ Richard Nixon __**
 * Theme:** **Globalization**

Richard Nixon was a very strict, stick-by-the-rules man who wanted to get things done his way, and his way only. This personality led to conflicts with Congress and caused some of his ideas not to get passed. But he was very good at foreign affairs, he helped mend the relations of many countries, he also helped segregation to diminish in the Untied States. Despite all these achievements though, he had one major flaw the Watergate Scandal. This Scandal cost him his Presidency and broke the trust of Americans; because of this he only earns the grade of a C for his Presidency.
 * Introduction:**

When Richard Nixon became President one of his goals was reunion for the nation. At the time of Nixon’s Presidency there were troubles in the cities and wars oversee putting tensions and divisions through out the people of America. He achieved his goal; he put an end to the fighting in the Vietnam War and improved the relations with the USSR and China. The US troops eventually were evacuated from Vietnam and this stopped the protesting and opposition in America to pull out of the war. Nixon also ensured better relations with the Soviet Union and China, many acts were put into place, such as the SALT I and Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty which stopped the creation of new missile launchers and banned the creation of systems used to intercept missiles. Even though pulling out of the war and the improved relations with other countries brought America closer together, it was then torn apart by the Watergate Scandal, which was so bad it caused Nixon to resign from his Presidency.
 * Goals:**

Nixon and the Congress did not get along very well during his Presidency. Nixon was a Republican and both the House and Senate were dominated by Demarcates. Even though the gap between the amount of democrats and republicans in the House and Senate was small the Congress and Nixon still did not get along well. Nixon’s personality also proved a problem with trying to have a good relationship with Congress; he was a very strict, play-by-the rules type of guy. He wanted everything to be controlled and done the way he wanted it to be done. Due to the opposing views of the Democrats and Republicans though he had a hard time trying to convince Congress of doing what he wanted to do. The one main value that both parties possessed though was equality between races. Therefore one main bill Nixon got passed was the Equal Rights Amendment, which did not permit discrimination based on a person’s gender. Overall though Nixon and Congress did not get along well due to Nixon’s personality and the Democratic majority in Congress.
 * Congress:**

The best thing Richard Nixon did during his Presidency was pulling the American troops out of Vietnam. In America there was a lot of controversy over the war and a lot of Americans opposed and protested the war. In hopes to keep peace in the Country Nixon decided to pull the troops out of Vietnam. At first Nixon tried to attempt a peaceful agreement with North Vietnam, but it was useless. He then tried replacing the U.S. troops with Vietnamese troops. This then let the American troops slowly withdraw from the war, by 1973 all the American troops that remained in Vietnam were volunteer troops. And all volunteer troops were released after the Paris Peace Accords were signed causing a cease-fire. Nixon had appeased the American citizens by pulling out of the war and bringing the U.S. troops home. A negative that came out of Nixon’s Presidency was when he became the first President forced to resign due to an unlawful act – the Watergate Scandal. This scandal consisted of a break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters in DC, where the five men apparently ordered by Nixon bugged the offices of political opponents. When the break-in was found out about and the charges were starting to arise Nixon automatically denied being a part of the Scandal. Later it was discovered that he most likely was part of the Scandal due to a tape that was found, he therefore had to resign partway through his second term in disgrace. The Watergate Scandal made many Americans lose trust in the government and feel left down by the politicians. They also felt Nixon may had been too powerful. This was easily the worst event of Nixon’s Presidency because it let down all of America.
 * Pros/Cons:**

Nixon’s Presidency had impact on America for several reasons; it brought the U.S. and other countries closer together, and set different standards for the following Presidencies. Nixon was really big on global affairs and helped the United States gain better relations with some countries, such as the Soviet Union and China. The Soviet Union and America agreed on a more tame relationship, they agreed to not create anymore missile launchers or missile interceptors. This helped put Americans at peace of mind knowing the Soviet Union would not have more weapons then them, and therefore not be able to overpower them. America and China’s relationship improved; this helped future generations to have another powerful ally in a time of need. Due to Nixon’s involvement of the Watergate Scandal though it put less trust in future American Presidents. The people wanted more assurance that their leaders were not corrupt and they did not have too much power. After this Scandal the Freedom of Information Act was created, this made it easier for people to obtain official documents to find out what the government was doing. Nixon impacted America’s foreign affairs and the standards for future Presidents.
 * Future Impact:**

After Nixon’s Presidency America was in some ways better off, but in other ways worse off, this is why he deserves a C for his Presidency. He helped the foreign affairs of the nation improve and helped diminish segregation, but he also made the government seem more corrupt. With the out-break of the Watergate Scandal many Americans lost hope and trust in the Politicians and this really hurt Richard Nixon’s reputation. Without this Scandal he would have gotten a higher grade, such as a B or B+ because before this he did help America. But it would just not be right to give Nixon a good grade after he tried to “spy” on the Democrats, that is something a President should not do, therefore he only earns a C for his Presidency. **Works Citied:**
 * America after Nixon’s Presidency:**

DeGregorio, William. //The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents seventh edition//. New Jersey: Barricade Books Inc., 2009. Print.

"Richard M. Nixon | The White House." //The White House//. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Dec. 2011. .

"Richard Nixon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Dec. 2011. .

"What was the Watergate Scandal?." //Learn History//. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 1921. .