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Richard Nixon
Born: January 9, 1913 - Died: April 22, 1994 Republican Two Terms: (1969-1973) and (1973-1974) Vice Presidents: Spiro Agnew (1969-1973), Gerald Ford (1973-1974) An ideal president is one that cares about their countries image and devotes everything into making that country better. Richard Nixon was one of these presidents. If Nixon and his administration were to be judged, they would receive a B. Nixon achieved numerous tasks like protecting the environment, sending a man to the moon, ending the Vietnam War, and setting limits to weapons of mass destruction. Although Nixon accomplished these great achievements, he also had flaws like the Watergate Scandal.

Stepping into office, Nixon clearly stated the goals of his presidency in his first Inaugural Address. Above everything, Nixon had a goal of maintaining peace for mankind,as he stated in his first address: "This honor now beckons America—the chance to help lead the world at last out of the valley of turmoil, and onto that high ground of peace that man has dreamed of since the dawn of civilization." He also displayed his want for peace by saying, "We cannot learn from one another until we stop shouting at one another—until we speak quietly enough so that our words can be heard as well as our voices." Nixon's second Address took a different approach to his goals. His plan was for America to lead by example.Nixon said, "It is important that we understand both the necessity and the limitations of America's role in maintaining that peace." He then went on listing various things America would do to keep global peace. Nixon worked hard at accomplishing these goals, and succeeded to a great extent. He put an end to the Vietnam War, supported China's acceptance into the United Nations, and passed multiple agreements limiting destructive weapons.

Nixons relations with Congress were not the greatest. Out of all three congressional terms (91st, 92nd, 93rd), every time there was a Democratic majority in both the House and the Senate, conflicting with Nixon's Republican beliefs. Nixon's involvement with the Watergate scandal also ruined the relations. Nixon vetoed 43 bills that congress passed. Although their parties clashed, Nixon still passed many bills. It did not seem that the differences held him back.

Nixon did many great things as president, but the single most important was The New China Policy. Promoting his goals of keeping peace, Nixon put aside hostility towards communistic China to support their support their admission into the United Nations. Richard Nixon widely publicized his "journey for peace" trip to China in February 1972 (The first US president to visit China and a nation which had no formal diplomatic relations). Doing so, both governments decided to loosen scientific, cultural, and trade contracts. Nixon's dealings with China was important because it helped him reach his goals and saved a relationship that may have went even more bitter.

The worst action Nixon made was his involvement with the Watergate Scandal. This disappointing scandal occurred on June 17, 1972, when five members of the Committee to Reelect the President were arrested. They were charged with burglarizing the Democratic National Headquarters at Watergate, located in Washington, D.C. In an attempt to eavesdrop on Democrats to be re-elected, Nixon made his worst mistake. Nixon was forced to reluctantly give up his evidence, which they later found was tampered with. Actions to impeach the president soon followed. Realizing he would soon be impeached, president Nixon resigned. He admitted to his errors of judgment and reasoned, "to continue to fight through the months ahead for my personal vindication would almost totally absorb the time and attention of both the President and the Congress in a period when our entire focus should be on the great issues of peace abroad and prosperity without inflation at home." Nixon was forced to resign to keep the goals he stated when he stepped into office. If he was to keep his nose clean, he could have stayed out of the mess, and been a better president overall.

Nixon's acts and agreements to limit destructive weapons had the greatest impact on many generations to come. Not only promoting Americans, the agreements secured peace and defense for nations across the globe. Starting off in 1970, Nixon passed the Seabed Treaty to ban nuclear weapons from the ocean floor in international waters. Next, and perhaps the most important, was the Chemical Weapons Treaty of 1971. Under this treaty, many countries destroyed stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons and banned further development of them. Another notable decision was the SALT Agreement in 1972, which limited anti-ballistic missile sites and froze the number of strategic offensive ballistic missiles. All of these milestones influenced the lives of Americans in many ways. Tensions were loosened and the world felt a little more secure, which further accomplished Nixon's goals to world peace.

If Richard Nixon were to be graded he would receive a B. His contributions to America and global peace were well above par. Nixon's actions and devotion to the country definetly left America in a better state than it was. He clearly accomplished his goals of promoting world peace. Perhaps if Nixon kept out of the Watergate Scandal and maintained a better relationship with congress he would recieve a higher grade.

DeGregorio, William A. //The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents//. Ed. Sandra Lee. Stuart. Fort Lee, NJ: Barricade, 2009. Print.

"Richard Milhous Nixon: First Inaugural Address. U.S. Inaugural Addresses. 1989." //Bartleby.com: Great Books Online -- Quotes, Poems, Novels, Classics and Hundreds More//. Web. 23 Dec. 2010. .

"Richard Milhous Nixon: Second Inaugural Address. U.S. Inaugural Addresses. 1989." //Bartleby.com: Great Books Online -- Quotes, Poems, Novels, Classics and Hundreds More//. Web. 23 Dec. 2010. .