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 * Name: Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) **
 * Political Party: Republican **
 * Date of terms: January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974 **
 * Vice presidents: Spiro Agnew(1st term) & Gerald Ford(2nd term) **
 * Overall Rating: B **

**Thesis: As the 36th Vice President, Nixon gained valuable experience as a diplomat. This experience would carry over to his presidential career 8 years later. As a president, Nixon only wanted peace for the country, which is evident when he handled foreign issues. President Nixon made a lasting impact on America and its identity, both positively and negatively. Foreign policy was Nixon’s specialty, though his involvement in the Watergate scandal was something that blemished his presidency. Overall, Nixon and his administration positively impacted America, which is why they earn the grade of a ‘B’. ** **Goals: Nixon’s inauguration addresses point towards his major goals as president. These two goals were to further the American Spirit, and to strive towards peace. Nixon’s true hope was to bring about long and lasting peace. He was able to accomplish this goal to a high extent. He was able to establish peaceful relations with China, the Soviet Union, and the Middle East. His goal of expanding the American Spirit was also accomplished to a great extent. The “American Spirit” was thought by Nixon as the ability of America to move forward towards greatness as a whole. He encouraged the passing of the Equal Rights Amendment, and supported integration. Both of these actions brought up the American Spirit, because America progressed as a whole. ** **Relations with Congress: Nixon’s relation with Congress was one that was different than most presidents. There were four different sessions of Congress that met during his presidency. Throughout all of the sessions, both houses of Congress had a Democratic majority. Normally, when the president’s party contrasts the Congress majority it brings about a minimum if any amount of legislation. In contrast, over 40 pieces of major legislation during his presidency. One of the major reasons that this happened was Congress’ ability to override a few of Nixon’s vetos. This is not to say that Nixon had no say as to what legislation was passed. On the contrary, some legislation such as the Philadelphia Plan and the Equal Rights Amendment were personally endorsed by Nixon. There was no major legislation that failed to pass. ** **Positive Action: Nixon’s most positive actions came through his foreign policies. As stated in his inauguration address, Nixon wanted lasting peace throughout the world. As testament to his willingness to reach peace, he flew to China and personally met with the Communist leader Mao Zedong. His meeting ushered in a new era of relations between China and America. Another place where Nixon showed his peaceful prowess was during the Vietnam War. Since the war was unpopular in America, Nixon tried to negotiate a peaceful way to withdraw American troops. His patience pulled through when a peace treaty was signed, and American troops were able to safely leave Vietnam. Finally, Nixon proved his ability in foreign affairs through his peace talks with the Soviet Union. Since relations with the Soviets were not good because of the Cold War, Nixon wanted to start a peaceful era. His negotiations brought about two landmark limitation treaties; the SALT I and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Both of these treaties peacefully restricted arms production between the two superpowers. These actions are all positive because they are all nonviolent and showed how Nixon strived for peace. ** **Negative Action: The most negative action that Nixon did was his involvement in the Watergate scandal. This scandal was uncovered after five men broke into the Watergate complex in 1972. Nixon had ordered the harassment of activist groups and political figures. Though he had dismissed them as political issues, it was later revealed that he had committed crimes to sabotage the democrats. His actions showed his lack of support among the people, and stained his reputation in America. These criminal allegations led to Nixon’s impeachment trial from office. Recognizing that he was no longer politically backed, Nixon resigned from the office of presidency. ** **Impact: Nixon’s presidency impacted future generations. He impacted future generations by creating a higher level of peace throughout the world. His actions in foreign policy support this. Another impact that came from him was the Nixon Doctrine. This doctrine was a major change in foreign policy that came from the Vietnam War. It stated that the United States would no longer contribute manpower to fighting nations, but they will provide aid towards them. This doctrine’s major application came in the Vietnam War; the war that started this doctrine. It allowed for the “Vietnamization” during the unpopular war, after which American troops started to withdraw from the war. ** **Conclusion: Nixon contributed greatly towards the advancement of the United States. His foreign policy brought peace and resolved several major problems. Although Nixon was great in foreign policy, his involvement in the Watergate scandal ruined his public appeal. This led to his resignation from office. Considering Nixon’s good and bad points, his contribution to America and its identity was positive, which is why Nixon and his administration get the grade of a ‘B’. **
 * Theme: The end of the 1960s was coming to a close as President Richard Nixon entered into office. Since the beginning of the Cold War, the United States was racing with the Soviet Union to be the first man in space. Numerous amounts of satellites were launched onto the surface of the moon, but no one had yet landed on it. President John Fitzgerald Kennedy financed the project that would get a man on the moon. His plans came to fruition during Nixon’s presidency in 1969, when the first and first American man stepped on the moon. This truly changed America’s Identity because it was obvious to the whole world that America was superior. America’s Identity also changed in another direction in 1972, when the 26th Amendment was passed. With this amendment, American people could vote at an age as early as 18. This is a major change in the American Identity because younger voters could voice their opinion, and that alone would greatly influence future elections. **


 * Works Cited: **
 * American pageant: a history of the Republic. 12th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002. 426-430. Print. **
 * "Equal Rights Amendment." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 20 Dec. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal_Rights_Amendment>. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Moon Landing." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 20 Dec. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_landing>. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Nixon Doctrine." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 20 Dec. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nixon_Doctrine>. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Richard Nixon:"Inaugural Address," January 20, 1969.Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley,The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=1941. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Richard Nixon:"Oath of Office and Second Inaugural Address.," January 20, 1973.Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley,The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=4141. "Richard Nixon." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 20 Dec. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Nixon>. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “91st United States Congress." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 20 Dec. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/91st_United_States_Congress>. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"92nd United States Congress." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 20 Dec. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/92nd_United_States_Congress>. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"93rd United States Congress." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 20 Dec. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/93rd_United_States_Congress>. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"94th United States Congress." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 20 Dec. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/94th_United_States_Congress>. **