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January 9, 1913 - April 22, 1994 Republican Terms: (2) 1969 – 1974 Vice Presidents: Spiro Agnew (1st term); Gerald Ford (2nd term) Richard Nixon was a well-prepared president and is very well remembered. He made great strides with China and had many beneficial reforms, but his presidency is clouded with the losing of Vietnam and the Watergate scandal. He was never a bad president and always tried to make the right decisions but he lead a double life and hidden agendas so he receives a C for his presidency.
 * __ Richard Nixon __**

One of Nixon’s main goals at the start of his first term was to boost the economy as the post war economy had ended. He began a New Economic Policy, which boosted the economy using wage-price controls, revenue sharing and the Consumer Product Act. He also tried to improve relations with China, which would greatly benefit the U.S. in the future. At the start of the presidency Nixon wanted greatly to change the publics use of drugs. Nixon helped to raise awareness and restrictions on the use and selling of narcotics. His final goal was to get out of Vietnam through winning the war. Only half of this happened. The troops were removed, but only after we backed out and couldn’t help the Vietnamese anymore. We lost this war and that hugely damaged our global popularity.

Even though there was a Democratic majority in Congress, Nixon got along very well and had little vetoes in his first term. They passed the Environmental Protection Agency, the Clean Air Act, and the Safe Water Act to protect the environment and people from the environment. The Congress and Nixon agreed on most issues until the second term when Nixon tried to gain too much power and corruption began. Many members of Congress where in on the Watergate scandal as was many of Nixon’s close advisors so not a lot could get passed.

Many people only see the negatives of Nixon’s presidency, but he had made great strides towards bettering the economy and world relations. His greatest action would have to be improving relations with China. At the end of the war to Nixon’s presidency relationships with China were very unstable and never positive. When Nixon went and personally visited China and talked to the leaders they agreed to a peaceful friendship between the two countries. This also helped to reduce the creation and usage of nuclear weapons with the U.S.S.R. and China. The most negative aspect of Nixon’s presidency was the Watergate Scandal. People looked up to Nixon because of the good that came out of his first term, but that was all forgotten when the corruption started. It began when four men tried to rob the Watergate building and where from Nixon’s party. The president’s advisors and other men close to his power were accused of being apart of the cover-up of the Watergate burglary and most resigned. Then when people found out the Nixon had been recording conversations in the Oval Office they wanted to hear what he had said to a source following the burglary. Nixon claimed that that part of the tapes was missing and gave them an edited text version. The tapes were found and Nixon was found to be a direct part of the scandal so he had to resign. People lost all faith in him and his presidency and this completely eliminated any of the good he had done.

Nixon left a huge impact not only for his corruption and scandal, but also for his improved Chinese relations and the ending of Vietnam. He also led the country to see the ending of the Cold War and that it could happen soon. He left a lot of legislation that helped the economy and very importantly he set up the EPA. Another piece of legislator that is still in place today is the 26th amendment.

After president Nixon resigned the economy was no longer rising and people were very angry at the governmental corruption. The changes in our relations with China and the Soviet Union were major steps to ending the Cold War, but they too were masked by the loss of Vietnam. People all over the world were disappointed that the U.S. could not help the Vietnamese people and U.S. citizens were angry with their own government. Without scandal Nixon could have received a B, but since the country was not happy and couldn’t trust the government Nixon receives a C for his grade.

Works Cited "Impeachment: Richard Nixon." //The History Place//. Web. 28 Dec. 2009. .

"Richard M. Nixon |." //The White House//. Web. 27 Dec. 2009. .

"Richard Nixon -." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. Web. 28 Dec. 2009. .