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In office: January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974 Republican Vice Presidents: Spiro Agnew (1969–1973) Gerald Ford (1973–1974)
 * Richard Milhous Nixon ** (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994)

Richard Nixon, the only person elected to both Vice President and President, had all of the necessary experience to have a successful administration. Additionally, he had been an extraordinary student and served in the military. A president with all the credentials, Nixon guided the nation and cared for it deeply. However, his tireless effort and good work was overshadowed by a scandal that is what he would be remembered for. His presidency deserves a B+.

Nixon entered the presidency with goals to construct alliances with China and the U.S.S.R., accelerating desegregation, creating anti-crime procedures, reform welfare and stop inflation, as well develop a peace process with the Middle East. His largest goal was ending the Vietnam War, an issue that, along with the desegregation of American schools, the American citizens were deeply divided upon.

During Nixon’s presidency, there was always Democratic majority in Congress- this included the 91st, 92nd, and 93rd Congress. However, Nixon was still effective in passing important legislation to change the country. He created a large environment program, enacting laws such as 1972 Noise Control Act, the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act, the 1973 Endangered Species Act, the Disaster Relief Act of 1974, the Costal Zone Management Act, and the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act. Additionally, he signed amendments to the 1967 Clean Air Act- this required that the national air quality was routinely tested and car emissions were reduced. Nixon was also successful in creating the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which aimed to prevent on-the-job deaths or accidents. For the citizens, the National Cancer Act of 1971 was passed to research and fight cancer more effectively, as well as the Supplementary Security Income, to guarantee an income to the elderly and disable citizens. There was also the Consumer Product Safety Act, which created safety standards for products. Not only did Nixon pass legislation to benefit the environment, but also the economy. The Tax Reform Act of 1969 established minimum taxes for individuals and corporate. The Economic Stabilization Act of 1970 gave the President the authority to stabilize prices, wages, salaries, interest rates, dividends, and similar transfers. Finally, he signed the Paris Peace Accords to bring peace to the Viatnemese region and stop American military involvement.

Of all of his positive actions, Nixon’s most important one was his movement for peace in North and South Vietnam. The topic of America’s involvement in the Vietnam nations was highly controversial in the United States and was dividing its citizens. Many people believed that Vietnam needed to work for peace independently of foreign nations. Others believed that it would prevent more tension within the region and result in less death. Their opponents believed that by removing troops, it would only create more immediate bloodshed. The Paris Peace Accords that brought peace to the region also reconciled the arguing American citizens. In addition to his work for peace, Nixon’s environmental program was one of the first major steps to preserving a healthy ecosystem, as well as his fight for consumer safety. Lastly, his meetings with the U.S.S.R. and China to limit nuclear weapons helped to make sure that everyone was safe- not just Americans.

Despite that Nixon had an incredibly powerful and positive administration, his is unfortunately remembered for the Watergate Scandal- the most negative outcome of his presidency. In 1972, five men were caught breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate hotel in Washington, D.C. The men were connected back to the Committee to Re-Elect the President of 1972, and later, tapes were found in President Nixon’s office of recorded conversations. President Nixon’s staff was already being accused of trying to cover-up the scandal, and the tapes revealed that the president indeed had tried to. Nixon was close to being impeached and convicted, so instead, he resigned from the presidency, and was the only president to do so. The scandal undoubtedly overshadowed his tireless effort in bettering the country.

Nixon’s work to keep the environment healthy undoubtedly influenced future generations in preserving their habitat for years. However, his Watergate scandal effected them negatively. It caused Americans to think lowly of their prestigious government and lose their trust.

In conclusion, the nation was better off after Nixon’s presidency. The Watergate scandal was indeed a setback and caused the American people to lose confidence in their government. However, Nixon’s effort to preserve the environment, create consumer safety, and bring peace to the nation as well as abroad, were terrific actions that only made the nation of higher quality. Nixon deserves a B+ for his presidency, and the hard work that was put into making country better for all citizens.

"91st United States Congress - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia //. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Dec. 2009. . "92nd United States Congress - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia //. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Dec. 2009. . "93rd United States Congress - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia //. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Dec. 2009. . "American President: Richard Milhous Nixon: Domestic Affairs." //Miller Center of Public Affairs //. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Dec. 2009.  "Richard M. Nixon | The White House." //The White House // . N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Dec. 2009. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/richardnixon>. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;"> "Richard Nixon." //<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Wikipedia //<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Dec. 2009. <en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Nixon>. "Watergate scandal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." //<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia //<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Dec. 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watergate_scandal>.