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Richard M. Nixon Term: 1969-1974 Political Party: Republican Vice President: Spiro T. Agnew(1969-1973), Gerald Ford(1973-1974)

Whenever people think about Richard Nixon, first thing that comes to mind is the Watergate scandal. This was a very big part of his presidency since it led to his almost impeachment. However, this scandal happened towards the end of his terms as president. Before the Watergate scandal Nixon actually made some very good decisions, domestically and internationally. he improved relations with China and the Soviet Union and started withdrawing troops from Vietnam. He also did many good things to improve the environment and stop the rising inflation problem. President Nixon deserves a C for his presidency.

One of Nixon's goals was to improve relations with China and the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union and China's relationship had been falling apart since the 1950's and Nixon saw this as an oppurtunity to move in and try to make some form of peace. After China invited an American table tennis to come over, Nixon started sending Kissinger to secret meetings with Chinese officials. The improving relationship between America and China scared the Soviet Union, just like Nixon was hoping for. When Nixon went to Moscow two treaties were signed: The Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. This goal was well achieved as relationships improved with both countries. Another goal of Nixon's was to withdrawl American troops from Vietnam. Nixon really wanted to turn the war over to the South Vietnamese. First Nixon secretly started going after Cambodia; a very resourceful country for North Vietnam. Nixoneven made nuclear threats to North Vietnam, however everything he tried did not work. When Nixon finally saw all hope was lost he turned to Vietnamization. Nixon started gradually taking American troops out of Vietnam. This goal was also achieved as American troops were finally leaving Vietnam. Nxon also had some other goals such as helping the environment, ending unemployment,and stop the infaltion from continuing to rise.

Nixon's relationship with Congress was ok: not good or bad. During his presidency most of the House and the Senate were Democrats. Being a Republican this made it a little harder for Nixon to pass what he wanted to, especially at first. Trying to appoint new Republicans to the Supreme Court did not help out this relationship. When Nixon tried to appoint the new members Congress shut him down. However, Congress did not shut down everything he wanted to do. They did pass some legislation that he wanted and they agreed to let him travel to China and to Moscow.

The decision with the best outcome was everything that Nixon did that dealt with foreign affairs. Making better relations with China led to making better relations with the Soviet Union. First Nixon traveled to Beijing to improve everything with China. He then traveled to Moscow; the first American president to ever go there. Two treaties were signed that both dealt with the arms race. They did not stop the arms race but they paved the war for future pacts that hoped to reduce and eliminate the arms race. At Moscow Nixon even signed agreements that dealt with science, space, and trade. Not only did e inprove these reationships but he also ended American involvment in the Vietnam War. Nixon tried everything to shut down North Vietnam. he attacked neighboring countries, threatened to resume bombing of Nrth Vietnam, and he even launched a worldwide nuclear alert. Unfortuantley, North Vietnam never backed down and Nixon never followed through on his threats. At this point the American public absolutely hated this war and riots were starting to breakout. Nixon needed to figure out a successful way to bring this war to an end. he started Vietnamization: training the South Vietnamese soliders how to defend themselves. Nixon started graduallytaking troops out of the country and bringing them back to America. This calmed down the American public and greatly helped his popularity.

The Watergate scandal pretty much completely ruined Nixon as president. Nixon feared that a conspiracy would be leaked about some of his damaging foreign policies, including the secret bombing of Laos and Cambodia. At first Nixon tried to convince the FBI that this conspriacy existed however they shot him down. So Nixon created his own secret police organzation, the Speical Investigations Unit. Nixon's concern started with the Pentagon Papers which was a massive study of everything that happened with the Vietnam war. Two of the "Plumbers" carried out an operation to discredit Daniel Ellsberg the man who leaked the Pentagon Papers. They broke into the offices of Ellsberg's psychiatrist to find damaging informtion. When some of the break-in team was arrested Nixon desperatley tried to cover up the earlier things they did. It turns out that covering up the crimes was worse than the crimes themselves. Nixon was able to win reelection, but he did not last long in his second term. After Nixon fired Archibald Cox, who subpoenaed the tapes he agreed to turn the tapes over to Judge Sirica. His political support was gone and they were ready to vote on the articles of impeachment. Nixon, instead of getting impeached, resigned and Ford took over.

The thing with longest lasting effect was the Watergate scandal. Nixon got extremely close to being impeached and all his foreign policy secrets were exposed. Unfortuantely this is the thing that is associated with Nixon. But, it was such a bad decision it is extremley hard to overlook. All the good he did do is forgotten with this one decision and it influences him to leave the oval office forever. Nixon did do some good. Everything with China and the Soviet Union helped ease tension between all three countries and some very influential treaties were signed with this new peace. With everything stated Nixon dserves a C for his presidency.

"Richard M. Nixon." //The White House//. Web. 28 May 2010. []. "American President: Richard Milhous Nixon." //Miller Center of Public Affairs//. Web. 28 May 2010. []. "The Watergate Story (washingtonpost.com)." //Washingtonpost.com - Nation, World, Technology and Washington Area News and Headlines//. Web. 28 May 2010. [].