Richard Nixon was a member of the Republican Party and before he became president, he served as the 36th vice president from 1953 to 1961. After five years in the White House, he saw that the end to the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War was inevitable. He became relaxed with the Soviet Union and China, and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency happened. Nixon is the only president to resign from the presidency.
Nixon was born to a poor family in a small town in Southern California. He graduated from Duke University School of Law in 1937 and returned to California to practice law. Years later, he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1946. In 1950, he was elected to the Senate and was the running mate of Dwight D. Eisenhower. He ran in an unsuccessful presidential campaign in 1960, narrowly losing to John F. Kennedy. In 1968, he ran for the presidency again and was elected, defeating his opponents.
Nixon ended American involvement in the Vietnam War in 1973, ending the military draft that same year. Nixon visited China, improving the relationship between the two countries, and forming a tense peace. He also supervised the Apollo 11 moon landing, which signaled the end of the race to the moon. He was re-elected in one of the largest electoral landslides in American history in 1972 when he defeated George McGovern.
Nixon is well-known for his famous Watergate Scandal, the incident that cost him much of his political support. He resigned before facing certain impeachment, making him the only president to do so. After his resignation, he suffered a debilitating stroke and died four years later.
Fun Facts:
- Nixon had a chance to attend Harvard University but chose not to.
- Nixon almost became an FBI agent in the 1930s.
- Nixon used the comedy show "Laugh In" to get elected.
Richard Nixon:
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