Richard Nixon was born in Yorba Linda, California on January 9th, 1913. He would go on to become the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969-1974. Nixon is best remembered for his involvement in the Watergate scandal, which led to his resignation from office. However, he also had a significant impact on domestic and foreign policy during his time as president. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the life and times of Richard Nixon!
Nixon was born into a family of modest means. His father, Francis Nixon, worked as a grocer, and his mother, Hannah Nixon, was a homemaker. He had two brothers, Harold and Donald. As a child, Nixon was interested in politics and participated in debates at school. He also enjoyed playing football and baseball.
Nixon attended Whittier College for his undergraduate degree and then Duke University School of Law for his law degree. He married Pat Ryan in 1940 and the couple had two daughters, Julie and Tricia.
After serving in the Navy during World War II, Nixon began his political career. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1946 and then to the Senate in 1950. In 1952, he ran for vice president on Dwight Eisenhower’s presidential ticket. The Eisenhower-Nixon ticket was victorious, and Nixon served as vice president from 1953-1961.
In 1968, Nixon ran for president again and this time he was successful. He defeated Hubert Humphrey in a close election and became the 37th president of the United States. As president, Nixon made a number of significant changes to domestic and foreign policy. He ended American involvement in the Vietnam War, established diplomatic relations with China, and signed the Environmental Protection Agency into law.
However, Nixon is most remembered for his role in the Watergate scandal. In 1972, members of Nixon’s reelection committee were caught breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters. Nixon attempted to cover up the scandal, but eventually it became too much and he resigned from office in 1974.
After his resignation, Nixon remained active in politics. He made a unsuccessful run for governor of California in 1976 and then served as President Ronald Reagan’s chief foreign affairs advisor in the 1980s. Nixon passed away in 1994 at the age of 81.
Read more: Ronald Reagan: The Legacy of a Conservative Icon
While he is best remembered for Watergate, Richard Nixon was a complex figure who had a significant impact on American politics during his lifetime. He will continue to be studied and discussed for years to come!
