The 37th President of The United States, Richard M. Nixon

Richard M. Nixon: Reconciliation was the first goal set by President Richard M. Nixon. The nation was divided painfully, with turbulence in the cities and war abroad. During his presidency, Nixon succeeded in stopping the American struggle in Vietnam and in improving relations with Russia and China. But the Watergate scandal brought fresh divisions to the country and ultimately led to his resignation. His election in 1968 had ended an unusual race on two counts: his early success and his comeback after being defeated for president in 1960 and for Governor of California in 1962. Born in California in 1913, Nixon had a brilliant record at the University Whittier and the School of lawyers Duke University before beginning the practice of law. In 1940, he married Patricia Ryan; They had two daughters, Patricia (Tricia) and Julia. During World War II, Nixon served as a Navy Lieutenant Commander in the Pacific. On leaving the service, he was elected to Congress in his district in California. In 1950, he won a seat in the Senate. Two years later, General Eisenhower selected Nixon, age 39, to be his running mate.

As Vice President, Nixon took on major duties in the Eisenhower administration. Nominated for President by acclamation in 1960, he lost narrowly against John F. Kennedy. In 1968, he won again was nominated by his party, and railed to defeat Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey and third-party candidate George C. Wallace. His work while in office included revenue sharing, the end of selections, new anti-crime laws, and a broad environmental program. As he had promised, he said justice of the Supreme Court conservative philosophy. One of the most dramatic events of his first term occurred in 1969, when American astronauts made the first moon landing (landing on the moon). Some of his most acclaimed achievements came in his quest for world stability. During visits in 1972 to Beijing and Moscow, he reduced tensions with China and Russia. Their summits with Russian leader Leonid I. Brezhnev meetings produced a treaty to limit strategic nuclear weapons. In January 1973, he announced an agreement with North Vietnam to end American involvement in Indochina. In 1974, his Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, business disengagement agreements between Israel and its opponents, Egypt and Syria.

In 1972 bid for office, Nixon defeated Democratic candidate George McGovern by one of the largest margins in record. Within a few months, his administration was embatida by the so-called Watergate scandal, created by a burglary at the offices of the Democratic National Committee during the campaign of 1972. The theft was traced to the Committee to Re-elect officials to the President. A number of administrative officers resigned; some later they condemned for offenses connected with efforts to cover up the matter. Nixon denied any personal involvement, but the courts forced him to hand over tape recordings indicated that, in fact, had tried to divert the investigation. As a result of some scandals, unrelated, in Maryland, Vice President Spiro T. the Agnew resigned in 1973. Nixon nominated, and Congress approved, the minority leader of the House, Gerald R. Ford as Vice President. Faced with what seemed to be a sure indictment, Nixon announced on August 8, 1974, would resign the next day to begin "that process of healing which is so desperately needed in America." In his last years, Nixon won respect as an exemplary elder. By the time of his death on April 22, 1994, he had written several books about his experiences in public life and foreign policy.