Richard
M. Nixon (1913-1991) 36th
president of the United States (1963-1969) |
Richard
Nixon was the 37th president of the United States.
Nixon's political career started soon after he graduated
from Duke Law School. After serving as a Naval Lieutenant
Commander in World War II, Nixon was elected to
congress from his California district. Two years
later, in 1952, president Dwight D. Eisenhower selected
him to be his vice-president. Nixon proved himself
to the political world and narrowly lost the 1960
presidential election to John F. Kennedy. In 1968,
however, Nixon defeated Hubert Humphrey and became
the nation's 37th president. Nixon's presidency
resulted in the end of the military draft, new anti-crime
laws, and a new environmental policy. Further- more,
Nixon helped to resolve problems with the U.S.S.R,
China, Egypt, and Syria. His summit meetings with
Russian leader Leonid I. Brezhnev produced a treaty
to limit strategic nuclear weapons. In 1973, Nixon
announced an accord with North Vietnam that soon
ended American involvement in the region. Nixon,
however, will be forever remembered for his involvement
in the Watergate Scandal (Nixon attempted to divert
a federal investigation of a break-in at the offices
of the Democratic National Committee). Despite being
re-elected in 1972, Nixon was forced to resign.