The Life And Political Career Of Richard Nixon

“I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is abhorrent to every insitint in my body, but for the interests of the nation. ” Nixon said that summer night as he was stepping down. Richard Nixon’s life was full of ups and downs. Tragedies in the past, to a very successful political career. Which was brought to a step end. Richard Nixon was an incredible politician. Many of his opponents refer to Nixon as one of the best politicians ever. Today I will discuss his early life, his political career and many achievements, and finally I will discuss his life after his political career as well as his death. A major force in American politics for nearly 30 years. He was called A master politician. Richard Nixon’s life led him to a very successful political career, until a scandal happened and he lived the rest of his life as one of the only impeached presidents in the history of the United States.

First let us talk about Nixon’s early life. Richard M. Nixon was born on January 9, 1913 in Yorba Linda, California. Nixon’s father, Francis Anthony Nixon, was a small town grocery. His mother's name was Hannah Nixon. Nixon was the second of five children. The family experienced tragedy twice early in Richard’s life: his younger brother died in 1925 after a short illness, and in 1933, his older brother, whom he greatly admired, died of tuberculosis. These deaths were hard on both him and his family. It scared the family, but they were able to get by. Richard Nixon characterized his childhood as hard. Nixon once said this about his family, “We were poor, but the glory of it was we didn’t know it. ” Nixon distinguished himself as an excellent student, he attended Fullerton High School, but later transferred to Whittier High School, where he excelled in the curriculum. Nixon attended local Whittier College, where he earned a reputation as an amazing debater, a standout in college drama productions, politician, and a successful athlete. After graduation from Whittier in 1934, Nixon received a full scholarship to Duke University Law School in Durham, N. C. Nixon was and excellent student at law school. He graduated from Duke University School of Law in 1937. After Duke, he returned to Whittier and was hired at a local law firm. He was than cast in a play. He met Thelma Catherine (“Pat”) Ryan. A teacher and actress. The two married in 1940. Nixon and Pat had two children. Their first daughter, Patricia or “Tricia”, was born in 1946. Their second daughter Julie, was born in 1948. Nixon served as an aviation ground officer in the Pacific. Nixon rose to the rank of lieutenant commander before he resigned his commission in January 1946. He was honorably discharged, he saw no action, but did return with two service stars and several commendations.

After returning to life as an ordinary civilian. He was approached by a group of Republicans telling him to run for congress. Nixon would be up against five-term liberal Democratic Jerry Voorhis, he took on the challenge. Nixon's exploited notions about alleged communist sympathies, a tactic that would help throughout his political life, and it worked, helping Nixon win a seat in the U. S. House of Representatives in November 1946. Than in 1950, Nixon successfully ran for the United States Senate. He beat Democrat Helen Gahagan Douglas using the same method as before. Nixon was known as a young an outspoken anti-communist. This reputation earned him the notice of Dwight D. Eisenhower. In 1952, Nixon was nominated as Dwight Eisenhower's running mate. The New York Post reported that Nixon had a secret 'slush fund' provided by campaign donors for his personal use, and some within Eisenhower's campaign called for removing Nixon from the ticket. Realizing Eisenhower could not win without Nixon, he agreed to giving Nixon another chance. On September 23, 1952, Nixon delivered a nationally televised address in which he acknowledged the existence of the fund but denied that any of it had been used improperly. He turned the speech back on his political enemies, claiming that unlike the wives of so many Democratic politicians, his wife, Pat, did not own a fur coat but only 'a respectable Republican cloth coat. ' The speech was perhaps best remembered for its conclusion in which Nixon admitted accepting one political gift: a cocker spaniel that his 6-year-old daughter, Tricia, had named 'Checkers. ' Dwight won the presidential race, making Nixon the vice-president. Nixon was known as perhaps the most involved vice-president. Between 1955 and 1957, Dwight suffered a series of illnesses, Nixon helped approve Eisenhower's bills. These health scares lead to Eisenhower to create an agreement on the powers and responsibilities of the vice-president.

The first time Nixon tried to run for president in 1960, but lost to Senator John F. Kennedy. Than in 1968, Nixon announced his candidacy for presidency once again. In a 3-way riace between Nixon, Hubert Humphrey, and independent candidate, George Wallace. Nixon won the election by 500,000 votes. He was than sworn in as the thirty-seventh president on January 20, 1969. When Nixon took the office of president, the country was torn apart by the Vietnam War. Nixon did everything he could to come up with a strategy of withdrawing American troops from Vietnam. It took 3 years to completely do it, but troop withdrawal from Vietnam started in 1969 and ended in 1972. Withdrawals were estimated to be 405,000 soldiers. Nixon’s most important achievements were in foreign countries. His dramatic visits to China, and the Soviet Union were the first for any president in the United States history. In the December of 1970, he reduced the trade restrictions against China when he traveled to the country with his wife. The visit ushered in a new era of relations between the two countries. It also pressured the Soviet Union to agree to have better relations with the United States. Nixon had signed a historic arms control treaty with the Soviet Union, America’s Cold War rival. Helping end the controversy between the two countries.

In 1972, Nixon ran for president once again. This time he was up against Senator George McGovern. Who Nixon easily beat in a 301 to 191 in electoral and 43. 42 percent of popular vote. The biggest victory ever by a Republican. All of Nixon’s amazing accomplishments meant nothing after a break in at Watergate office in 1972 put Nixon in a bad spot. He was blamed for involvement in this scandal and many people believed he had done wrong. Watergate was when men paid by Nixon’s reelection campaign were caught breaking into Democratic Party Headquarters in Washington D. C. In January 1973, the trail of 7 men for the break-in five plead guilty and two were convicted. On July 24, 1974, the Supreme Court ordered Nixon to surrender the tapes. They had found him guilty of covering up White House involvement. In August 1974, the House of Representatives voted articles of impeachment to begin. Leading to the end of his amazing career. Before Nixon was impeached completely he resigned. On August 8, 1974 in front of 110 million television viewers, he announced that he would resign his presidency. On September 8, Gerald Ford (President after Nixon), pardoned Nixon of all crimes he commited, ending the long scandal. After some time off, Nixon settled down. After his wife died, Nixon took his wife’s death hard, and on April 22, 1994, just 10 months after his wife’s death Richard Nixon died of a massive stroke in New York City.

Richard Nixon’s life led him to become one of the most incredible politicians ever, but he made a mistake that ruined everything and ended his great career. Nixon helped the country get closer and have better relations with other countries. His politics helped the country in many ways. Nixon’s early life was hard and he worked even harder to become a good man with a good job. He had an amazing career and he became an outstanding politician. Nixon made a mistake, and there was nothing that Nixon could of done to get out of the things he had done.