On January 19, 1913, Richard Milhous Nixon was born into a Quaker home in Yorba Linda, California (Aronson 8). He attended East Whittier High School and joined the debate team, eventually becoming one of the school’s best debaters. His teacher noted that Nixon “had this ability to kind of slide around an argument instead of meeting it head-on” (Barr 12). His senior year, Nixon ran for president of his class. He lost the election, and in his memoirs, he would refer to this as his first political defeat (Barr 14). After graduating from Duke University Law School, Nixon represented California in the House of Representatives and later the Senate. He soon served as Vice President under General Dwight D. Eisenhower. On January 20, 1969, he was inaugurated
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On August 8, 1974, became the first U.S. president to resign, as he declared to the nation, “I have never been a quitter…but America needs a full-time President” (Document 11). Throughout his speech, he never admits to misconduct in the Watergate scandal, but solely mistakes of judgment. He attempts to portray himself as some sort of hero for resigning, claiming that as President, he must “put the interest of America first.” Well, Mr. Nixon, why did you not apply that presidential duty to the rest of your administration? From Vietnam to stagflation to Watergate, Nixon consistently failed to put the interest of America before his own. On top of this, his Watergate scandal tainted the Americans’ view of the federal government. Nixon’s mendacious actions befouled the principled, righteous foundation on which the government previously lay. The Watergate scandal instilled in Americans a sense of mistrust and incredulity toward the American government that still, to a certain extent, persists today (Ambrose …show more content…
Although Nixon was a staunch anticommunist, he understood the necessity of a more pragmatic approach to this issue. Nixon and the Soviet leaders signed the SALT I, placing limitations on antiballistic missiles (Barr 69). In the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty of 1972, both parties agreed to “limit anti-ballistic missile systems,” meaning they would limit the number of nuclear warheads and missiles that they built (Document 7). It is again important to note the year of this document, 1972. This was another effort of Nixon improve his reputation after his Vietnam mistakes. He also sought to offset the enormous drain on national resources caused by the Vietnam War (Drew 83). Eventually, Nixon’s efforts created an atmosphere of mutual understanding between the two superpowers that replaced the inflexible positions they held toward each other since World War II’s termination (Barr 69). The leaders also agreed on a deal by which the United States would sell wheat to the Soviets, and they even discussed ways the two nations could work together in space (Aronson 63). However, in the end, the SALT agreement had little impact on Soviet arms relations because it solely put limits on offensive nuclear systems, but did not limit multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles, and, in essence, allowed the arms race to continue (Drew 85).
On August 8, 1974, became the first U.S. president to resign, as he declared to the nation, “I have never been a quitter…but America needs a full-time President” (Document 11). Throughout his speech, he never admits to misconduct in the Watergate scandal, but solely mistakes of judgment. He attempts to portray himself as some sort of hero for resigning, claiming that as President, he must “put the interest of America first.” Well, Mr. Nixon, why did you not apply that presidential duty to the rest of your administration? From Vietnam to stagflation to Watergate, Nixon consistently failed to put the interest of America before his own. On top of this, his Watergate scandal tainted the Americans’ view of the federal government. Nixon’s mendacious actions befouled the principled, righteous foundation on which the government previously lay. The Watergate scandal instilled in Americans a sense of mistrust and incredulity toward the American government that still, to a certain extent, persists today (Ambrose …show more content…
Although Nixon was a staunch anticommunist, he understood the necessity of a more pragmatic approach to this issue. Nixon and the Soviet leaders signed the SALT I, placing limitations on antiballistic missiles (Barr 69). In the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty of 1972, both parties agreed to “limit anti-ballistic missile systems,” meaning they would limit the number of nuclear warheads and missiles that they built (Document 7). It is again important to note the year of this document, 1972. This was another effort of Nixon improve his reputation after his Vietnam mistakes. He also sought to offset the enormous drain on national resources caused by the Vietnam War (Drew 83). Eventually, Nixon’s efforts created an atmosphere of mutual understanding between the two superpowers that replaced the inflexible positions they held toward each other since World War II’s termination (Barr 69). The leaders also agreed on a deal by which the United States would sell wheat to the Soviets, and they even discussed ways the two nations could work together in space (Aronson 63). However, in the end, the SALT agreement had little impact on Soviet arms relations because it solely put limits on offensive nuclear systems, but did not limit multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles, and, in essence, allowed the arms race to continue (Drew 85).