How Did Richard Nixon Impact The World

Richard Nixon, the 37th president of the United States, was a lifelong politician in Washington, having served in the House, Senate, and as Vice President before being elected to the highest position in the United States Government. As a Republican during a divided time in our nation, Nixon took numerous stands that he thought were best for the country even when they conflicted with his conservative views and the views of his strongest supporters. His time as President saw a continuation of the Cold War with the Soviet Union, the fight against Communism around the globe plus the threat of new challenges domestically that threatened social and economic vitality. Nixon’s legacy in the end was tarnished by the Watergate scandal, yet his impact on the world and its people was …show more content…
Coming into office during the Vietnam War, Nixon was keen to toe the line with respect to his foreign policy decisions. Within the United States, there were factions of the population that were adamant that Communism needed to be stopped in every instance and other factions that demanded an end to a war that was deemed impossible to win. The United States had long followed a policy of refusing to recognize the regime in China, a communist country, as legitimate. In conjunction with Nixon’s efforts with respect to the war in Vietnam, he decided that no more should the United States alienate China. In February of 1972, Nixon became the first United States president to visit China. In China, Nixon met