The Legacy of President Richard M Nixon

Richard M Nixon was elected president on Nov 5, 1968. He had promised to end the Vietnam War.

In 1969, Nixon told the nation how he plans to remove our soldiers from Vietnam. Nixon did not want to lose the Vietnam war. His strategy was to combine an aggressive military action with increased pressure for peace talks. Anti-Vietnam war demonstrations took place across America. The Apollo 11 landed on the moon. Warren Burger was sworn in the the US Supreme Court Chief Justice.

http://www.supremecourthistory.org/history/supremecourthistory_history_chief_015burger.htm

In 1970, US military entered Cambodia. Postal Reform Bill and the Clean Air Act was signed by Nixon. Hence, the Environmental Protection Agency was created. Nixon initialized sweeping reforms to create a new relationship between the United States and Indian Tribes. Nixon also created the Department of Natural Resources.

In 1971, Nixon lifted the trade embargo on China. The Pentagon Papers were published. Nixon implemented a national wage and price freeze. A massive air strike on North Vietnam was initiated.

In 1972, Nixon visited China. The Senate approved the Equal Rights amendment. North Vietnam crossed the demilitarized zone to launch a big attack on South Vietnam. The bombing of Hanoi and Haiphong resumed. Nixon went to Moscow for Summit talks and signed the START 1 treaty. Nixon also signed the ABM treaty and a trade agreement with Russia. Six men were arrested for the Watergate break-in. Nixon won re-election for president. The Paris peace negotiations between the US and North Vietnam reached an impasse. Full scale bombing of North Vietnam resumed. Congress ended sexual discrimination in Public Schools. Nixon signed the State And Local Assistance Act. Along with this act, a lot of power was delegated to the states as a means of reducing the size of the Federal government.

ABM Treaty

http://www.fas.org/nuke/control/abmt/

START 1 Treaty

http://www.fas.org/nuke/control/start1/index.html

State and Local Assistance Act

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/563834/State-and-Local-Fiscal-Assistance-Act

In 1973, The US Supreme Court rendered their decision on the Roe vs Wade case. The Vietnam Peace pack was signed in Paris. The military draft ended. Top Nixon aides resigned because of their involvement in Watergate. White House Counsel John Dean was fired. John Dean told a Senate committee that Nixon and his campaign aids had conspired to cover up Watergate. The bombing of Cambodia stopped. Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned. Nixon fired the special prosecutor Archibald Cox. The Arab Israel war began. Arab nations banned exportation of oil to the US. Congress overrode Nixon's veto of the war powers bill. The American Indian Movement fought for their rights.

Roe vs Wade

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0410_0113_ZS.html

In 1974, the impeachment hearings began. Nixon released the tapes of the White House conversations.Congress recommended three articles of impeachment against President Nixon. President Nixon resigns.

Watergate

http://www.watergate.info/

My opinion:

Watergate overshadows all of Nixon's accomplishments in office. With regard to domestic policies, Nixon was less conservative than many Republicans desired. With regard to foreign affairs, Nixon failed to end the Vietnam war during his first term in office. But the Nixon-Kissinger team was probably the most effective foreign affairs team in decades. Nixon's downfall was due to his own paranoia. The impeachment of Nixon was a sad time in our history.

References: World Almanac 2009

A Patriot's History Of The United States ISBN 1-59523-001-7

http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Richard_Milhous_Nixon.aspx