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Tales Times Ten: Richard Nixon's Journey from the White House to the Watergate Scandal

Braeden Hayes

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Tales Times Ten

by Richard G. Nixon

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Richard Nixon was one of the most consequential presidents in American history. His presidency was a time of great turmoil and change, both domestically and internationally. From his rise to power to his resignation in the wake of the Watergate scandal, Nixon's presidency was marked by a series of key events that shaped his legacy.

In this article, we will explore ten of the most important events of Richard Nixon's presidency. These events provide a window into Nixon's character, his policies, and his impact on American history.

1. The 1968 Presidential Election

Nixon's journey to the White House began with the 1968 presidential election. Nixon, a Republican, ran against Democrat Hubert Humphrey and American Independent Party candidate George Wallace. The election was close, but Nixon ultimately prevailed, winning the electoral college vote by a margin of 301 to 191. Nixon's victory was due in part to his support for the Vietnam War and his promise to restore law and order to the country.

2. The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was one of the most divisive issues of the Nixon presidency. Nixon inherited the war from his predecessor, Lyndon Johnson, and he pledged to end it with honor. However, Nixon's policies in Vietnam only prolonged the war and led to the deaths of thousands of American soldiers. The war also caused widespread anti-war protests in the United States, and it damaged Nixon's credibility with the American people.

3. The Cold War

The Cold War was another major foreign policy issue that Nixon faced during his presidency. Nixon pursued a policy of détente with the Soviet Union, and he made several trips to Moscow to meet with Soviet leaders. Nixon also signed the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I) with the Soviet Union, which limited the number of nuclear weapons that each country could possess.

4. The China Opening

Nixon's opening to China was one of the most significant foreign policy achievements of his presidency. In 1972, Nixon became the first American president to visit China since the Communist revolution. Nixon's visit helped to thaw relations between the two countries, and it paved the way for the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1979.

5. The Watergate Scandal

The Watergate scandal was the biggest scandal of the Nixon presidency. In 1972, Nixon's re-election campaign broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. Nixon tried to cover up the break-in, but the truth eventually came out. The Watergate scandal led to Nixon's impeachment by the House of Representatives and his resignation from office in 1974.

6. The Tapes

One of the most important pieces of evidence in the Watergate scandal was the White House tapes. Nixon had secretly recorded conversations in the Oval Office, and these tapes provided evidence of his involvement in the cover-up of the break-in. The Supreme Court ordered Nixon to turn over the tapes to the special prosecutor investigating the Watergate scandal, and the tapes ultimately led to Nixon's resignation.

7. The Pardon

After Nixon resigned from office, President Gerald Ford pardoned him for any crimes he may have committed while in office. Ford's pardon was controversial, but it allowed Nixon to avoid a criminal trial. Nixon never admitted to any wrongng, but he did express regret for his actions.

8. The Legacy

Richard Nixon's legacy is complex and controversial. He was a complex and contradictory figure who achieved some significant foreign policy successes but also presided over one of the biggest scandals in American history. Nixon's legacy continues to be debated today, but there is no doubt that he was one of the most important presidents in American history.

Richard Nixon's presidency was a time of great turmoil and change. From his rise to power to his resignation in the wake of the Watergate scandal, Nixon's presidency was marked by a series of key events that shaped his legacy. The events explored in this article provide a window into Nixon's character, his policies, and his impact on American history.

Tales Times Ten

by Richard G. Nixon

5 out of 5