Presidents of the United States: Richard Nixon, a leader shadowed by war in Vietnam and Watergate

Editor’s Note: This profile is part of a series taking a closer look at US presidents ahead of the 2024 presidential election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

Richard Nixon, the 37th President of the United States, is remembered for his complex legacy, marked by significant achievements in foreign policy and overshadowed by the Watergate scandal that led to his historic resignation.

His career was a study in contrasts, combining brilliant political successes with deep personal and ethical failures. Nixon’s presidency from 1969 to 1974 redefined US global relations but ended in disgrace, making him the only US president to resign from office.

Nixon’s rise in US polity

Richard Milhous Nixon was born on January 9, 1913, in Yorba Linda, California, into a modest Quaker family. His upbringing was shaped by hardship, particularly the early deaths of two of his brothers, which fueled his sense of drive and determination.

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Nixon excelled academically, earning a scholarship to Duke University Law School after attending Whittier College in California.

After graduating from law school in 1937, Nixon briefly worked as an attorney before joining the US Navy during World War II. His military service helped him build connections that would later propel his political career.

Nixon first entered politics in 1946, when he was elected to the US House of Representatives, capitalising on postwar anti-communist sentiment. His aggressive pursuit of alleged communist spy Alger Hiss during a 1948 investigation catapulted him to national prominence.

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In 1950, Nixon won a Senate seat, and just two years later, at the age of 39, he was selected as Dwight D. Eisenhower’s running mate. As vice president from 1953 to 1961, Nixon was a loyal and active figure in the administration, notably travelling abroad to represent the US during critical diplomatic missions.

1960 presidential campaign setback and comeback

In 1960, Nixon ran for president but lost narrowly to John F. Kennedy in one of the closest elections in US history. The campaign, particularly the televised debates, revealed Nixon’s less polished media persona compared to the charismatic Kennedy.

After a failed bid for California governor in 1962, Nixon famously declared to the press that they would “not have Nixon to kick around anymore,” seemingly signalling the end of his political career.

Despite these setbacks, Nixon’s political resilience came to define his career. In 1968, he mounted a remarkable political comeback, winning the Republican nomination for president.

Campaigning on promises of restoring law and order amid widespread civil unrest and ending the Vietnam War with “peace with honour,” Nixon won the presidency in a closely fought race against Hubert Humphrey.

Nixon’s first term in the White House

Nixon’s first term is often defined by his groundbreaking foreign policy initiatives. He was instrumental in reshaping America’s global strategy, particularly in relation to the Cold War. His most notable accomplishment was the historic opening of diplomatic relations with China.

In 1972, Nixon became the first sitting US president to visit the People’s Republic of China, marking a strategic realignment in the Cold War and creating a new geopolitical balance.

Nixon also achieved significant progress with the Soviet Union, culminating in the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT I), the first treaty to limit the number of nuclear weapons held by the two superpowers. These efforts to ease Cold War tensions, known as détente, are regarded as some of his greatest accomplishments.

On the domestic front, Nixon oversaw the creation of key environmental regulations, including the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970. However, his first term was also marked by deepening social divides, including protests against the Vietnam War and civil rights issues.

Nixon’s war in Vietnam

Ending US involvement in the Vietnam War was a central focus of Nixon’s presidency. Through a policy of “Vietnamization,” Nixon aimed to reduce American troops in the conflict while increasing the role of South Vietnamese forces.

Despite public opposition, Nixon escalated the war temporarily with secret bombings in Cambodia and Laos. In 1973, the Paris Peace Accords were signed, officially ending US military involvement in Vietnam, though the war continued between the North and South Vietnamese.

Domestically, Nixon’s administration enacted several significant reforms, including expanding social welfare programs like Social Security and introducing affirmative action policies, surprising many who had expected more conservative governance.

Second Term: Watergate and Scandal

Re-elected in 1972 in a landslide victory against Democrat George McGovern, Nixon seemed to be at the height of his power. However, his second term was quickly engulfed by the Watergate scandal, which would come to define his legacy.

Watergate began with the 1972 break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington DC.

As investigations unfolded, it became clear that members of Nixon’s campaign had orchestrated the break-in and that the president had attempted to cover it up. Revelations from secret White House tapes implicated Nixon directly in efforts to obstruct justice.

As the scandal deepened, Nixon’s support eroded, leading to widespread calls for his resignation or impeachment. Facing almost certain removal from office, Nixon announced his resignation on August 8, 1974, becoming the first US president to resign. Vice President Gerald Ford succeeded him, later granting Nixon a full pardon for any crimes he may have committed during his presidency.

Nixon picks up the pieces post-presidency

After leaving the White House, Nixon largely retreated from public life, though he worked to rehabilitate his image through writing and foreign policy commentary. Over time, Nixon’s expertise in global affairs and his role in opening relations with China and advancing détente earned him a degree of respect, particularly in diplomatic circles.

His memoirs and foreign policy writings were widely read, and he became an elder statesman in his later years.

Nixon’s legacy remains deeply divided. On one hand, he is praised for his strategic foreign policy achievements, including improving relations with China and the Soviet Union.

On the other hand, the Watergate scandal shattered trust in government and left an indelible mark on American political culture, symbolising corruption and abuse of power.

Richard Nixon passed away on April 22, 1994, at the age of 81.