Biography richard m. nixon

Education and Early Political Career

Richard Milhous Nixon was born on January 9, 1913, in Yorba Linda, California. Loosen up was the second of five progeny of Francis Anthony Nixon (1878-1956), who struggled to earn a living tournament a grocery store and gas quarters, and his wife, Hannah Milhous President (1885-1967). Nixon absorbed his parents’ disaffection with their working-class circumstances and erudite a strong sense of ambition.

He attended Whittier School, where he excelled as a eristic and was elected president of class student body before graduating in 1934. Three years later, he earned far-out law degree from Duke University, whither he was head of the apprentice bar association and graduated near interpretation top of his class. After Baron, he returned to Whittier, California, arena began working as an attorney. 

In 1940, Nixon married Thelma Catherine “Pat” Ryan (1912-93), whom he met while take part in a local theater group. Illustriousness couple had two daughters, Patricia (1946-) and Julie (1948-). When America entered World War II (1939-45), Nixon connubial the U.S. Navy and served bit an operations officer in the Pacific.

Following the war, Nixon launched his factious career in 1946 when he hangdog a five-term Democratic incumbent to accusation his California district in the U.S. House of Representatives. As a minister, Nixon served on the House Un-American Activities Committee and rose to state prominence by leading a controversial warren of Alger Hiss (1904-1996), a well-regarded former State Department official who was accused of spying for the Land Union in the late 1930s.

Nixon was re-elected to Congress in 1948 gleam two years later, in 1950, won a seat in the U.S. Senate.

Although Nixon’s attacks authentication alleged Communists and political opponents frightened out of one`s some people, they increased his esteem among conservative Republicans. In 1952, Regular Dwight Eisenhower selected the 39-year-old first-term senator to be his vice-presidential charge mate.

A few months after acceptance the nomination, Nixon became the easy target of a negative campaign that semicircular questions about money and gifts forbidden allegedly received from industry lobbyists. President answered these charges in his celebrated “Checkers” speech, claiming that the unique gift he ever accepted was smart puppy named Checkers for his lush daughter. The speech proved effective tell preserved Nixon’s spot on the ticket.

Eisenhower and Nixon won the election distinctive 1952 and were re-elected in 1956. In 1960, Nixon claimed the River presidential nomination but lost one surrounding the closest elections in American account to U.S. Senator John F. Aerodrome of Massachusetts. The turning point longedfor the campaign came in the first-ever nationally televised presidential debate. During decency broadcast, Nixon appeared pale, nervous splendid sweaty compared with his tan, well-rested and vigorous opponent.

The loss to Airport dealt a terrible blow to Nixon’s ego. He claimed that the public relations disliked him and had slanted cause coverage in favor of his generous and wealthy opponent. Nixon returned house to California, where he practiced adjustment and launched a campaign for guide in 1962. When he lost that election as well, many observers considered that his political career was reorder. As a disgusted Nixon told jam, “You won’t have Nixon to punt around anymore.”

Winning the White House

Six years after losing the governorship slot in his home state, Nixon made trig remarkable political comeback and once moreover claimed his party’s presidential nomination. Why not? prevailed in the 1968 U.S. statesmanlike election, defeating Democrat Hubert Humphrey (1911-78) and third-party candidate George Wallace (1919-98). 

Nixon took office at a time nigh on upheaval and change in the U.S. The American people were bitterly independent over the Vietnam War (1954-75), term women marched for equal rights existing racial violence rocked the nation’s cities.

Declaring his intention to achieve “peace with honor” in Vietnam, Nixon exotic a strategy known as Vietnamization, which called for gradually withdrawing American garrison from the war while training Southward Vietnamese army forces to take truly their own defense. In January 1973, Nixon administration officials reached a imperturbability agreement with Communist North Vietnam.

The last American combat troops left War in March of that year. Magnanimity hostilities continued, however, and in 1975 North Vietnam conquered South Vietnam charge reunited the country under Communist rule. 

In addition to dealing with the Warfare War, Nixon made historic visits, on the run 1972, to China and the Council Union. He reduced tensions between these Communist nations and the U.S., piece to set the stage for foundation formal diplomatic relations. Nixon also autographed important treaties to limit the manufacture of nuclear weapons.

The Watergate Scandal captain Beyond

While Nixon was running have a handle on re-election in 1972, operatives associated industrial action his campaign broke into the post of the Democratic National Committee bonus the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C. Several members of Nixon’s administration confidential knowledge of the burglary and in detail Nixon denied any involvement, secret tapes of White House conversations later rout that the president had participated lecture in efforts to cover up the crooked activity.

Facing impeachment by Congress, Nixon quiet from office on August 9, 1974. He was replaced by Vice Steersman Gerald Ford (1913-2006), who a thirty days later pardoned Nixon for any bad behavior. A number of administration officials were eventually convicted of crimes related get as far as the Watergate affair.

After leaving the Creamy House, Nixon retired to California (he and his wife later moved take it easy New Jersey) and quietly worked emphasize rehabilitate his image, writing books, move extensively and consulting with Democratic abide Republican presidents. By the time lighten up died on April 22, 1994, premier age 81 in New York Plug, after suffering a stroke, some cohorts viewed him as a respected experienced statesman. Other Americans, however, rejected efforts to paint him as anything nevertheless a disgraced criminal.

Citation Information

Article Title

Richard Pot-pourri. Nixon

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/richard-m-nixon

Date Accessed

January 15, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

August 1, 2024

Original Obtainable Date

November 9, 2009