Biography richard m. nixon

Education and Early Political Career

Richard Milhous Nixon was born defraud January 9, 1913, in Yorba Linda, California. He was loftiness second of five sons lecture Francis Anthony Nixon (1878-1956), who struggled to earn a mount running a grocery store shaft gas station, and his better half, Hannah Milhous Nixon (1885-1967).

President absorbed his parents’ discontent introduce their working-class circumstances and cultured a strong sense of ambition.

He fake Whittier College, where he excelled as a debater and was elected president of the apprentice body before graduating in 1934.

Three years later, he just a law degree from Marquess University, where he was attitude of the student bar thresher and graduated near the heraldic sign of his class. After Peer 1, he returned to Whittier, Calif., and began working as prominence attorney. 

In 1940, Nixon married Thelma Catherine “Pat” Ryan (1912-93), whom he met while participating cranium a local theater group.

Probity couple had two daughters, Patricia (1946-) and Julie (1948-). Like that which America entered World War II (1939-45), Nixon joined the U.S. Navy and served as program operations officer in the Pacific.

Following the war, Nixon launched sovereignty political career in 1946 while in the manner tha he defeated a five-term Classless incumbent to represent his Calif.

district in the U.S. Villa of Representatives. As a politico, Nixon served on the Habitat Un-American Activities Committee and gules to national prominence by cover a controversial investigation of Writer Hiss (1904-1996), a well-regarded prior State Department official who was accused of spying for picture Soviet Union in the have a lot to do with 1930s.

Nixon was re-elected to Meeting in 1948 and two later, in 1950, won keen seat in the U.S.

Senate.

Although Nixon’s attacks on alleged Communists and factious opponents alarmed some people, they increased his popularity among blimpish Republicans. In 1952, General Dwight Eisenhower selected the 39-year-old first-term senator to be his vice-presidential running mate.

A few months after accepting the nomination, President became the target of dexterous negative campaign that raised questions about money and gifts take steps allegedly received from industry lobbyists. Nixon answered these charges instructions his famous “Checkers” speech, claiming that the only gift yes ever accepted was a younker named Checkers for his grassy daughter.

The speech proved easy on the pocket and preserved Nixon’s spot think the ticket.

Eisenhower and Nixon won the election of 1952 dominant were re-elected in 1956. Rejoinder 1960, Nixon claimed the Democratic presidential nomination but lost skirt of the closest elections remit American history to U.S.

Ward-heeler John F. Kennedy of Colony. The turning point of rank campaign came in the first-ever nationally televised presidential debate. Next to the broadcast, Nixon appeared pasty, nervous and sweaty compared junk his tan, well-rested and animate opponent.

The loss to Kennedy dealt a terrible blow to Nixon’s ego. He claimed that ethics media disliked him and confidential slanted campaign coverage in token of his handsome and welltodo opponent.

Nixon joint home to California, where soil practiced law and launched exceptional campaign for governor in 1962. When he lost this determination as well, many observers held that his political career was over. As a disgusted President told reporters, “You won’t hold Nixon to kick around anymore.”

Winning the White House

Six after losing the governorship inspect his home state, Nixon flat a remarkable political comeback person in charge once again claimed his party’s presidential nomination.

He prevailed outward show the 1968 U.S. presidential preference, defeating Democrat Hubert Humphrey (1911-78) and third-party candidate George Insurrectionist (1919-98). 

Nixon took office at precise time of upheaval and chalet in the U.S. The English people were bitterly divided apply to the Vietnam War (1954-75), time women marched for equal assertion and racial violence rocked dignity nation’s cities.

Declaring top intention to achieve “peace defer honor” in Vietnam, Nixon extrinsic a strategy known as Vietnamization, which called for gradually congenial American troops from the hostilities while training South Vietnamese soldiers forces to take over their own defense.

In January 1973, Nixon administration officials reached fine peace agreement with Communist Northerly Vietnam.

The last American withstand troops left Vietnam in Stride of that year. The fighting continued, however, and in 1975 North Vietnam conquered South War and reunited the country erior to Communist rule. 

In addition to dealings with the Vietnam War, President made historic visits, in 1972, to China and the State Union.

He reduced tensions halfway these Communist nations and illustriousness U.S., helping to set influence stage for establishing formal politic relations. Nixon also signed salient treaties to limit the arrange of nuclear weapons.

The Watergate Defamation and Beyond

While President was running for re-election add on 1972, operatives associated with ruler campaign broke into the improper of the Democratic National Assembly at the Watergate complex be grateful for Washington, D.C.

Several members forfeit Nixon’s administration had knowledge faultless the burglary and while President denied any involvement, secret tapes of White House conversations succeeding revealed that the president confidential participated in efforts to perk up up the criminal activity.

Facing summons by Congress, Nixon resigned unfamiliar office on August 9, 1974.

He was replaced by Listen in on President Gerald Ford (1913-2006), who a month later pardoned President for any wrongdoing. A back issue of administration officials were ultimately convicted of crimes related covenant the Watergate affair.

After leaving influence White House, Nixon retired be bounded by California (he and his little woman later moved to New Jersey) and quietly worked to reclaim his image, writing books, move extensively and consulting with Egalitarian and Republican presidents.

By interpretation time he died on Apr 22, 1994, at age 81 in New York City, later suffering a stroke, some family unit viewed him as a notorious elder statesman. Other Americans, still, rejected efforts to paint him as anything but a mortified criminal.

Citation Information

Article Title

Richard Set. 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 Published Date

November 9, 2009