On the Highest Mountain

8/13/2019 On the Highest Mountain

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On the Highest Mountain, In the Deepest Valley

The Leadership of Richard Nixon

By Mar !outurier

The resignation of "resident Richard Milhous Nixon on #ugust $, %$&', (ared the nadir of a

uni)ue and often tu(ultuous career in pu*lic ser+ice -or nearly three decades, he had helped

shape the political landscape of the .nited /tates in unforgetta*le 0ays Ho0e+er, his o0n

failings and (is1udg(ents had finally forced his re(o+al fro( the national arena, and it 0ould

tae a titanic effort to get *ac into it

Born in 2or*a Linda, !alifornia, on 3anuary $, %$%4, the second eldest of fi+e (ale children,

Nixon entered the 0orld in the hu(*le trappings that ha+e long *een the staple of #(erican

success stories The future president5s father, -ran Nixon, 0as a hot6te(pered (an 0hile his

(other, Hannah Nixon, displayed a charity and co(passion that ne0 no *ounds7%8 #s a young

*oy, Nixon displayed a sharp intellect that 0ould ser+e hi( 0ell in politics and earn hi( the

respect of friend and foe alie -ro( pri(ary to la0 school, the future president recei+ed stellar

(ars and 0on nearly e+ery student election he entered 2et, despite his i(pressi+e acade(ic

credentials, Nixon 0as forced to decline a full scholarship to Har+ard *ecause his fa(ily could not

afford the train fare Instead he attended 9hittier !ollege, 0here he helped found a

predo(inantly 0oring6class fraternity na(ed the Orthogonian /ociety7:8 .pon graduation,

Nixon 0ent to the prestigious Due .ni+ersity La0 /chool, 0here his serious de(eanor and

(onastic lifestyle earned hi( the irre+erent (onier ;<loo(y <us= It 0as at Due that the future

president recei+ed his first taste of political intrigue #nxious to learn ho0 he had perfor(ed onthe final exa(s during his second year, Nixon > along 0ith a fe0 of his class(ates > *roe into

the office of the school dean in order to see his grades -ortunately for the transgressors, the

deed 0ent unnoticed748 Nixon, ho0e+er, 0ould not *e so lucy in regard to a si(ilar action in the

future

#fter recei+ing his la0 degree, the future president 1oined (illions of his country(en in a

tre(endous struggle to gain e(ploy(ent in the (idst of the <reat Depression Nixon atte(pted

to secure a 1o* 0ith se+eral pro(inent la0 fir(s in Ne0 2or as 0ell as the -BI, *ut 0as

unsuccessful in his endea+ors Discouraged, Nixon returned to 9hittier and found 0or in a

s(all la0 fir( In the su((er of %$'?, he (arried "atricia Ryan, 0ho( he had *een +igorously

pursuing for the pre+ious t0o years # fe0 years later, Nixon (anaged to o*tain e(ploy(ent

0ith the Office of "rice #d(inistration in the nation5s capital, and he and his 0ife (o+ed to

#lexandria, Virginia Though good at his 0or, Nixon soon tired of the federal *ureaucracy and

yearned for so(ething ne0 Barely six (onths after he had 1oined the O"# > and despite an

exe(ption that his @uaer religion entitled hi( to > Nixon decided to )uit in order to 1oin the ./



Na+y and shipped out to the /outh "acific a year later He spent his ti(e in the ser+ice as a

ground a+iation officer and sa0 no co(*at Nonetheless, the 0ar pro+ed to *e a for(ati+e

experience for Nixon, as it exposed hi( to a di+erse range of people and taught hi( his first

+alua*le lessons in diplo(acy7'8

.pon returning ho(e fro( the 0ar, Nixon set hi(self on the career path for 0hich he had spent

his entire life preparing for 0hen he ran for !ongress in %$'A as a Repu*lican against popular

incu(*ent 3erry Voorhis of the T0elfth District Descri*ing hi(self as a ;practical li*eral,= the

young Na+y +eteran 0on an upset +ictory *y 0aging a ruthless and 0ell6(anaged ca(paign

against his opponent, assaulting Voorhis5 record and slandering hi( as a ;fello0 tra+eler= of

!o((unists During his ti(e in the House, the future president gained and notoriety for his

pi+otal role in exposing #lger Hiss > a for(er ad+isor to -ranlin D Roose+elt > as a /o+iet spy

In %$?, Nixon (ade a successful run for the ./ /enate against !ongress0o(an Helen

<ahagan Douglas, 0ife of fil( actor Mel+yn Douglas During the ca(paign, Nixon treated

Douglas to the sa(e +icious attacs that had ser+ed hi( so 0ell four years earlier Ho0e+er, in

contrast to the hapless Voorhis, Douglas > 0ho( Nixon conte(ptuously descri*ed as *eing ;pin

right do0n to her under0ear= > did not go do0n lightly In response to the accusations that 0ere

le+eled at her, the !ongress0o(an ga+e her +ituperati+e opponent a nicna(e that he 0ould

ne+er *e a*le to shae off > ;Tricy Dic=78 Indeed, *y this ti(e, Nixon5s rancorous partisanship

and often underhanded style had earned hi( the lasting en(ity of (any on the Left

Nixon 0as *arely t0o years into his /enate career 0hen he 0as du**ed to *e D0ight

Cisenho0er5s running (ate in the %$: presidential election, a (o+e that set hi( fir(ly on the

fast trac to the O+al Office During the ca(paign, the young candidate displayed an a*ility toconnect 0ith the pu*lic +ia the ne0 (ediu( of tele+ision 0hen he ga+e his fa(ous ;!hecers

/peech= in response to a false report that he possessed a pri+ate slush fund co(prised of

financial donations He pro+ed to *e one of the (ost acti+e +ice presidents in ./ history,

particularly in the area of foreign policy Nixon easily 0on his party5s no(ination in %$A? *ut lost

the general election to 3ohn - ennedy in a close race that re(ains disputed to this day He ran

again in the %$A: !alifornia gu*ernatorial election, *ut 0as dealt yet another defeat at the hands

of incu(*ent go+ernor Cd(und < ;"at= Bro0n Despite holding a ;last press conference= in

0hich he excoriated the (edia5s percei+ed treat(ent of hi( and +o0ed to lea+e the political

arena for good, Nixon re(ained acti+e in Repu*lican "arty politics 0hile carefully *iding his ti(e

In %$AE, he sa0 another opportunity to capture the 9hite House and seiFed it Running as the

;la0 and order= candidate and pro(ising to *ring ;peace 0ith honor,= Nixon (anaged to con+ince

(any #(ericans that he alone could restore har(ony and confidence in a nation that 0as *adly

fractured as a result of racial tur(oil, social uphea+al, and the disastrous 0ar in Vietna( On

No+e(*er , he achie+ed his lifelong goal *y narro0ly *eating Vice "resident Hu*ert Hu(phrey

and *eco(ing the thirty6se+enth "resident of the .nited /tates7A8



/trengths in Leadership

In assessing the legacy and leadership of Richard Nixon, it is essential that one o*ser+e his

career in its totality Nixon5s shortco(ings as a chief executi+e ha+e *een a(ply docu(ented

o+er the years G the paranoia, the liea*ility deficit, the dysfunctional nature of hisad(inistration Indeed, the 9atergate /candal alone has produced enough *oos to fill a *lac

hole Ho0e+er, the president 0as also responsi*le for ey policies that ha+e had a profound

effect on #(erican go+ern(ent and foreign policy It is also i(portant to re(e(*er that there

0as (uch a*out Nixon5s character that is 0orthy of praise Lie (any of his heroes, he

possessed the i(portant traits of leadership to one degree or another > a(*ition, +ision,

experience, co((unication sills, courage, and luc Regardless of one5s opinion of the (an, it

is clear that Nixon5s presidency re+eals a fascinating saga of /haespearean proportions7&8

#side fro( *eing one of #(erica5s (ost contro+ersial presidents, the record re+eal Richard Nixon

to *e an enig(atic person 0hose contradictions and inconsistencies could confound the ancient

<ree tragedians He is roundly despised *y (any, yet re(ains the only #(erican politician to

*e t0ice elected to *oth the presidency and +ice presidency #lthough a deeply polariFing figure,

Nixon hi(self 0as no ideologue, a fact that is e+ident in his pursuit of (any (iddle6of6the6road

policies Indeed, despite *eing a longti(e fa+orite target of the Left, his presidency is often

acno0ledged *y so(e historians as one of the (ost progressi+e of the !old 9ar Cra Noted for

his personal a00ardness and apparent lac of charis(a, Nixon 0as still a*le to con+ince the

#(erican people to 1oin his crusade in the %$&: ca(paign and gi+e hi( one of the *iggest

electoral landslides in ./ history7E8 These inconsistencies and contradictions in Nixon5s life

and character could go on and on The point here is not to enu(erate the(, *ut, rather, toatte(pt to shed so(e light on the co(plex and shado0y nature of a (an 0ho could sin to the

lo0est depths of personal and political degradation and > at the sa(e ti(e > soar to Oly(pian

heights

This essay 0ill discuss the afore(entioned characteristics of Nixon5s leadership 0ith the ai( of

*ringing his presidency into sharper focus and facilitating a *etter understanding of his actions as

chief executi+e The essay 0ill also del+e into his (ain character fla0s and the crucial role that

they played in his do0nfall

Interior Dri+e

Nixon5s life is a case study of a *oundless a(*ition One has only to loo at his career for

e+idence Nixon5s early years 0ere (ared *y econo(ic desperation and personal tragedy t0o

of his *rothers died fro( tu*ercular diseases #lso, he 0as a socially a00ard person 0ho often

felt unco(forta*le and insecure around his peers 2et, despite these handicaps > or perhaps



*ecause of the( > Nixon effecti+ely channeled his energies and used sheer force of 0ill to propel

hi(self fro( the dusty roads of 9hittier to the narro0 entrance of the 9hite House In a rare

(o(ent of thoughtful introspection, the president once re(ared that, ;9hat starts the process

really are laughs and slights and snu*s 0hen you are a id But if you are reasona*ly intelligent

and if your anger is deep enough and strong enough, you learn that you can change those

attitudes *y excellence, personal gut perfor(ance, 0hile those 0ho ha+e e+erything are sitting on

their fat *utts=7$8 Nixon see(s to ha+e li+ed *y these 0ords, for his sense of deter(ination and

personal sta(ina 0ere astounding *y any (easure -or instance, at one point 0hile attending

Due La0 /chool, Nixon li+ed and studied in a s(all toolshed in order to (ae ends (eet7%?8 It

is also re(ara*le that he sought the presidency and actually 0on t0o elections after losing a

pre+ious one as 0ell as a gu*ernatorial race C+en after he 0as dri+en fro( the presidency in

disgrace, Nixon la*ored tirelessly to piece together his shattered i(age and *uild a reputation as

an elder states(en *y penning nu(erous *oos and gi+ing ad+ice on i(portant policy (atters to

succeeding presidents

/ense of Mission

The *ac*one of Nixon5s interior dri+e pro+ed to *e his +ision of 0here he 0anted to lead the

country and ho0 he 0ished to shape its relations 0ith the rest of the 0orld On the do(estic

front, he sought to redirect the Ne0 Deal and the <reat /ociety /oon after taing office in %$A$,

Nixon initiated a s0eeping progra( he ter(ed ;the Ne0 -ederalis(= This entailed a radical shift

of re+enue fro( 9ashington to state and local go+ern(ents in an atte(pt to tri( the fat of the

federal *ureaucracy and (ae the 0elfare syste( (ore efficient #lthough 9atergate se+erely

ha(pered Nixon5s a*ility to expand upon the concept of re+enue6sharing, the idea 0as populara(ong the #(erican pu*lic and led to significant *udget refor(s such as the /tate and Local and

Local -iscal #ssistance #ct, 0hich, according to author Mel+in /(all, ;esta*lished a federal

progra( for (atching state and federal funds in+ol+ing J%A *illion dollars o+er the

ad(inistration5s next three *udgets= 9hen the progra( had run its course in the (id6%$E?s,

state and local go+ern(ents had recei+ed nearly one hundred *illion dollars fro( 9ashington

7%%8

#nother Nixon sche(e on the do(estic front 0as the ;Ne0 #(erican Re+olution= > a grand

design for the re+a(ping of the federal go+ern(ent #fter 0inning a hard6earned +ictory in the

%$&: election, the president un+eiled this plan to his ca*inet *efore shocing the( all *y

de(anding their resignations #lthough poorly concei+ed, this unusual (o+e represented a

sincere effort on Nixon5s part to achie+e his cherished goal of reducing and consolidating the

9ashington *ureaucracy and eli(inating anyone 0ho 0as not dee(ed to *e a*solutely

necessary to the running of the country .nfortunately for Nixon, he soon found it i(possi*le to



i(ple(ent his ;re+olution= as 9atergate *egan to s0allo0 up his ti(e and political capital > and

e+entually the president hi(self7%:8

In the area of geopolitics, Nixon5s +isionary outloo on glo*al (atters led to the first (a1or

*reathroughs of the !old 9ar #l0ays one for dra(a on a grand scale, the president ca(e intooffice 0ith the intention of shocing the entire 0orld *y taing ad+antage of the /ino6/o+iet split

and reaching out to *oth sides in a *old (o+e ai(ed at reducing tensions a(ong the great

po0ers 9hile Ronald Reagan is often credited for ending the decades6long state of hostility

*et0een the .nited /tates and the /o+iet .nion, it 0as Nixon 0ho *egan the tha0ing process

His policy of dKtente resulted in the /trategic #r(s Li(itation Treaty /#LT I > the first of its

ind to *e signed *y the t0o superpo0ers The successful conclusion of this agree(ent led to

other ground*reaing deals that gradually reduced tensions *et0een the t0o superpo0ers, such

as the #nti6*allistic Missile #BM Treaty %$&:, /#LT II %$&$, and the /trategic #r(s

Reductions Treaties %$$% and %$$4

C+en (ore i(pressi+e 0ere Nixon5s efforts to *ring a*out a rapproche(ent *et0een the ./ and

the "eople5s Repu*lic of !hina The president5s decision to grant diplo(atic recognition to the

regi(e of Mao edong ca(e as a shoc to people around the 0orld > not least *ecause of

Nixon5s 0ell6earned reputation as an antico((unist crusader These o+ertures to the /o+iets

and the !hinese 0ere *old (o+es on the glo*al chess*oard that *rought the -ree 9orld and

!o((unist Bloc closer together and lessened the possi*ility of open conflict for *oth of the(7%48

#s president, Nixon also pro+ed hi(self to *e a leader 0ho 0asted no ti(e in dealing 0ith critical

issues that confronted the nation 9hen the ./ econo(y *egan to tae an alar(ing nosedi+ein the early %$&?s, the president introduced his ;Ne0 Ccono(ic "olicy,= 0hich included a

te(porary freeFe on profit (argins, 0ages, and prices, reintroducing the in+est(ent tax credit,

and initiating spending cuts Nixon also too #(erica off the gold standard and atte(pted to

sti(ulate an increase in auto(o*ile sales *y doing a0ay 0ith an excise tax 9hile these

policies > 0hich 0ere (ore characteristic of a De(ocratic ad(inistration than a Repu*lican one >

often produced dis(al results, they de(onstrate Nixon5s prag(atis( and 0illingness to try any

possi*le solution to resol+e a national pro*le(7%'8

"ro*a*ly the (ost re(ara*le > and least appreciated > exa(ple of Nixon5s no6nonsense

approach to getting the 1o* done is his successful effort to desegregate the pu*lic school syste(

in the /outh #lthough he 0as a lifelong li*eral on ci+il rights and, as president, pursued

progressi+e policies such as affir(ati+e action, Nixon 0as a staunch opponent of court6ordered

*using and (anaged to capture a siFa*le nu(*er of <eorge 9allace5s supporters in the %$AE

election *y running on that issue as part of his infa(ous ;southern strategy= This strategy 0as

an ulti(ately successful effort on the part of the Nixon ca(paign to 0oo (illions of traditionally



De(ocratic 9hite /outhern +oters o+er to the <O" *y openly appealing to their +ehe(ent

opposition to ci+il rights for #frican6#(ericans Ho0e+er, once Nixon 0as elected to the

presidency, he acted s0iftly to end the foot6dragging of pre+ious De(ocratic 3ustice Depart(ents

and enforce the decision of the /upre(e !ourt after entering the presidency, despite his personal

*eliefs on the (atter #s Nixon hi(self noted in his (e(oirs, ;In %$AE, so(e AE percent of

#frican6#(erican children in the /outh attended all6*lac schools *y %$&', only E percent

did=7%8 Not e+en his predecessor Lyndon 3ohnson > the godfather of se+eral ground*reaing

ci+il rights acts > could *ring a*out this result

/ill6set

#lthough he suffered fro( a nota*le deficit of ad(inistrati+e experience upon entering the O+al

Office, Nixon 0as undou*tedly one of the (ost sillful presidents that this nation has e+er had

The (an5s intellectual *rilliance has long *een acno0ledged *y people fro( *oth sides of the

ideological spectru(, and his political instincts 0ere often second to none Nixon ca(e to the

presidency 0ith an i(pressi+e resu(e that included t0o ter(s in the House of Representati+es,

t0o years in the /enate, and eight years in the +ice presidency It should also *e noted here that

Nixon5s ti(e in the 0ilderness *et0een his defeat in the !alifornia gu*ernatorial election of %$A:

and his +ictory in the presidential election of %$AE pro+ided hi( 0ith an in+alua*le opportunity to

enhance hi(self intellectually and culti+ate a personal +ision for his country and the 0orld that

0ould later ser+e hi( 0ell 0hen he stepped once (ore into the political arena to clai( his place

in history #s Da+id <ergen puts it, ;His *anish(ent fro( politics 0as one of the *est things that

e+er happened to hi( It prepared hi( to lead=7%A8

No0here 0ere Nixon5s *oundless no0ledge and intuition (ore e+ident than in (atters of foreign

policy Nixon5s rapproche(ent 0ith the /o+iet .nion as 0ell as his (o+e to nor(aliFe relations

0ith !hina represented (a1or diplo(atic coups that effecti+ely achie+ed his goals of 0idening the

/ino6/o+iet rift and exploiting it to #(erica5s ad+antage 9hile this ;triangular diplo(acy= carried

gra+e riss, Nixon accurately predicted that *oth the /o+iets and the !hinese 0ere prepared to

do anything to a+ert a potential alliance *et0een the ./ and either one of the(7%&8 This

allo0ed the president (anipulate *oth sides and *egin a process that 0ould e+entually lead to

the introduction of free (arets in !hina and the collapse of the /o+iet .nion

# final leadership sill to consider is the a*ility to recogniFe talent and use it effecti+ely Many of

the (en and 0o(en that Nixon recruited for his tea( later *eca(e ey figures in the

ad(inistrations of <erald -ord, Ronald Reagan, <eorge H9 Bush > hi(self a Nixon

appointee > and <eorge 9 Bush The list is a +erita*le 9ho5s 9ho of #(erican go+ern(ent

Henry issinger, <eorge /chultF, !asper 9ein*erger, "atric Buchanan, Donald Ru(sfeld, !olin

"o0ell, -ran !arlucci, 3a(es Baer, #nn McLaughlin, Dic !heney, 9illia( /i(on, La0rence



Cagle*urger, 3a(es /chlesinger, #lan <reenspan, "aul Volcer, #lexander Haig, and 9illia(

Rehn)uist7%E8 #ll of these people 0ould go on to 0ield considera*le influence on do(estic

affairs and play fa(ous > and infa(ous > roles in foreign policy +entures that 0ould shape the

0orld in the latter stages of the !old 9ar as 0ell as the post6!old 9ar era

#*ility to !o((unicate

#lthough Nixon could co(e across as an incredi*ly *right and articulate person to those 0ho

0ored closely 0ith hi(, he often presented an i(age to the pu*lic of an aloof and suspicious

figure Despite his political pro0ess, Nixon 0as not noted for his a*ility to capture the hearts of

the people Much of this had to do 0ith his natural shyness as 0ell as an apparent difficulty in

grasping the co(plex dyna(ics of personal interactions Being a good co((unicator has as

(uch to do 0ith ho0 a person acts as it does 0ith 0hat he says -or instance, 0hile Ronald

Reagan and -ranlin D Roose+elt 0ere effecti+e speaers, their a*ility to connect 0ith the

#(erican electorate 0as largely rooted in (agnetic personalities that exuded geniality, opti(is(,

and sincerity .nfortunately for Nixon, he suffered a grie+ous lac of char( and charis(a, 0hich

helped to pre+ent hi( fro( *eco(ing the *elo+ed figure that he so desperately 0ished to *e

"hysically, Nixon 0as not a particularly handso(e (an, and his unco(forta*le nature and

infa(ous ;fi+e o5cloc shado0= (ade hi( see( unappealing to (any people in the age of

tele+ision7%$8 Ho0e+er, there 0ere nota*le exceptions, such as Nixon5s deft perfor(ance during

the !hecers /peech in the %$: presidential ca(paign

It is interesting that Nixon5s political career 0as fatefully intert0ined 0ith that of 3ohn -

ennedy > the +ery (an he despised (ost and yet e(ulated e+ery chance he got During thefirst6e+er tele+ised de*ate in the %$A? presidential election, (illions of #(ericans caught a

gli(pse of the t0o candidates In 3-, they sa0 a fresh, healthy6looing #donis in a tailored suit

and sporting a youthful grin In sharp contrast, Nixon appeared ill > he had recently reco+ered

fro( a serious nee in1ury > and uneasy in his surroundings In reality, ennedy 0as the sic

one the (an suffered fro( all (anner of afflictions, including urinary infection, chronic colitis,

#ddison5s disease, +arious +enereal diseases, and gastrointestinal pro*le(s In order to sustain

hi(self, he 0as re)uired to eep his *ody constantly pu(ped up 0ith an assort(ent of drugs,

courtesy of ;Dr -eelgood= Ne0 2or physician Max 3aco*sen, 0hose (edical license 0as

re+oed in the (id6%$&?s7:?8

Interestingly, those 0ho heard the de*ate on the radio *elie+ed that Nixon had 0on due to his

expertise and experience on the issues of go+ern(ent, and ennedy5s apparent lac thereof

Ho0e+er, those 0ho 0atched the de*ate on tele+ision declared ennedy the 0inner > after all,

he looed lie one The Massachusetts senator also had little difficulty con+incing (any 0oring6

class #(ericans into thining that he 0as ;one of the(,= despite his luxurious up*ringing



.ndou*tedly, this decepti+e i(age allo0ed 3- to ee out a narro0 (argin of +ictory o+er his

ri+al in one of the closets presidential races e+er7:%8

/ince his defeat in %$A? election, Nixon (ade se+eral atte(pts to copy ennedy5s (anneris(s

and oratory, 0ith dis(al results -or exa(ple, he once staged a photo6op in 0hich he 0as seentaing a leisurely stroll on the *each in an apparent effort to e+oe a ennedy6es)ue (o(ent

Ho0e+er, this pu*licity stunt *acfired as soon as people noticed that the president 0as 0earing

shoes 0hile 0aling in the sand, a (ost unennedy6lie thing to do In his second inaugural

speech, 0hich he ga+e on 3anuary :?, %$&4, Nixon (ade an utterly sha(eless > and ulti(ately

la(e > atte(pt to (i(ic 3-5s i((ortal ;#s not 0hat your country can do for you= line 0hen he

intoned, ;In the challenges 0e face together, let each of us as > not 1ust ho0 can go+ern(ent

help, *ut ho0 can I help=7::8

2et it (ust *e re(e(*ered that Nixon did 0in t0o elections > including an historic landslide > and

ca(e 0ithin a hair of clai(ing +ictory in a third Ho0 did he do this Ho0 0as he a*le to 0in

o+er (illions of #(ericans, gi+en his personal disad+antages The ans0er is si(ple, yet tragic

9hen one taes a close loo at Nixon5s political career, it *eco(es (anifestly clear that the (an

achie+ed (any of his electoral triu(phs *y articulating not 0hat he 0as for so (uch as 0hat he

0as against Nixon 0as a (aster at tapping into people5s angers and fears and using it to his

ad+antage In his ca(paigns for the House of Representati+es and the /enate, he exploited the

Red /care of the early post0ar years *y *randing his opponents as co((unist sy(pathiFers In

the elections of %$AE and %$&:, Nixon captured the +otes of the ;/ilent Ma1ority= of #(ericans *y

railing against their percei+ed ene(ies > li*eral 1ournalists, anti0ar de(onstrators, (e(*ers of

the counterculture, and racial integrationists7:48 9hereas Reagan, -DR, and 3- achie+ed theirelectoral success *y *ringing different groups of people together, Nixon achie+ed his *y setting

the( apart <i+en his personal 0eanesses and lac of charis(a, it is liely that he sa0 this ind

of polariFation as the (ost effecti+e 0ay of connecting 0ith +oters

!ourage

#ll good leaders possess an extraordinary a(ount of personal courage, and Nixon 0as certainly

no exception "eople 0ho 0ored closely 0ith hi( ha+e recalled that the president displayed a

sense of toughness throughout his t0o ter(s in office that 0as truly a(aFing to *ehold # good

part of Nixon5s iron 0ill 0as rooted in his interior dri+e > his deter(ination to (ae his (ar on

the 0orld co(e hell or high 0ater His co(e*ac in %$AE is a perfect exa(ple of this Most

politicians 0ould ha+e conceded defeat and drifted into anony(ity after losing a presidential race

and a gu*ernatorial race in the space of 1ust t0o years, *ut Nixon liced his 0ounds and 1u(ped

*ac into the ring 0ith a +engeance after a six6year hiatus C+en after he 0as forced fro( office

*ecause of a scandal that *rought great sha(e and hu(iliation upon hi( and his fa(ily, Nixon



refused to slin a0ay fro( the pu*lic eye and spend rest of his life in a hole in the ground Instead

he de+oted all of his ti(e and energy to re*uilding his i(age and inserting hi(self once again into

the 0orld of policy(aing7:'8

One particular story fro( the %$: presidential election de(onstrates Nixon5s steel resol+eDuring the ;!hecers= incident, Nixon found hi(self under enor(ous pressure fro( party

stal0arts to drop out of the ticet for the good of the ca(paign Instead of *o0ing to the

pressure > as (any people in his position 0ould (ost surely ha+e done > Nixon decided to (ae

his case to the #(erican pu*lic in a tele+ised address Throughout the 0hole fiasco, Cisenho0er

(aintained an e)ui+ocal posture *y refusing to either support Nixon or du(p hi( naturally this

only ser+ed to increase his running (ate5s sense of isolation Indeed, Nixon *eca(e so

frustrated at Cisenho0er5s indecisi+eness that at one point he screa(ed, ;There co(es a ti(e in

(atters lie these 0hen you ha+e to shit or get off the potP= 9hen Nixon appeared *efore the

nation on li+e tele+ision, he ga+e his fa(ous !hecers /peech in 0hich he disclosed his personal

finances and urged +ie0ers to send their +otes of endorse(ent or re1ection to the head)uarters of

the Repu*lican National !o((ittee The address 0as a pu*licity coup 9ithin hours after the

*roadcast, the RN! 0as flooded 0ith letters and telegra(s re)uesting that Nixon *e ept on the

ticet This successful ploy de(onstrated his a*ility to fight against see(ingly insur(ounta*le

odds and 0in7:8

The anecdotes of Nixon5s courage and strength of 0ill could fill a to(e His daring policies to0ard

the /o+iet .nion and !hina indicated a 0illingness to go against his conser+ati+e, antico((unist

*ase in order to further the national interest This approach to foreign relations sho0s that

despite Nixon5s past rhetoric regarding #(erica5s !old 9ar ad+ersaries, he could (ae thecrucial distinction *et0een acting tough and *eing tough #lso 0orthy of (ention 0as his

ad(ira*le refusal to challenge the results of the %$A? election, despite (ounting e+idence of

*latant +oter fraud in se+eral ey states Lie any good pu*lic ser+ant, Nixon ne0 that a lengthy

recount could ha+e 1eopardiFed the security of the ./ at a critical ti(e and 0as a*le to put his

country ahead of his o0n personal a(*itions7:A8

Luc

#lthough he suffered (any hardships throughout his life and political career, Nixon 0as aided *y

no s(all a(ount of luc as he pursued his goals -or instance, it 0as his good fortune that a

group of Repu*lican *usiness(en ased hi( to run in the %$'A !ongressional election 0hen he

returned ho(e fro( the 0ar #lso, he 0as extre(ely lucy to *e tapped as Cisenho0er5s +ice

presidential running (ate in the %$: election at the young age of thirty6nine, and fro( a field of

(ore experienced candidates7:&8 One of Nixon5s strengths 0as his a*ility notice fortuitous

opportunities that others (ight o+erloo > such as the /ino6/o+iet split and the fracturing of the



De(ocratic "arty > and seiFe upon the( in order to *enefit his career as 0ell as the national

interest

9eaness in Leadership

#lthough Nixon possessed (any strong leadership traits, he also had his 0eanesses, se+eral of

0hich pro+ed to *e self6destructi+e Of course, any analysis of Nixon5s fla0s as a leader (ust

ine+ita*ly center on 9atergate, as it is ey to his do0nfall The point here is not to recount the

details of the scandal that has *een done ad nausea( *y (any scholars It is i(portant,

ho0e+er, to discuss Nixon5s shortco(ings as a chief executi+e and ho0 they created a situation

0here such a *iFarre incident could occur and trigger a chain of e+ents that e+entually destroyed

an ad(inistration The origins of Nixon5s de(ise can *e traced to the dar recesses of his )uiry

nature 9hile the president5s success in o+erco(ing for(ida*le *arriers throughout his life is

astounding to say the least, it left a s(oldering residue of hatred and resent(ent that (anifested

itself in ugly 0ays during his ti(e in the O+al Office #fter all, Nixon had had to endure all (anner

of set*acs and hu(iliations as he cli(*ed up the (ountaintop to the presidency 9hile his

0oring6class *acground encouraged hi( to try harder than (any of his peers, it also left hi(

0ith a per+ading feeling that he did not deser+e to *e accorded any high status, despite his

acco(plish(ents #lso, Nixon5s difficulty 0ith interpersonal relationships added to this sense of

insecurity, 0hich > co(*ined 0ith his *itterness > (ade for a precarious situation No dou*t,

these ele(ents contri*uted to his *elief that one had to *e prepared to resort to ruthlessness in

order to get ahead in politics7:E8 9hile this notion has so(e *asis in fact > as so(e of Nixon5s

(ore successful predecessors had often e(ployed )uestiona*le tactics > his particular nature

and dysfunctional (anage(ent style guaranteed that such an approach to go+ern(ent 0ould *ecarried to the ut(ost extre(e -or instance, 0hen Nixon entered the presidency, he displayed an

;us +ersus the(= attitude, 0hich soon spread lie 0ildfire throughout the 9hite House This

narro0 outloo 0as rooted in Nixon5s *elief that 0hole categories of people > such as

intellectuals, anti0ar de(onstrators, De(ocrats, and the (edia > 0ere trying to *ring hi( do0n,

thus (aing it i(perati+e that he crush the( *y any (eans necessary 9hile the president

certainly had (any ene(ies > (ainly on the Left > he tended to inflate this percei+ed threat to the

point of a*surdity He de(anded total loyalty fro( his ca*inet and li(ited his trust to a s(all

coterie of indi+iduals such as Bo* Halde(an, 3ohn Crlich(an, and !huc !olson #lso, it did not

help that so(e of these people 0ould often use their pri+ileged status in the 9hite House to

encourage Nixon5s 0orst de(ons7:$8

The *iFarre and *itter (indset of the president 0as exposed to the 0orld 0hen for(er 9hite

House !ounsel 3ohn Dean testified to the Cr+in !o((ittee that the Nixon #d(inistration ept an

;ene(ies list= that contained the na(es se+eral hundred political opponents 0ho 0ere to *e

singled out for harass(ent *y federal agencies74?8 This re+elation shoced (illions of



#(ericans and offered the( a gli(pse of the depths of Nixon5s paranoia > the ind of paranoia

that led to the *rea6in of the De(ocratic National !o((ittee head)uarters at the 9atergate

Hotel

C+en 0hen the scandal had gro0n to the point 0here it posed a gra+e threat to his presidency,Nixon refused to ad(it his (istaes and issue a (ea culpa /aid his successor, <erald -ord,

;Most of us ha+e hidden fla0s in Nixon5s case, that fla0 0as pride=74%8 Indeed, Nixon5s

stu**ornness in this (atter re+eals the negati+e side of his courage The president fer+ently

*elie+ed that e+ery crisis 0as a te(porary situation that could *e resol+ed pro+ided one had the

personal sta(ina needed to 0eather the stor( To ad(it any (istaes or 0rongdoing 0as to

choose the ;easy 0ay,= 0hich > as Nixon sa0 it G 0as the 0ay of the 0ea .nfortunately, he

applied this thining to the 9atergate /candal, and in the end his fortitude only ser+ed to hasten

his ine+ita*le do0nfall and delay his reco+ery74:8

It (ust *e noted here that Nixon5s excesses destroyed not only hi(self, *ut (any of those 0ho

0ored faithfully for hi( This is especially true in the case of so(e of the younger e(ployees of

the #d(inistration lie Donald /egretti, 3e* Magruder, D0ight !hapin, and Bud rogh G *right,

idealistic indi+iduals 0ho ca(e to the 9hite House 0ith good intentions and genuine enthusias(

It 0as egregious for Nixon to exploit the a(*itions of these (en *y creating a <estapo6lie

en+iron(ent that led the( to *elie+e that co((itting unconsciona*le actions 0as a natural part of

*eing in go+ern(ent and necessary to get ahead #lthough e+eryone ulti(ately *ears

responsi*ility for their o0n actions, it is al(ost certain that these younger e(ployees 0ould ne+er

ha+e gone do0n this path had they 0ored for an ad(inistration that placed ethical

considerations a*o+e a crass desire to (aintain po0er In the end, (any of the( paid for Nixon5sinsecurities and spitefulness 0ith 1ail sentences and ruined careers7448

-inal #ssess(ent

Historian 3oan Hoff once o*ser+ed that, ;Nixon 0as so (uch (ore than 9atergate, and

9atergate so (uch (ore than Nixon that his diehard critics can only si(plistically conflate

the(=74'8 Hopefully, #(ericans 0ill get a *etter picture of his presidency as the tapes fro( his

infa(ous recording syste( continue to *e processed *y the National #rchi+es .nfortunately for

Nixon, those tapes that ha+e *een released do not paint a rosy portrait of the (an Many of the(

are littered 0ith sordid con+ersations that only ser+e to offer up (ore e+idence of his (ale+olence

and flagrant disregard for the rule of la0 Ho0e+er, in recent years there has *een a

reassess(ent of sorts on the part of so(e scholars, including for(er critics of the president

#lthough acno0ledging his fatal fla0s, they ha+e also lauded his acco(plish(ents in the

international arena as 0ell as his progressi+e refor(s at ho(e Ne+ertheless, Nixon re(ains one

of the (ost unpopular chief executi+es in recent (e(ory In professional and pu*lic sur+eys of



for(er ./ presidents, he is usually raned near the *otto( 9hile there is certainly a sound

*asis for this appraisal, it o*scures the larger picture of his leadership and 0hat it (eant for the

#(erican people The policies that he i(ple(ented as president continue to re+er*erate across

the nation as 0ell as the 0orld at large

/peaing at Nixon5s -uneral in %$$', for(er senator Ro*ert Dole sounded a prophetic note 0hen

he intoned that ;The second half of the :?th !entury 0ill *e no0n as the age of Nixon=748

9hile his triu(phs do not in any 0ay erase the sins he co((itted 0hile in office, they do add a

fascinating di(ension to a (an 0ho could instincti+ely grasp the co(plex dyna(ics of politics

0hile failing to understand the logic of si(ple hu(an interaction In the end, Nixon5s life stood for

a grand and no*le purpose #nd 0hile he failed to fulfill that purpose, the nor(ally do0n*eat

president re+ealed an a*ility to recogniFe potential fortune in all of fate5s t0ists and turns 0hen he

re(ared in his fare0ell address that ;greatness co(es not 0hen things go al0ays good for you,

*ut the greatness co(es 0hen you are really tested, 0hen you tae so(e nocs, so(e

disappoint(ents, 0hen sadness co(es *ecause only if you5+e *een in the deepest +alley can

you e+er no0 ho0 (agnificent it is to *e on the highest (ountain=74A8

In the final analysis, it can truly *e said that the life of Richard Nixon is a story of t0o indi+iduals

2es, it is the story of a +indicti+e and petty (an 0ho created legions of ene(ies 0ith his

+ituperati+eness, (anipulated people and situations for his o0n *enefit, and ulti(ately destroyed

hi(self +ia a series of disasters that 0ere 0holly of his o0n (aing But it is also the story of a

*right young *oy fro( a dusty to0n in !alifornia He gre0 up in unen+ia*le circu(stances and

spent his days sla+ing a0ay in his father5s s(all grocery store so that the fa(ily could (ae ends

(eet But at night, 0hile resting in his *ed, the 0eary *oy 0ould listen attenti+ely to the train0histle in the distance and dare to drea(

7%8 /tephen C #(*rose, Nixon, +ol %, Nixon The Cducation of a "olitician, %$%46%$A: Ne0

2or /i(on Q /chuster, %$E&, %&

7:8 !hristopher Matthe0s, ennedy Q Nixon The Ri+alry That /haped "ost0ar #(erica Ne02or /i(on Q /chuster, %$$A, :'

748 Mel+in /(all, The "residency of Richard Nixon La0rence .ni+ersity "ress of ansas, %$$$,

7'8 #(*rose, Nixon, +ol %, %?46%?A



78 Matthe0s, ennedy Q Nixon, &:

7A8 /tephen C #(*rose, Nixon, +ol :, Nixon The Triu(ph of a "olitician, %$A:6%$&: Ne0 2or

/i(on Q /chuster, %$E$, ::?

7&8 <lea+es 9hitney, Cffecti+e Leadership, http000g+sueduhauensteinindexcf(

idS4!#'D:BE6B&-46-C&46D#?$%&E#$A'%%BD:

7E8 Da+id <ergen, Cye0itness to "o0er The Cssence of Leadership Nixon to !linton Ne0 2or

Touchstone, :???, :%

7$8 9illia( Doyle, Inside the O+al Office The 9hite House Tapes fro( -DR to !linton Ne0

2or odansha #(erica, Inc, %$$$, %&:6%&4

7%?8 #(*rose, Nixon, +ol %, &A

7%%8 /(all, Richard Nixon, %$

7%:8 /tephen C #(*rose, Nixon, +ol 4, Nixon Ruin and Reco+ery, %$&:6%$$? Ne0 2or /i(on

Q /chuster, %$$%, %'4

7%48 <ergen, Cye0itness,

Richard Nixon was an introvert in the extroverted calling of the politician. And

as if that were not problem enough for him, he was an intellectual appealing to

a public that puts low value on eggheads. I don't mean an intellectual in the

stereotypical sense of a cloistered scholar; I mean that Nixon was a highly

intelligent man who relied greatly on his own intelligence and that of others,

who had a considerable capacity to read and understand technical papers, who

retreated to a room alone and wrote in longhand on a yellow legal pad the gist

of his maor speeches, who impressed associates with his ability to evaluate

disinterestedly the pros and cons of a problem, who in the opinion of Arthur

!urns, whom he appointed to head the "ederal Reserve, could have #held downa chair in political science or law in any of our maor universities.#

Any number of Richard Nixon's associates will tell you that glad$handing and

pressing the flesh did not come naturally or congenially to him. %hen closely

observed, he always seemed somehow ill at ease. &is gestures when he spoe$$

the counting of points on the fingers, the arms upstretched in the victory sign or



sweeping around his body lie a matador flicing a cape before a bull$$the

body language always seemed a little out of sync with what he was saying, as if

a sound trac were running a little ahead of or behind its film.

(yndon )ohnson once called him a #chronic campaigner,# but Nixon actually

shran from the accustomed rituals of politics. In an interview early in hiscareer, he told the columnist *tewart Alsop+ #I'm fundamentally relatively shy.

It doesn't come naturally to me to be a buddy$buddy boy ... I can't really let my

hair down with anyone.# et he forced himself to engage, sometimes even to

excel, in the exhibitionary sills of campaigning over a political career that

lasted nearly thirty years $$ a remarably successful career during which he

served in both houses of -ongress and as ice /resident, was twice elected

/resident of the 0nited *tates, and became the only American other

than "ranlin Roosevelt to be nominated by a maor party on five national

ticets....

1arly in life Nixon seems to have thrown in his lot with those he called the

#have$nots# rather than on the side of those he once described to his former

aide 2en -lawson as having everything and therefore #sitting on their fat

butts.# As a freshman at %hittier -ollege he helped organi3e the 4rthogonians,

a men's club in sharp contrast to the existing "ranlins. #4rthogonian# meant

#*5uare *hooters,# Nixon explained in his memoirs; and in the college

yearboo, "ranlins were pictured in tuxedos while 4rthogonians wore open$

neced shirts, as befitted what Nixon termed #athletes and men who were

woring their way through school.#

6he "ranlin$4rthogonian distinction is a constant in Nixon's life. &is first

maor opponents, )erry oorhis, a millionaire baner's son, and &elen 7ahagan

8ouglas, a famous actress and friend of 1leanor Roosevelt, could be seen as

"ranlins. *o could his first most prominent victim, the elegant diplomat Alger

&iss. 6wo of his most fre5uent 8emocratic targets, Adlai *tevenson and 8ean

Acheson, surely were "ranlins. )ohn ". 2ennedy, rich and cool as Nixon

would never be, obviously was another. %hether or not Nixon actually saw

these adversaries as "ranlins, their presence and manner are bound to have

whetted his class instinct; and 2ennedy's disputed victory in 9:< must have been the more crushing because of it....

Is it too much to suppose, then that Richard Nixon suffered from feelings of

inade5uacy and was lacing in a sense of self$worth= 6hat he felt bitterness

toward those gifted "ranlins in their tuxedos to whom good things came easily

and who thus deserved them less= A decade after he resigned the presidency, he

told 2en -lawson+

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/character/essays/johnson.html

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/character/essays/roosevelt.html

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/character/glossaries/nixon.html#voorhis

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/character/glossaries/nixon.html#douglas


http://www.pbs.org/newshour/character/glossaries/nixon.html#hiss


http://www.pbs.org/newshour/character/glossaries/nixon.html#stevenson

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/character/glossaries/nixon.html#acheson


http://www.pbs.org/newshour/character/glossaries/nixon.html#disputed

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/character/essays/roosevelt.html

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/character/glossaries/nixon.html#voorhis





http://www.pbs.org/newshour/character/glossaries/nixon.html#stevenson



http://www.pbs.org/newshour/character/glossaries/nixon.html#disputed

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/character/essays/johnson.html



"...what starts the process really are laughs and slights and snubs when you

are a kid...But if you are reasonably intelligent and if your anger is deep

enough and strong enough, you learn that you can change those attitudes by

excellence, personal gut performance, while those who have everything are

sitting on their fat butts..."

I believe it is possible to see the life of Richard Nixon as a long, relentless

effort to #change those attitudes by excellence, personal gut performance.# ....

It's easy to say, and it often is said, that had Nixon come clean

about %atergate in the beginning, when he had no direct responsibility, the

affair would 5uicly have blown over and he would have survived. 6hat may

be true, but it ignores the fact that the man Richard Nixon was by 9:>? couldn't

come clean.

%hat actual excesses or even crimes he might have believed he had to cover up

are still a matter of speculation; but with his view of life as battle and crisis aschallenge, his determination to prove his worth, particularly to himself, his

conse5uent inability to #give up# and his reluctance to show weaness, as well

as his conviction that through #personal gut performance# any height could be

scaled$$for all those reasons, it would have been impossible for Nixon to do

anything but fight bac, stand fast, #stonewall# his enemies.

*o he did$$and the indelible mars Richard Nixon left on American history are

%atergate and his resignation from the presidency before he could be

impeached. 6hose events cause many to believe him an evil man who schemed

to subvert the -onstitution; they cause others to consider him a victim of the

press, the liberals, the 8emocrats, even the -IA or the /entagon. And looing

bac at %atergate, many Americans can't see beyond it the achievements of a

president who often responded to the pressures of his time with nowledge and

sill and sometimes even with courage$$5ualities the American people

apparently don't find in most of their leaders today.

As a reporter, I interviewed, traveled with, reported on, and deplored Richard

Nixon's actions for much of his career. As a columnist, I fre5uently critici3ed

his presidency. (ater, after his political career was ended, I studied Nixon and

his record, taled to his friends and enemies, reviewed my own words and

memories, and concluded that he was neither evil nor a victim, except of

himself$$and we're all that ind of victim.

Richard M Nixon 0as one of the t0o (ost successful national politicians in #(ericanhistory He 0on four national elections, t0ice for the +ice presidency and t0ice for thepresidency Only -ranlin D Roose+elt0on as (any national elections as NixonNe+ertheless, despite a six6year ter(, sa+e se+eral achie+e(ents G particularly in foreign

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/character/glossaries/nixon.html#WATERGATE

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/character/links/nixon_speech.html

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1578.html

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/character/glossaries/nixon.html#WATERGATE

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/character/links/nixon_speech.html




affairs G Nixon 0ill al0ays *e re(e(*ered for the scandal that forced hisresignation 9atergate

Early years

Richard Milhous Nixon 0as *orn on 3anuary $, %$%4, in 2or*a Linda, !alifornia, a s(allco((unity located 4? (iles southeast of Los #ngeles His parents, -rancis and Hanna

Nixon, had fi+e sons, of 0hich Richard 0as the second Nixons (other had *een rearedas a @uaer and his father a*andoned his Methodistfaith after their (arriage and *eca(ea @uaer as 0ell Nixon 0as educated in pu*lic schools in 2or*a Linda and 9hittier, 0herethe fa(ily (o+ed 0hen he 0as nine #fter high school, Nixon enrolled at 9hittier !ollege, a@uaer institution, 0here he 0as a successful student politician, *eco(ing president of thestudent *ody #fter 9hittier, Nixon attended Due .ni+ersity La0 /chool, 0here hegraduated third of the '' (e(*ers of the class of %$4&

#fter la0 school, Nixon returned to 9hittier and 1oined a la0 fir(, in 0hich he soon *eca(ea partner #*out this ti(e, he (et "atricia Ryan, 0ho( he (arried on 3une :%, %$'? Nixon

1oined the Na+y at the out*rea of 9orld 9ar II and rose to the ran of lieutenantco((ander *y the end of the conflict

Political rise #fter the 0ar, Repu*licans in Nixons ho(e congressional district 0ere looing for anattracti+e candidate to run against long6ti(e incu(*ent 3erry Voorhies Nixon ran a strongca(paign and sho0ed considera*le sills in a pu*lic de*ate against Voorhies He 0aselected in %$'A and re6elected in %$'E 0ithout opposition in the general election

In 9ashington, Nixon 1oined the House !o((ittee on .n6#(erican #cti+ities and 0as oneof the (ost persistent interrogators of #lger Hiss 0hen he appeared *efore the co((itteeHis perfor(ance on the co((ittee *rought hi( national attention that led to his no(ination*y the Repu*lican "arty to run against ./ /enator Helen <ahagan Douglas in %$?.sing du*ious allegations a*out her attitude to0ards co((unis(, Nixon 0on the election*y nearly &??,??? +otes

In %$:, the Repu*licans no(inated Nixon to run 0ith D0ight D Cisenho0er on theirnational slate Nixon again used the techni)ues that had 0ored for hi( in the past,descri*ing the De(ocratic no(inee #dlai C /te+enson as ha+ing a U"hD fro( Dean

#chesons co0ardly college of co((unist contain(ent,U referring to Tru(ans /ecretary of/tate Dean #cheson at that ti(e

During the ca(paign, allegations arose a*out (oney that a fe0 political supporters hadpro+ided Nixon, that De(ocrats alleged 0as a Usecret slush fundU that he had used toupgrade his lifestyle Nixon appeared on national tele+ision and radio to defend hi(self Heasserted that his 0ife had no fur coat, only a Urespecta*le Repu*lican cloth coat,U and thatalthough their dog !hecers had *een a gift to his children, they 0ere not gi+ing it up The*roadcast, 0hich *eca(e no0n as the ;!hecers /peech,= (et 0ith great pu*lic appro+althat resulted in a landslide +ictory for Cisenho0er and Nixon #t their next (eeting,

Cisenho0er told Nixon, U2oure (y *oyU

In the ne0 ad(inistration, the youthful Nixon 0as gi+en (ore responsi*ility than pre+ious+ice presidents His sills 0ere tested in /epte(*er %$, after Cisenho0er suffered aheart attac Nixons perfor(ance then, and during Cisenho0ers later illnesses in %$Aand %$&, helped *uild his reputation for co(petence

























Not all Repu*licans 0ere enchanted 0ith hi(, ho0e+er, and in%$A, Harold C /tassen too a lea+e fro( the Cisenho0er #d(inistrationto de+ote considera*le energy in an atte(pt to pre+ent Nixon5s re6no(ination The party re*uffed hi( and Nixon 0as not only re6no(inated*ut also re6elected During Cisenho0ers second ter(, Nixon tra+eledaround the 0orld representing the .nited /tates In 3uly %$$, at an

exhi*it sho0casing a <eneral Clectric (odel itchen, at the ./ Tradeand !ultural -air in Mosco0, he 0as 1oined *y /o+iet "re(ier Niitahrushche+, 0ith 0ho( he had a 0idely reported Uitchen de*ateU a*outthe (erits of their respecti+e political regi(es The perception that Nixon0as so(eone 0ho could Ustand upU to the /o+iets enhanced his status asan experienced and effecti+e states(an

Nixon ran for the Repu*lican presidential no(ination and 0on it 0ith littleopposition Henry !a*ot Lodge 3r 0as added as the +ice6presidentialno(inee to oppose 3ohn - ennedy and Lyndon B 3ohnson The initialad+antage appeared to *e 0ith Nixon, *ut ennedy (anaged to defusethe anti6!atholic issue he 0as !atholic and perfor(ed 0ell during histele+ised de*ates 0ith Nixon In No+e(*er, ennedy 0on in the closest

election since %EE' It is possi*le that ennedys (argin in the Clectoral !ollege 0as theresult of +oter fraud in Illinois andTexas, *ut Nixon did not contest the outco(e

Nixon returned to !alifornia, 0here he *egan to practice la0 again In an atte(pt to re+i+ehis political fortunes, he ran for go+ernor in %$A: # *ruising pri(ary against a candidatefa+ored *y the Repu*lican right 0ing split the party, and in No+e(*er, Nixon lost again /ofrustrated 0as he *y the percei+ed *ias against hi( *y the press, that he re*ued the pressfor their co+erage on the (orning after his loss and ended, fa(ously, *y saying, U2ou 0ontha+e Dic Nixon to ic around any(ore *ecause, gentle(en, this is (y last pressconferenceU

It 0asnt, of course In %$A', Nixon resisted the te(ptation to run against Barry <old0ater ,0ho see(ed to ha+e captured the de+otion of (any of the partys (ost faithful (e(*ersThe results in No+e(*er %$A', 0ere disastrous at all le+els for Repu*licans and in its *itterafter(ath, Richard Nixon 0as the only national leader 0ith appeal for *oth 0ings Duringthe %$AA ca(paign, Nixon 0ored hard for Repu*lican candidates throughout the countryand 0as gi+en a great deal of credit for the Repu*lican reco+ery in the elections

Nixon declared his candidacy for the Repu*lican presidential no(ination in -e*ruary %$AE,and easily carried the pri(aries against Nelson Rocefeller and Ronald Reagan #fter0inning the no(ination on the first *allot at the con+ention, Nixon chose Marylandgo+ernor /piro #gne0 as his running (ate They faced a De(ocratic "arty deeply di+ided*y the Vietna( 9ar and defeated Hu*ert Hu(phrey and Cd(und Musie *y E??,???popular +otes and *y 4?% to %$% in the Clectoral !ollege

Presidency

Nixon faced *road and deep challenges at ho(e and a*road during his presidency One ofhis first proposals as president 0as for a dra(atic restructuring of the ./ go+ern(ent totri( the fat of federal *ureaucracies and return certain controls *ac to the states and(unicipalities .nder his %$A$ plan called ;Ne0 -ederalis(,= a go+ern(ent restructuring0ould free creati+e entrepreneurship fro( (ounds of federal go+ern(ent red tape anddiscourage a dependency on handouts fro( the federal go+ern(ent By directing po0erand (oney a0ay fro( federal *ureaucracies, the plan 0ould (ore effecti+ely handlepeople5s needs 0ithin their o0n states and (unicipalities #lthough there 0as (uchopposition to Nixon5s plan, especially fro( 0ithin the deeply entrenched -ederal







































*ureaucracy, ele(ents of it, Ne0 -ederalis(, 0ere used forthe desegregation of schools and for furthering the rights of0o(en

Racial tensions had *roen out in destructi+e riots in Los #ngeles, Detroit, and other cities Nixon 0as forced to *alancethe legiti(ate concerns of *lac #(ericans 0ith the desire of(any 0hite #(ericans for a return to Ula0 and orderU The ent/tate shootings, on May ', %$&?, during a +iolent anti60ar student de(onstration on the ca(pus of ent /tate

.ni+ersity in Ohio dre0 international attention and further stressed the e(*attled presidentand shoo his ad(inistration

Inflation also 0as on the rise and Nixon atte(pted to cur* it 0ith 0age and price controls in #ugust %$&% The strategy 0as to freeFe 0ages and prices for $? days, follo0ed *y atransition to controlled changes The policy see(ed to 0or at first and 0as 0ar(lyaccepted *y the stoc (aret, *ut e+entually pro+ed to *e un0ora*le and 0as a*andonedin #pril %$&' The econo(y slid into recession in %$&' 0hen inflation cli(*ed to %:%percent after the onset of the #ra* oil *oycott in Octo*er %$&4

In foreign affairs, the .nited /tates faced ongoing generaliFed challenges fro( the t0o(ain co((unist po0ers, the /o+iet .nion and !hina, as 0ell as a specific pro*le(in Vietna( Nixon pro+ed (ore successful at dealing 0ith the for(er In %$&%, he (adeo+ertures to the !hinese, 0hich resulted in his trip to "eing no0 Bei1ing in -e*ruary%$&: The /o+iets, (indful of the possi*ility that the .nited /tates 0ould ally itself 0ith itsri+al, *eca(e (ore agreea*le and soon esta*lished a period of Detente*et0een the /o+iet.nion and the .nited /tates The Vietna( issue 0as not as easily resol+ed Nixonalternately tried to ca1ole and coerce the North Vietna(ese into negotiations, *ut they heldfir( to their goal of a Vietna( united under their control C+entually, Nixons secretary ofstate, Henry issinger , negotiated a 0ithdra0al of #(erican troops that resulted inthe collapse of the #(erican6*aced regi(e in the south in %$&

The De(ocrats ga+e their no(ination in %$&: to /enator <eorge Mc<o+ern of /outh

Daota, 0hose +ie0s 0ere so far to the left that (any De(ocrats 0ere alienated Nixonsre6election 0as ne+er seriously in dou*t, *ut in an atte(pt to guarantee it, he allo0edpeople associated 0ith his ca(paign to *urglariFe the offices of the De(ocratic National!o((ittee at the 9atergate apart(ents in 9ashington, D! He then co(pounded thecri(e *y atte(pting to co+er it up The slo0ly unfolding scandal e+entually engulfed hisad(inistration

9hile that 0as happening, ho0e+er, a faster6(o+ing scandal de+eloped around /piro #gne0, 0ho 0as indicted of corruption and resigned as +ice president to a+oid prosecution.nder the ter(s defined *y the T0entieth #(end(ent to the ./ !onstitution, it 0asnecessary to appoint a ne0 +ice president and <erald R -ord 0as gi+en that position

Resignation

#s 9atergate re+elations *eca(e harder to ignore, the !ongress *egan to in+estigate Itsoon *eca(e clear that Nixon had *een personally in+ol+ed to such an extent thati(peach(ent and con+iction 0ere liely Nixon accepted the ine+ita*le and announced on

#ugust E, %$&', that he 0as resigning, effecti+e noon on the follo0ing day to *egin Uthatprocess of healing 0hich is so desperately needed in #(ericaU #s +ice6president, <eraldR -ord 0as s0orn in as Nixons successor and on /epte(*er E, %$&', announced thatNixon 0as *eing pardoned for all cri(es that he (ight ha+e co((itted during hispresidency, there*y ending any threat of prosecution That decision 0as (et 0ith sharpcontro+ersy, *ut it pre+ailed










































Nixon resigned fro( the presidency at the height of the (ostcontentious and unsta*le era in #(erican history since the !i+il9ar The ./ econo(y 0as floundering 0ith lengthening gaslines, rising une(ploy(ent and inflation, and the stoc (aretdropping

In su*se)uent years, Nixon atte(pted to reha*ilitate his i(age *yrepresenting hi(self as an elder states(an and *y 0riting se+eral

*oos, including The Real War %$E? Leaders %$E: Real Peace%$E4 No MoreVietnams %$E1999: Victory without War %$EE In the Arena %$$? Seie theMoment %$$: and !eyond Peace %$$' None of this a(eliorated the effects of9atergate, 0hich continued to haunt hi( until his death on #pril ::, %$$' His 0ife "at haddied the pre+ious year, after (ore than ? years of (arriage

6666 Selected Quotes 6666

Quotes by Richard M. Nixon.

Regarding Hyman Rickover I donWt (ean to suggest that he is a (an 0ho is 0ithout contro+ersy He speas his (ind

/o(eti(es he has ri+als 0ho disagree 0ith hi( so(eti(es they are right, and he is thefirst to ad(it that so(eti(es he (ight *e 0rong But the greatness of the #(erican (ilitaryser+ice, and particularly the greatness of the Na+y, is sy(*oliFed in this cere(ony today,*ecause this (an, 0ho is contro+ersial, this (an, 0ho co(es up 0ith unorthodox ideas, didnot *eco(e su*(erged *y the *ureaucracy, *ecause once genius is su*(erged *y*ureaucracy, a nation is doo(ed to (ediocrity"eremony in 19#$ ma%in& Ric%o'er a (ull admiral)Regarding Harry S. TrumanThis ad(inistration has pro+ed that it is utterly incapa*le of cleaning out the corruption0hich has co(pletely eroded it and reesta*lishing the confidence and faith of the #(ericanpeople in the (orality and honesty of their go+ern(ent e(ployeesS*ea%in& o( the Truman administration+ 19,1Regarding eing a !rook

In all (y years of pu*lic life, I ha+e ne+er profitted, ne+er profitted fro( pu*lic ser+ice IW+eearned e+ery cent #nd in all of (y years of pu*lic life, I ha+e ne+er o*structed 1ustice #ndI thin too that I could say that in (y years of pu*lic life, that I 0elco(e this ind ofexa(ination, *ecause people ha+e got to no0 0hether or not their presidentWs a croo9ell I a( not a croo IW+e earned e+erything IW+e got19#$ *ress con(erence

Quotes regarding Richard M. Nixon.

y "erald R. #ordIt is *elie+ed that a trial of Richard Nixon, if it *eca(e necessary, could not fairly *egin untila year or (ore has elapsed In the (eanti(e, the tran)uility to 0hich this nation has *eenrestored *y the e+ents of recent 0ees could *e irrepara*ly lost *y the prospects of

*ringing to trial a for(er "resident of the .nited /tatesProclamation *ardonin& Ni-on in 19#.y arry "old$ater He 0as the (ost dishonest indi+idual I e+er (et in (y life "resident Nixon lied to his 0ife,his fa(ily, his friends, longti(e colleagues in the ./ !ongress, lifeti(e (e(*ers of hiso0n political party, the #(erican people and the 0orldMemoirs+ 19//

6 6 6 ooks %ou May &ike 'nclude( 6666

















The Ma%in& o( the President 190 *y Theodore H 9hiteWhat is an American presidential election? "The most awesome transfer of power inthe world, the power to marshal and mobilize, the power to send men ...

!reach o( 2aith: The 2all o( Richard Ni-on *y Theodore H 9hite The Nixon crisis of 197!7 threatened the state in wa#s not immediatel#$nderstood. %tripped of drama and conf$sion, howe&er, the problem was that th...

Ni-on A&onistes: The "risis o( the Sel(3Made Man *y Delete'rom one of America(s most distin)$ished historians comes this c

A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits.

Richard M. Nixon

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