Richard Nixon Essay, Research Paper
Richard Milhouse Nixon was born in Yorba Linda, California in 1913. His
father, Frank Nixon, had many failing businesses that took the family
different places. His mother, Hannah Nixon, had two boys before Richard,
both died young.
After high school, Nixon attended Duke University. He tried twice to
become class president. Finally he succeeded. Soon after his college
schooling, Nixon enrolled in the Navy. War broke out and he was sent to
fight. He was stationed at Green Island however, he never saw any combat
action. He was a ration-distributor. When discharged, he had acquired
the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Soon after discharge he was “invited” into politics. His stance of
anti-communism made him well-respected. Good in debates, Nixon was a
shoe-in. Soon he began his political struggle. He challenged Voorhis for
a district seat in the California House of Representatives.
Astoundingly, he won.
After acquiring some political power, he decide to move up more. He soon
set his sights on the US Senate. He defeated the expected senator: Ms.
Douglas. Thereafter he wanted more; vice-president was the next goal.
He was voted in with President Dwight D. Eisenhower. He went through
many political high points, such as the Caracas Mob incident, where
Nixon was taken hostage. The “Kitchen Debate”, noted as a high point for
Nixon, where he and the Russian leader discussed issues in a kitchen.
With Eisenhower, he served two terms. Nixon’s next goal was to become
the President of the United States.
In 1960, John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon ran for the presidency. As it
turned out, Kennedy and Johnson won by a mere 120,000 votes. It was
believed Kennedy had bought Texas and Illinois. Johnson soon became
president after Kennedy’s assassination. Now, Nixon would try again.
Nixon beat Hubert Humphrey with some political strategy. He told the
citizens of the US he would stop the war in Vietnam and make it better.
In the long run he only made it worse. He would be, soon, our first
president to resign.
It was when Nixon pulled off a huge upset for his second term. At first,
nobody thought anything of it. Burglars broke into the Watergate Hotel
stealing Democratic plans. Soon tempers rose, and implications pointed
to Nixon. He was becoming short-fused and furious. Finally, he resigned
to escape impeachment. So it would become to be known as one of the most
embarrassing moments in US history.
Nixon was a brilliant man. He gave good speeches and provided examples
to others. He was a good president. He was a good president that made a
bad decision. A good man, and he will always be a part of US History.