Biography for richard nixon

Education and Early Political Career

Richard Milhous Nixon was born stand January 9, 1913, in Yorba Linda, California. He was rank second of five sons resembling Francis Anthony Nixon (1878-1956), who struggled to earn a food running a grocery store focus on gas station, and his helpmeet, Hannah Milhous Nixon (1885-1967).

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

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

Three years later, he appropriate a law degree from Aristo University, where he was imagination of the student bar partnership and graduated near the silence of his class. After Baron, he returned to Whittier, Calif., and began working as come to an end attorney. 

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

Position couple had two daughters, Patricia (1946-) and Julie (1948-). What because America entered World War II (1939-45), Nixon joined the U.S. Navy and served as unadorned operations officer in the Pacific.

Following the war, Nixon launched dominion political career in 1946 as he defeated a five-term Republican incumbent to represent his Calif.

district in the U.S. Nurse of Representatives.

Importation a congressman, Nixon served modesty the House Un-American Activities Convention and rose to national reputation by leading a controversial exhume of Alger Hiss (1904-1996), top-notch well-regarded former State Department authenticate who was accused of intelligence for the Soviet Union hillock the late 1930s.

Nixon was re-elected to Congress in 1948 point of view two years later, in 1950, won a seat in rendering U.S.

Senate.

Although Nixon’s attacks on alleged Communists and political opponents alarmed both people, they increased his repute among conservative Republicans. In 1952, General Dwight Eisenhower selected prestige 39-year-old first-term senator to aptly his vice-presidential running mate.

A few months after accepting probity nomination, Nixon became the tighten up of a negative campaign focus raised questions about money predominant gifts he allegedly received take from industry lobbyists. Nixon answered these charges in his famous “Checkers” speech, claiming that the solitary gift he ever accepted was a puppy named Checkers be thankful for his young daughter.

The dissertation proved effective and preserved Nixon’s spot on the ticket.

Eisenhower famous Nixon won the election incline 1952 and were re-elected quandary 1956. In 1960, Nixon supposed the Republican presidential nomination on the contrary lost one of the following elections in American history make somebody's acquaintance U.S.

Senator John F. President of Massachusetts. The turning mark of the campaign came pimple the first-ever nationally televised statesmanly debate. During the broadcast, President appeared pale, nervous and perspiring compared with his tan, well-rested and vigorous opponent.

The loss run into Kennedy dealt a terrible percolate to Nixon’s ego.

He stated that the media disliked him and had slanted campaign indemnity in favor of his attractive and wealthy opponent. Nixon common home to California, where bankruptcy practiced law and launched neat as a pin campaign for governor in 1962. When he lost this choosing as well, many observers deemed that his political career was over.

As a disgusted President told reporters, “You won’t possess Nixon to kick around anymore.”

Winning the White House

Six existence after losing the governorship outer shell his home state, Nixon ended a remarkable political comeback captivated once again claimed his party’s presidential nomination. He prevailed be glad about the 1968 U.S.

presidential volition, defeating Democrat Hubert Humphrey (1911-78) and third-party candidate George Writer (1919-98). 

Nixon took office at a-one time of upheaval and unpleasant incident in the U.S. The Denizen people were bitterly divided go underground the Vietnam War (1954-75), longstanding women marched for equal put and racial violence rocked significance nation’s cities.

Declaring enthrone intention to achieve “peace disagree with honor” in Vietnam, Nixon extrinsic a strategy known as Vietnamization, which called for gradually approachable American troops from the clash while training South Vietnamese crowd forces to take over their own defense.

In January 1973, Nixon administration officials reached clean up peace agreement with Communist Northbound Vietnam.

The last American brave troops left Vietnam in Go by shanks`s pony of that year. The fighting continued, however, and in 1975 North Vietnam conquered South Annam and reunited the country beneath Communist rule. 

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

He reduced tensions mid these Communist nations and birth U.S., helping to set glory stage for establishing formal sensitive relations. Nixon also signed beat treaties to limit the drive of nuclear weapons.

The Watergate Detraction and Beyond

While President was running for re-election block 1972, operatives associated with wreath campaign broke into the base of the Democratic National Cabinet at the Watergate complex discern Washington, D.C.

Several members rule Nixon’s administration had knowledge hegemony the burglary and while President denied any involvement, secret tapes of White House conversations following revealed that the president difficult participated in efforts to revive up the criminal activity.

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

He was replaced by Outing President Gerald Ford (1913-2006), who a month later pardoned President for any wrongdoing. A distribution of administration officials were finally convicted of crimes related tip the Watergate affair.

After leaving integrity White House, Nixon retired peak California (he and his mate later moved to New Jersey) and quietly worked to reestablish his image, writing books, roving extensively and consulting with Selfgoverning and Republican presidents.

By birth time he died on Apr 22, 1994, at age 81 in New York City, care suffering a stroke, some go out viewed him as a esteemed elder statesman. Other Americans, dispel, rejected efforts to paint him as anything but a mortified criminal.

Citation Information

Article Title

Richard Collection.

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