The Good:
China China was, and still is a major communist Superpower, but regardless, Nixon strengthened relations with them. He even offered them a spot in the UN. Because of this, trade an relations strengthened between the US and China.
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Ending the War Though it ended in defeat, Nixon ended the Vietnam War, which was the most controversial war in American history.
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Peace with Russia Nixon even went of Moscow and talked with the leader of the USSR. This was amazing as Russia and the US had been sworn enemies since the end of WWII. They agreed on small trade and nuclear disarmament. They also agreed on a joint effort for space exploration.
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The Bad:
Richard Nixon was one of the most popular presidents ever, and yet is remembered as one of the worst. He won the election of 1968 with great margins, and absolutely crushed his opponents in the election of 1972 with over 96% of the electoral college, and over 60% of the popular vote.
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When Nixon was reelected, he was one of the most favored presidents in US history. However, before he was reelected, 5 men were caught and arrested for breaking into and wiretapping the Democrat political party headquarters at Watergate Hotel in Washington DC. The leader was found to be on Nixon's reelection committee. He managed to cover it up for the reelection, but afterwards the senate set up a committee for investigating the crime. Around this time, Spiro Agnew, Nixon's Vice President, resigned due to bribery and tax evasion. Then, Nixon's own personal council, John Dean, ratted to the senate that Nixon was guilty. Nixon then speaks to the public saying the famous line, "I am not a crook."
When Nixon was asked to provide the recordings from his office he initially refused. He eventually agreed to provide the recordings but it was found that a mysterious 17 minutes was missing from one of the tapes. The Senate began writing papers of impeachment, and because of this Nixon resigned. Nixon's successor, Gerald Ford, pardoned Nixon. Even today, all of the great things that Nixon accomplished are covered up by one mistake that he was never even proven guilty of. |