Richard Nixon
| Richard Nixon | |
|---|---|
| File:Richard Nixon Presidential Portrait.jpg | |
| Order | 37th President of the United States |
| In office | January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974 |
| Vice President | Spiro Agnew Gerald Ford |
| Preceded by | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Succeeded by | Gerald Ford |
| Born | January 9, 1913 Yorba Linda, California, United States |
| Political Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Pat Nixon (m. 1940–1993) |
| Children | Tricia, Julie |
| Profession | Lawyer, author, politician |
| Alma mater | Whittier College Duke University School of Law |
| Signature | 
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Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 until his resignation in 1974. A Republican, Nixon also served as vice president under Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 to 1961.
Early Life and Education
Nixon was born in Yorba Linda, California, into a modest Quaker family. He attended Whittier College and later graduated from Duke University School of Law in 1937.
Military and Early Political Career
Nixon served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war, he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1946, then to the U.S. Senate in 1950. His role in the House Un-American Activities Committee during the Alger Hiss case brought him national attention.
Vice Presidency
In 1952, Nixon was elected vice president under Dwight D. Eisenhower and served two terms. He traveled extensively and gained foreign policy experience.
Presidency (1969–1974)
Nixon was elected president in 1968 and re-elected in a landslide in 1972. His major achievements include ending American involvement in the Vietnam War, establishing diplomatic relations with China, and initiating détente with the Soviet Union.
Watergate and Resignation
Nixon’s second term was marred by the Watergate scandal, which stemmed from a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters. Facing near-certain impeachment, Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974 — the only U.S. president to do so.
Later Life and Legacy
After leaving office, Nixon worked to rehabilitate his image by writing books and advising on foreign affairs. He died in 1994 at the age of 81. Though his presidency ended in scandal, Nixon’s foreign policy accomplishments are often regarded as significant.