Richard Milhous Nixon will be remembered as one of the greatest scandalous Presidents in modern times because of his crude and clandestine actions.  His administration brought a few positive changes, but one major cloud supersedes everything else.  When people think of Nixon, they think of Watergate Secret missions and bribery tainted Nixon’s reputation as President even after a landslide victory, but Watergate cost him his career.  President Nixon introduced new foreign policies, built a new society at home, but was plagued by the Watergate scandal.

When President Nixon first stepped into presidential office, his foreign policies showed great promise and had great design.  They were made to improve relations between the United States and the Communist powers, especially China and the Soviet Union.  His policy of avoiding confrontation and establishing a nuclear peace was called detente.  Nixon had hoped to establish a “new world order.”  One example that demonstrates Nixon’s affinity for world peace was the secret Kissinger mission to China.  This strategic move by Nixon eased the strained relationship between the United States and China.  Because it was top secret, opponents of the plan did not get a change to speak out against it.  The basic premise of the secret plan to China was that the Chinese and Pakistani crews would guide the plane in an undetectable route over the Himalayan Mountains.  It was crucial that the plane had to remain cloaked and invincible to Soviet and Indian radar.

A key aspect to Nixon’s views on foreign policy was realpolitik.  Realpolitik is a German derived word that means to have a belief in practical politics.  This was advantageous to Nixon and Kissinger because it allowed for each nation to appropriate policies based on its own interests, rather than on any particular view of the world.  Nixon reasoned that if the US could benefit from better relations with China and the Soviet Union, then it should do everything possible to reestablish these important relations.  Another step of Nixon’s foreign policy included a balance of power between nations.  This meant that all the big superpowers – United States, Europe, Soviet Union, China, and Japan, would balance each other.  Détente was key to establishing the balance of power.  It also made sense economically.  Instead of the United States pouring billions of dollars into conflicts that were not directly involved in US affairs, this new trade with China and the Soviet Union opened up new markets, as well as a bigger opportunity for profit.  The fact that the new trade opportunities benefited the United States fit perfectly into the practice of realpolitik.  It was a “practical” solution, so President Nixon encouraged it.

Eventually, the long non-communicative period between the United States and China came to an end.  Kissinger’s obsession with secrecy was the key to the success of détente.  Quickly after Kissinger’s secret mission, the United States and China held a table tennis team match in April 1971.  When Nixon visited China after, the Chinese showed a warm welcome.  “America the Beautiful” was played by the Chinese, and Nixon quoted lines of Mao Zedong’s poetry.

The Chinese weren’t the only people that Nixon eased strained relations with.  The Soviet Union was rather big Cold War player who Nixon reasoned with.  Nixon began the Salt talks with the Soviet Union concerning the limitation of arms, specifically nuclear arms.

Another area of the world in which Nixon made advancements towards peace and stability was in the Middle East, including negotiations between Egypt and Syria.  Again, Kissinger helped to negotiate the disengagement agreements between Israel and its opponents Egypt and Syria.  Nixon also ended American involvement in Indochina.  These quests for world stability appealed to the American people because Nixon defeated Democratic candidate George McGovern by one of the widest margins on record (whitehouse.gov).

Nixon’s less-known accomplishments in the presidency include revenue sharing, mew anticrime laws, and a new environmental program.  Conservative justices were also appointed to the Supreme Court.  The biggest achievement that happened while Nixon was in office was that American astronauts first landed on the moon in 1969.

All of these accomplishments and positive achievements could not be reached by any more.  It takes someone with intelligence and education to even become President.  Nixon fit the bill.  Graduating from Whittier College and Duke University, he practiced law.  During World War II, Nixon served as a Navy Lieutenant commander in the pacific (whitehouse.gov).  He also had other political experiences.  Although he was defeated as Governor of California in 1962 and President in 1960, Nixon served on the Senate in 1950 and was selected to be General Eisenhower’s running mate in 1952.  He did have experience, Nixon served as Eisenhower’s running mate as Vice President.  This was one of the few positives for Nixon, when he was later involved in the Watergate break-in scandal.  It can be said that Nixon’s rise to power and his achievements in office were just as spectacular and dramatic as his downfall and rapid decline as President of the United States.

The Watergate complex break-in is the most famous event associated with Nixon, and this is for what he is known.  If you were to ask anybody who lived during Nixon’s presidential term, “What can you remember about President Nixon?” they would most certainly answer “the Watergate scandal.”  The premise of what transpired was that five men broke in to the Watergate Office Complex with the intention of intercepting phone calls and other communications.  These men were later convicted in January 1973. The Committee to Re-elect the President spent money to keep the men quiet, avoiding the chance that Nixon’s connection might be revealed to the public.  Despite the efforts of CREEP, the two reporters, Woodward and Bernstein, dutifully reported the story.  The men who were conspirators in this plot were John Dean, who was the White House Counsel to Nixon, John Ehrlichman, who was counsel and Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs, H. R. Haldeman, who served as the White House Chief of Staff, and E. Howard Hunt, who worked for the Central Intelligence Agency under Nixon. The former aides to the President, commonly called the “Watergate Seven,” included Haldeman, Ehrlichman, Mitchell, Charles Colson, Gordon C. Strachan, Robert Mardian, and Kenneth Parkinson were indicted for conspiring to hinder the Watergate investigation on March 1, 1974.  Herbert Porter also pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.

The impeachment of Nixon was of course highly related to the Watergate scandal, convictions, and proceedings following it.  Nixon’s decisions were becoming more and more suspicious, and eventually the House of Representatives began formal investigations into his possible impeachment.  Although they were probably going to bring impeachment charges against Nixon, he resigned before they could do anything.  Eventually, the House of Representatives voted 27 to 11 to recommend the first article of impeachment against President Nixon – obstruction of justice.  The second and third articles were passed on June 29, 1974, and July 30, 1974.  The second article is abuse of power, and the third article is contempt of Congress.  President Nixon had charges brought against him for both of these categories.  The Supreme Court kept ordering Nixon to “turn over the tapes,” yet he did not comply.  The charges brought against him then, were warranted.

In conclusion, Nixon’s foreign policies were effective to some extent, his domestic programs worked somewhat well, but faced an incredible decline because of his involvement in the Watergate Complex break-ins and subsequent investigations.  Without regarding his involvement in the Watergate scandal, Nixon was a great President, however, he will be remembered for Watergate.