President Richard M. Nixon

By: Eric Lencioni

Why the President Is Important

Richard M. Nixon was born in Yorba Linda, California on January 9, 1913.  Before he was president, he served as a Navy lieutenant commander in the Pacific.  In 1950 he won a Senate seat.  He was elected president in 1968, and accomplished revenue sharing, the end of the draft, new anticrime laws, and a broad environmental program.  One of the most dramatic events of his first term occurred in 1969, when American astronauts made the first moon landing.  In 1972, he reduced tensions with China and the U.S.S.R. 

Richard Nixon also committed a crime.  In 1972, he broke into the Watergate Hotel and stole important documents.  Although he denied any personal involvement in the scheme, the courts forced him to yield tape recordings which indicated that he had, in fact, tried to divert the investigation.  With what seemed like almost certain impeachment, on August 8, 1974, Nixon announced that he would resign the next day so that he would avoid the embarrassment of being impeached.

Nixon died on April 22, 1994 in New York, New York.

Work Cited

"Richard M. Nixon." Richard M. Nixon. 21 Nov 2007 <http://www.encarta.com>.

W. Bush, George. "Richard M. Nixon." The White House. United States Government. 21 Nov 2007 <http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/rn37.html>.