Nixon was born in 1913 in Yorba Linda, California. He attended Whittier College and then Duke University School of Law. After serving in the Navy during World War II, he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1946 and to the Senate in 1950. Nixon gained national prominence as a member of the House Un-American Activities Committee, where he played a key role in the Alger Hiss case.
In 1952, Nixon was elected Vice President under Dwight D. Eisenhower and served for eight years. He ran for president in 1960 but lost narrowly to John F. Kennedy. In 1968, he ran again and was elected president. His presidency was noted for significant foreign policy initiatives, including détente with the Soviet Union and the opening of diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. He also presided over the Apollo moon landings, signaling a peak in the American space program.
Domestically, Nixon initiated “New Federalism,” a process of decentralizing federal powers to state and local governments. He was also involved in environmental initiatives, endorsing the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and signing legislation that included the Clean Air Act.
However, Nixon’s presidency was marred by the Watergate scandal—a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and the subsequent cover-up by members of his administration. The scandal escalated, leading to Nixon’s resignation to avoid almost certain impeachment. After his resignation, he was pardoned by his successor, Gerald Ford. Nixon spent his post-presidential years rehabilitating his image as an elder statesman and expert in foreign affairs before his death in 1994.
