Richard Milhous Nixon 37th President

  General Notes:

Education: Whittier College, Whittier, CA and Duke Law School-Class of '37
(Graduated 3rd in his class).

Political Career: 1946-Elected to Congress as a Republican, defeating Jerry Vorhees. Served two terms.Served on the Labor Committee with JFK. Also served on the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC). Mainly responsible for the investigation of Alger Hiss, subsequently uncovering him as a spy for the Soviet Union. 1950-Elected to the Senate defeating Helen Gahagan Douglas. It was Mrs. Douglas who gave him the nickname "Tricky Dick". 1952-Chosen by Dwight D. Eisenhower as running mate for the presidential campaign. Forced to defend his personal finances with a nationally televised speech, known as "The Checkers Speech". 1953-1961-Served two terms as Vice-President. 1960-Defeated by JFK in presidential campaign. 1962-Defeated by Pat Brown for the governership of California. 1968-Elected President defeating Hubert Humphrey. Reelected in 1972 defeating George McGovern. Served until 1974. December 21, 1970-Met Elvis Presley in the Oval Office and made him an honorary Drug Enforcement Agent at large. Following photograph is still the most requested resource at the National Archives. August 8, 1974-Forced to resign Presidency for alleged obstruction of justice due to what is generally known as the "Watergate Scandal". Pardoned by President Gerald R. Ford on Sept. 8 of that same year.

Accomplishments during Presidency:
Opening formal relations with Communist China; Creating Detente with the Soviet Union; The SALT Treaty (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty); Negotiating an honorable end to the Vietnam war; Creating the EPA; Declaring the War on Cancer; Ordered a halt to the production and Research & Development of U.S. Chemical Weapons;

Retired life: Retired Life: He retired to his home in San Clemente, CA and later moved to New Jersey to be near his grandchildren. He gave up his Secret Service protection in the early eighties, saving the taxpayers over $3 million a year. He wrote 10 books dealing mainly with foreign policy and his political career. He was also called on by the presidents who succeeded him for advice on various issues.

  Medical Notes:

Death: He d. after suffering a stroke while living at his home in NJ and lapsing into a 4 day coma. He left instructions to his doctors not to use heroic measures to maintain his life.

Richard married Patricia Thelma Ryan on 21 Jun 1940 in Whittier, Los Angeles, California, USA. (Patricia Thelma Ryan was born on 16 Mar 1912 in Ely, White Pine, Nevada, USA and died on 22 Jun 1993 in Park Ridge, Bergen, New Jersey, USA.)