Lived

January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994

Home State

California

Party

Republican

Vice President

Spiro Agnew; Gerald Ford

Richard Nixon opened relations with Communist China, signed arms limitation treaties, and created the Environmental Protection Agency and OSHA. His presidency also produced the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act. But Watergate — the cover-up of a break-in at Democratic National Committee headquarters — revealed obstruction of justice on tape and forced his resignation in 1974, the only presidential resignation in American history. His 'Southern Strategy' also realigned American politics for generations. Navy officer in the Pacific in World War II, U.S. Representative (Alger Hiss investigation), U.S. Senator, Vice President under Eisenhower.

Whittier College, 1934; Duke University School of Law, 1937.

Opened U.S.–China relations in 1972. Signed the SALT I arms limitation treaty. Established the Environmental Protection Agency and OSHA. Signed the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act. Ended the draft. Oversaw the moon landing. Signed the Clean Air Act (1970), the Occupational Safety and Health Act (1970), the Clean Water Act (1972), Title IX of the Education Amendments (1972), and the Endangered Species Act (1973).

Watergate — the cover-up of a break-in at Democratic National Committee headquarters — produced tapes revealing obstruction of justice. Facing certain impeachment, he resigned in August 1974. Expanded the Vietnam War into Cambodia. His 'Southern Strategy' realigned Southern white voters to the Republican Party.