The Rise and Presidency of Richard Milhous Nixon

The life and career of Richard Nixon are examined in this chapter. We open with a brief biographical sketch of Nixon’s life, from his humble beginnings in Southern California, to his rise in politics from member of Congress, to U.S. Senator, to vice president under Dwight D. Eisenhower. The 1960 presidential election defeat and the wilderness years are examined as well. We then examine Nixon’s improbable resurgence and election to the presidency in 1968. The presidency of Richard Nixon is examined in this chapter. We focus on how he put his administration together, staff, and Cabinet relations, Nixon’s management style and his decision making approach. We then cover Nixon’s domestic and foreign policy programs, including the War in Vietnam, the invasion of Cambodia, the Pentagon Papers, detente with the Soviet Union, opening doors to China, and the START treaty with the Soviet Union.