Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon


    Richard Milhous Nixon was the thirty-seventh president of the United States
and the only president to have resigned from office. He was on his was to
success after receiving his law degree from Duke University Law School in 1937.

California Republicans persuaded Nixon in 1946 to be their candidate to
challenge Jerry Voorhis, the popular Democratic Congressman, for his seat in the
United States House of Representatives. He accuses Voorhis of being "soft" on
Communism. This was damaging to him because the Cold War rivalry between the
United States and USSR was just beginning. Voorhis was forced into a defensive
position after the two men confronted each other in a series of debates. Nixon's
campaign was an example of the vigorous and aggressive style characteristic of
his political career that led him to win the election.

Nixon gained valuable experience in international affairs as a new
member of the United States Congress. He helped establish a program known as the
Marshall Plan, in which the US assisted Europe rebuild itself following the war.
He also served on the House Education and Labor Committee to develop the
National Labor Relations Act.

In 1948, writer and editor Whittaker Chambers accused Alger Hiss, a high
State Department official, of being a Communist. Nixon, a member of the Un-
American Activities Committee, personally pressed the investigation. Hiss denied
further charges that he had turned classified documents over to Chambers to be
sent to the USSR. Alger Hiss was later convicted and indicted for perjury after
sufficient evidence was discovered. Nixon was reelected to Congress after
winning both the Republican and Democratic nominations as a result of gaining a
national reputation as a dedicated enemy of Communism.

In 1950, Nixon was chosen as candidate for the US Senate from California
by the Republicans. Again, he won this election by linking his opponent to being
pro-Communist.

Nixon was selected to be the running... [continues]

Read full essay