Richard Milhous Nixon is one of the most fascinating political figures of the 20th century.
Nixon’s political career began in 1947 when he was elected to the House of Representatives, after campaigning strongly as an anti-communist.
By 1952, he had moved to the Senate and was chosen by Dwight Eisenhower to be his running mate in the presidential election. Nixon was embroiled in a scandal and delivered a famous television address that came to be known as the Checkers Speech.
Nixon served as Vice-President for eight years under Eisenhower. At one stage, after Eisenhower had a stroke, Nixon assumed a more active role. Nixon was never close to Eisenhower. Once, Eisenhower was once asked if he could name a major idea of Nixon’s that he had adopted as President. This is Eisenhower’s response:
Nixon secured the Republican Party nomination and was narrowly defeated by John F. Kennedy in 1960.
In 1962, he ran unsuccessfully for Governor of California and stated famously that “you won’t have Nixon to kick around anymore.” Listen to an extract of Nixon’s concession speech:
By 1968 he was on his way back, winning the Republican Party nomination, defeating Democrat Hubert Humphrey and becoming the 37th President on January 20, 1969. He was seen as having recovered from defeat, a quality that became association with Nixon. Listen to Hubert Humphrey on the ‘new Nixon’:
Later in 1969, he was to deliver his famous Silent Majority speech in which he set out his attitude to America’s future.
Nixon was re-elected in a landslide in 1972, defeating Senator George McGovern, and was sworn in for a second term on January 20, 1973. A few days later, he announced an agreement to end the Vietnam War.
However, by the beginning of 1973, the Watergate scandal was unfolding and the next eighteen months were dominated by damaging revelations and a legal fight between the Executive arm of government versus the Congress and the Supreme Court.
Nixon was facing impeachment by the House of Representatives when he resigned in August 1974, the first President ever to do so.
Following his resignation, Nixon devoted himself to rehabilitating his public reputation. He wrote a number of books and travelled widely.
Nixon died in 1994. His funeral was held on April 27 at The Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace, Yorba Linda, California. Eulogies were delivered by Dr. Billy Graham, the evangelist, Dr Henry Kissinger, the former Secretary of State, and Pete Wilson, the then Governor of California. President Bill Clinton also spoke. He was flanked by all the living former Presidents, except Reagan. Perhaps the most moving tribute was paid by the man who was Chairman of the Republican Party during Nixon’s term, Senator Bob Dole.
Listen to President Clinton comment on Nixon:
Nixon Speeches
- Nixon’s Resignation Speech August 8, 1974
- Nixon’s Final Remarks To The White House Staff August 9, 1974
- Congressman Nixon’s Maiden Speech To The House Of Representatives July 18, 2009
- Senator Richard Nixon’s Checkers Speech July 18, 2009
- The Kitchen Debate: Nixon And Khrushchev July 18, 2009
- The Need For Leadership: Speech By Vice-President Nixon July 18, 2009
- Nixon: The Meaning Of Communism To Americans July 18, 2009
- First Kennedy-Nixon Debate July 18, 2009
- Nixon Accepts The Republican Party Nomination for President July 18, 2009
- Nixon’s Election Night Victory Speech July 18, 2009
- Nixon’s First Inaugural Address July 18, 2009
- The Moon Landing: An Undelivered Nixon Speech July 18, 2009
- Nixon’s ‘Silent Majority’ Speech July 18, 2009
- Nixon’s 1970 State Of The Union Address July 18, 2009
- President Nixon’s Second Inaugural Address July 18, 2009
- Peace With Honor: Nixon’s Broadcast On Vietnam July 18, 2009
- Nixon’s First Watergate Speech July 18, 2009
- Nixon’s Second Watergate Speech July 18, 2009
- Nixon’s 1974 State of the Union Address July 18, 2009
- Nixon’s Third Watergate Speech July 18, 2009
Posts on Nixon
- Nixon Recalls His Last Full Day In The White House August 8, 1974
- Nixon’s Resignation Letter August 9, 1974
- President Ford Pardons Richard Nixon September 8, 1974
- Nixon’s Will February 25, 1994
- Complete Video Of Richard Nixon’s Funeral Service April 27, 1994
- Remarks By President Clinton At Richard Nixon’s Funeral April 27, 1994
- Remarks By Dr. Billy Graham At Richard Nixon’s Funeral April 27, 1994
- Remarks By Dr. Henry Kissinger At Richard Nixon’s Funeral April 27, 1994
- Remarks By California Governor Pete Wilson At Richard Nixon’s Funeral April 27, 1994
- Senator Bob Dole’s Remarks At Richard Nixon’s Funeral April 27, 1994
- The Speech That Might Have Been: Nixon Refuses To Resign December 22, 1996
- New Book Alleges Nixon Took Pills, Beat Wife September 1, 2000
- Richard Bergholz, Journalist Who Provoked Nixon, Dies December 28, 2000
- Stephen Ambrose, Nixon Biographer, Dies, 66 October 13, 2002
- The Moon Landing: An Undelivered Nixon Speech July 18, 2009
- Nixon Meets Elvis Presley July 18, 2009
- White House Tapes: Milk Price Subsidies July 18, 2009
- Nixon Resigns: ABC, CBS And NBC Television Coverage July 18, 2009
Speeches At Nixon’s Funeral
- April 27, 1994: Remarks at Nixon’s Funeral:
Undelivered Speeches
