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
- Feb 18, 1947: Congressman Nixon’s Maiden Speech To The House Of Representatives
- Sep 23, 1952: Senator Richard Nixon’s Checkers Speech
- Jun 24, 1959: The Kitchen Debate: Nixon And Khrushchev
- Aug 17, 1960: The Need For Leadership: Speech By Vice-President Nixon
- Aug 21, 1960: Nixon: The Meaning Of Communism To Americans
- Sep 26, 1960: First Kennedy-Nixon Debate
- Aug 08, 1968: Nixon Accepts The Republican Party Nomination for President
- Nov 06, 1968: Nixon’s Election Night Victory Speech
- Jan 20, 1969: Nixon’s First Inaugural Address
- Jul 20, 1969: The Moon Landing: An Undelivered Nixon Speech
- Nov 03, 1969: Nixon’s ‘Silent Majority’ Speech
- Jan 22, 1970: Nixon’s 1970 State Of The Union Address
- Jan 20, 1973: President Nixon’s Second Inaugural Address
- Jan 23, 1973: Peace With Honor: Nixon’s Broadcast On Vietnam
- Apr 30, 1973: Nixon’s First Watergate Speech
- Aug 15, 1973: Nixon’s Second Watergate Speech
- Jan 30, 1974: Nixon’s 1974 State of the Union Address
- Apr 29, 1974: Nixon’s Third Watergate Speech
- Aug 08, 1974: Nixon’s Resignation Speech
- Aug 09, 1974: Nixon’s Final Remarks To The White House Staff
Posts on Nixon
- Jul 20, 1969: The Moon Landing: An Undelivered Nixon Speech
- Dec 21, 1970: Nixon Meets Elvis Presley
- Mar 23, 1971: White House Tapes: Milk Price Subsidies
- Aug 08, 1974: Nixon Resigns: ABC, CBS And NBC Television Coverage
- Aug 08, 1974: Nixon Recalls His Last Full Day In The White House
- Aug 09, 1974: Nixon’s Resignation Letter
- Sep 08, 1974: President Ford Pardons Richard Nixon
- Feb 25, 1994: Nixon’s Will
- Apr 27, 1994: Complete Video Of Richard Nixon’s Funeral Service
- Apr 27, 1994: Remarks By President Clinton At Richard Nixon’s Funeral
- Apr 27, 1994: Remarks By Dr. Billy Graham At Richard Nixon’s Funeral
- Apr 27, 1994: Remarks By Dr. Henry Kissinger At Richard Nixon’s Funeral
- Apr 27, 1994: Remarks By California Governor Pete Wilson At Richard Nixon’s Funeral
- Apr 27, 1994: Senator Bob Dole’s Remarks At Richard Nixon’s Funeral
- Dec 22, 1996: The Speech That Might Have Been: Nixon Refuses To Resign
- Feb 14, 1999: John Ehrlichman, Watergate Conspirator, Dead At 73
- Sep 01, 2000: New Book Alleges Nixon Took Pills, Beat Wife
- Dec 28, 2000: Richard Bergholz, Journalist Who Provoked Nixon, Dies
- Oct 13, 2002: Stephen Ambrose, Nixon Biographer, Dies, 66
Speeches At Nixon’s Funeral
- April 27, 1994: Remarks at Nixon’s Funeral:
Undelivered Speeches
