Richard M. Nixon (1913-1991) 36th president of the United States (1963-1969)

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Richard Nixon was the 37th president of the United States. Nixon's political career started soon after he graduated from Duke Law School. After serving as a Naval Lieutenant Commander in World War II, Nixon was elected to congress from his California district. Two years later, in 1952, president Dwight D. Eisenhower selected him to be his vice-president. Nixon proved himself to the political world and narrowly lost the 1960 presidential election to John F. Kennedy. In 1968, however, Nixon defeated Hubert Humphrey and became the nation's 37th president. Nixon's presidency resulted in the end of the military draft, new anti-crime laws, and a new environmental policy. Further- more, Nixon helped to resolve problems with the U.S.S.R, China, Egypt, and Syria. His summit meetings with Russian leader Leonid I. Brezhnev produced a treaty to limit strategic nuclear weapons. In 1973, Nixon announced an accord with North Vietnam that soon ended American involvement in the region. Nixon, however, will be forever remembered for his involvement in the Watergate Scandal (Nixon attempted to divert a federal investigation of a break-in at the offices of the Democratic National Committee). Despite being re-elected in 1972, Nixon was forced to resign.