Machenna McPhee
6L
December 7, 2011
President Number: 37th President
Years Served: 1969-1974
Political Party: Republican
Date of Birth: January 9th, 1913
Place of Birth: Yorba Linda, California
Date of Death: April 22nd, 1994
Place of Death: New York City
Richard Nixon was born on January 9, 1913 in Yorba Linda, California. He was a
small child, up until his teenage years. His religion was a Quaker. During his school years,
he was usually up at 4 A.M to get groceries and back at 8 A.M for school. On the
weekends or on the holidays, he would help with his fathers’ shop. His education was
excellent, he was a graduate level, and he got good grades all throughout his school
years. He was also a high school debater all through out his high school years. His father
was Francis A. Nixon, born on December 3, 1878. His mother was Hannah M. Nixon, born
in 1885. His four brothers were Edward C. Nixon, Harold S. Nixon, Arthur B. Nixon, and
Francis D. Nixon. After high school he went to law school.
After he graduated from law school, he became a lawyer. He proposed to his wife
in 1938, but she rejected. Two years later he tried again, and she accepted. He became
a U.S House of Representative in 1946-1950. In 1950 after his second Representative
term was over, he became a U.S Senate from 1950-1953. In 1953 after his Senate term
was over, he became the V.P. for Dwight Eisenhower from 1953-1961. He also had two
children.
In 1972 he “re-opened” the “long-closed door” to China. The “long-closed door” is
meant as China wouldn’t accept anything from other countries and wouldn’t send
anything out until Richard Nixon went over and became friends with the emperor of
China. He also did something called, “Vietnamization” during the Vietnam War. During his
presidency, he decided to do something different. He took out a small number of U.S
troops out at a time, therefore decreasing the chances of the U.S bases being bombed.
When almost all troops were gone, he started bombing Vietnam in different places. By
doing this, the U.S won the Vietnam War.
After he resigned from office to avoid being impeached by Congress, he and his
wife retired to South Clemente, California. In his retirement, he and his wife traveled
to Europe, Asia, and Africa for leisure, and quite often, too. He wrote nine books, but
the one he is famous for is his book, “Beyond Peace”. His wife died of lung cancer of
April 1993. He spent almost a year as a widow. He died in a hospital in New York City of
a stroke on the night of April 22, 1994. He was 82 years old.
Famous Quote: A man is not finished when he is defeated.
He is finished when he quits.