Nixon
Nixon was known to have an expertise in foreign policy. Nixon also initiated several new trends in American diplomatic relations while dealing with the Vietnam War. Nixon argued that the communist world consisted of two rival powers the Soviet Union and China. Nixon and his adviser Henry Kissinger, decided to exploit the rivalry between the two.
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Kissinger went on a secret trip to China to prepare for a Presidential visit. After Kissinger's return, Nixon surprised everyone by announcing that he would travel to China and meet with Mao Zedong, the Chinese leader. In February 1972, Nixon toured the Great Wall and drank toasts with Chinese leaders. Soon after, the United States accepted Chinese entry in the United Nations.
Nixon also hoped to establish a detente with the USSR. In May 1972, Nixon made an equally significant trip to Moscow to support a nuclear arms agreement. This visit resulted in SALT or the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty. The United States and the Soviet Union pledged to limit the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles each side would build, and to prevent the development of anti-ballistic missile systems.The two nations entered into a joint venture in space exploration known as Apollo-Soyuz.
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On June 17, 1972, five men were arrested after breaking into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee in the Watergate Hotel,Washington, D.C. Interestingly they had wire taps and cameras. Four of the five criminals were anti-Castro Cubans who had been previously hired by the CIA. The final one was James Mccord, the security adviser for Nixon's campaign staff, who led CREEP(Committee for the Re-Election of the President). In 1971, a White House group known as the "Plumbers" was established to eliminate administration leaks to the press. The campaign raised millions of dollars in illegal contributions and laundered several hundred thousand for plumbing activities.
After the arrest of the burglars, Nixon suggested the payments of hush money to avoid a connection between Watergate and the White House. He suggested that the FBI cease any investigation of the break-in. He recommended that staffers perjure themselves if subpoenaed in court.The Watergate cover-up was initially successful. When the burglars were tried in January 1973, James Mccord admitted in a letter that members of the Nixon Administration ordered the Watergate break-in. A Senate committee was appointed to investigate. Suddenly, many high level government officials resigned. In a televised speech, Nixon assured told the American public "I am not a crook."
Nixon had been in the practice of taping every conversation held in the Oval Office. Nixon refused to submit the tapes to the committee. He even fired those who demanded him to give up the tapes. Public outcry pressed Nixon to agree to release typewritten transcripts of his tapes. The tape transcripts further damaged Nixon. On the tapes he swore like a sailor and behaved like a bully. There was also 17 minutes missing from one of the tapes. By this time, the House Judiciary Committee had already drawn up articles of Impeachment.
On August 8, 1974, Nixon resigned the office, becoming the first President to do so. His successor, Gerald Ford, granted Nixon a full pardon for any crimes he may have committed while in office. The press and the public had a fit over this.