Richard Nixon — 37th U.S. President

President Details

President Number: 37
Years in Office: 1969 - 1974
Term Dates: January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974
Political Party: Republican
Vice President(s): Spiro Agnew; Gerald Ford

Legacy Summary

Nixon presided over a period of significant foreign-policy realignment, opening diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China and pursuing détente with the Soviet Union, including the SALT I agreement. Domestically his administration created the Environmental Protection Agency and advanced major environmental and economic measures.

His second term was dominated by the Watergate scandal; revelations of abuses of power led to investigations, impeachment proceedings in the House, and his resignation in 1974. Nixon’s legacy remains mixed—praised for diplomatic and policy achievements and criticized for the constitutional crisis and erosion of public trust.

Notable Actions

Opened diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China; Pursued détente with the Soviet Union and signed SALT I; Created the Environmental Protection Agency and advanced environmental laws; Implemented Vietnamization and negotiated the Paris Peace Accords leading to U.S. troop withdrawal; Resigned in 1974 amid the Watergate scandal

Timeline Entries

Key highlights and dated events associated with this presidency.

Showing 12 of 64 entries.

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Federal grand jury indicts John Mitchell, H.R. Haldeman, and John Ehrlichman in Watergate cover-up

March 1, 1974 • Richard Nixon

Scandal

Federal grand jury indicts John Mitchell, H.R. Haldeman, and John Ehrlichman in Watergate cover-up

A federal grand jury returned indictments against former Attorney General John N. Mitchell and former White House aides H.R. Haldeman and John D. Ehrlichman for their roles in the Watergate cover-up.

House Judiciary Committee votes to begin formal impeachment inquiry into President Nixon

February 6, 1974 • Richard Nixon

Scandal

House Judiciary Committee votes to begin formal impeachment inquiry into President Nixon

On 1974-02-06 the House Judiciary Committee voted to open a formal impeachment inquiry into President Richard Nixon related to the Watergate scandal.

January 30, 1974 • Richard Nixon

Speech

State of the Union Address

President Richard Nixon delivered the 1974 State of the Union to a joint session of Congress, outlining his administration's priorities on the economy, energy, and domestic programs.

U.S.-Brokered Israel–Egypt Sinai Interim Agreement Signed

January 18, 1974 • Richard Nixon

Foreign Policy

U.S.-Brokered Israel–Egypt Sinai Interim Agreement Signed

Following Secretary of State Henry Kissinger's shuttle diplomacy, Israel and Egypt signed an interim disengagement agreement for the Sinai front on January 18, 1974.

President Nixon signs the Endangered Species Act of 1973

December 28, 1973 • Richard Nixon

Legislation

President Nixon signs the Endangered Species Act of 1973

Richard Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act into law on December 28, 1973, establishing broad federal protections for threatened and endangered species and their habitats.

Gerald R. Ford confirmed by Congress and sworn in as Vice President

December 6, 1973 • Richard Nixon

Appointment

Gerald R. Ford confirmed by Congress and sworn in as Vice President

Congress confirmed Gerald R. Ford as Vice President under the 25th Amendment, and he was sworn in on December 6, 1973, filling the vacancy left by Spiro Agnew's resignation.

Nixon signs the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act

November 27, 1973 • Richard Nixon

Economy

Nixon signs the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act

President Nixon signed the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act, giving the federal government authority to allocate petroleum products and regulate their distribution and pricing in response to the oil crisis.

Senate confirms Gerald R. Ford as Vice President under the 25th Amendment

November 27, 1973 • Richard Nixon

Appointment

Senate confirms Gerald R. Ford as Vice President under the 25th Amendment

On November 27, 1973, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Representative Gerald R. Ford as Vice President, completing the constitutional process to fill the vacancy left by Spiro Agnew’s resignation.

Nixon declares “I am not a crook” at Orlando news conference

November 17, 1973 • Richard Nixon

Scandal

Nixon declares “I am not a crook” at Orlando news conference

At a news conference in Orlando on November 17, 1973, President Nixon forcefully denied wrongdoing in connection with Watergate and related tax controversies, saying, “I am not a crook.”

Nixon signs the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act

November 16, 1973 • Richard Nixon

Legislation

Nixon signs the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act

President Nixon signed the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act, authorizing construction of the pipeline and preempting certain state and local restrictions.

Congress overrides Nixon veto to enact the War Powers Resolution

November 7, 1973 • Richard Nixon

Legislation

Congress overrides Nixon veto to enact the War Powers Resolution

Congress overrode President Nixon's veto to enact the War Powers Resolution, establishing reporting and withdrawal requirements for U.S. troop commitments abroad.

Nixon Establishes the Federal Energy Office to Coordinate U.S. Response to the Oil Shortage

October 29, 1973 • Richard Nixon

Executive Action

Nixon Establishes the Federal Energy Office to Coordinate U.S. Response to the Oil Shortage

President Nixon created the Federal Energy Office (FEO) to centralize federal coordination of fuel allocation and emergency energy measures amid the OAPEC oil embargo.

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