Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th president of the United States, serving from January 20, 1969, to August 9, 1974. A Republican, he is known for major foreign-policy initiatives and for resigning amid the Watergate scandal.
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.
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
Key highlights and dated events associated with this presidency.
Richard Nixon resigned from office amid the Watergate scandal, the first U.S. president to do so.
The Watergate break-in set off the scandal that would eventually force Nixon from office.