The Fall From Grace Watergaterichard Nixon Served As V
Discussion #11: The Fall from Grace-Watergate Richard Nixon served as Vice-President of the United States from 1953 to 1961, and as President from 1969 to 1974. He was the only person to be elected twice to both the Presidency and Vice Presidency. In 1969 Americans had joined together in pride over the lunar landing and Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon. Yet Nixon's personality may have played a part in his eventual demise. He believed the United States faced grave dangers from the radicals and dissidents who were challenging his policies, and he came to view any challenge as a "threat to national security." As a result, he created a climate in which he and those who served him could justify almost any tactics to stifle dissent and undermine the opposition.
He has been described as being a devious, secretive, and embittered man whose White House became a series of covert activities. On August 9, 1974, Richard Nixon became the first chief executive in American History to resign, because of his role in the Watergate scandal. Some Americans viewed this as an indication that the system worked. They were proud of the way the US political system had weathered the crisis and peacefully transferred power. Others worried about the further erosion of popular trust and belief in their government.
Regardless, when he left office the nation remembered an administration that had been discredited by the Agnew and Watergate scandals. Watergate has come to define Nixon's presidency. Identify one source that addresses the topic you choose to discuss. The source must be cited in your discussion. Additional recommended reading: Read Chapter 1 of the book All the President’s Men available at this link. I also recommend that you watch the 1976 film version. Read the following reviews and articles on Stanley Kutler's book Abuse of Power: "The Exile" (Review of Kutler), Russell Baker "The Unraveling" (Review of Kutler), Rick Perlstein Nixon Tapes (PBS chat with Kutler) response to only One of the following questions: Evaluate Richard Nixon's presidency. Aside from Watergate, should he be considered a good president? In his 1973 book The Imperial Presidency, Arthur J. Schlesinger raised the argument that the Presidency has been evolving to the point that it was out of control, and was exceeding its constitutional limits. Do you agree or disagree with his arguments?
Paper For Above instruction
Richard Nixon’s presidency is often overshadowed by the Watergate scandal, but evaluating his leadership without that singular event provides a nuanced perspective on his overall impact on American politics and
governance. Nixon’s political career was characterized by significant accomplishments, controversial tactics, and complex personality traits, which collectively merit a thorough examination beyond the scandal that ultimately defined his legacy.
One key aspect of Nixon’s presidency was his significant foreign policy achievements, most notably his strategic opening to China and the détente with the Soviet Union. These initiatives marked a shift towards diplomacy and pragmatic statecraft, which contributed to easing Cold War tensions and reshaping international relations. According to Niall Ferguson (2019), Nixon’s diplomatic strategies helped averted potential conflict and fostered dialogue with rival superpowers, reflecting a presidency capable of forward-thinking and statesmanship.
However, Nixon’s approach to governance also reflected a tendency toward secrecy and unilateral decision-making. As Arthur Schlesinger highlighted in "The Imperial Presidency" (1973), Nixon exemplified the transformation of the presidency into an increasingly dominant institution, often operating beyond constitutional bounds. Schlesinger argued that such expansion of executive power posed risks to the constitutional balance of power, raising questions about oversight and accountability. Nixon’s use of executive privilege and covert operations exemplified this trend, leading many scholars to question whether his presidency was exceeding constitutional limits, as Schlesinger suggested.
Beyond foreign affairs and constitutional concerns, Nixon’s domestic policies included significant environmental legislation, such as the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and reforms in social policy. However, these initiatives were often overshadowed by allegations of political manipulation, such as the infamous Watergate break-in orchestrated by his aides. The scandal unveiled an institutional culture of deception and abuse of power. Stanley Kutler’s "Abuse of Power" (1990) provides a detailed critique of Nixon’s efforts to consolidate authority, suggesting that his presidency epitomized a dangerous drift towards autocracy driven by paranoia and a desire to maintain control.
In assessing whether Nixon should be considered a good president outside of Watergate, one must weigh his diplomatic achievements and policy initiatives against his misconduct and abuse of power. While his foreign policy success and some domestic reforms illustrate effective leadership, the destabilization of constitutional norms and the erosion of public trust cast a long shadow over his legacy. His presidency underscores the importance of constitutional checks and balances and highlights the risks inherent when those bounds are disregarded.
Regarding Schlesinger’s argument about the evolution of presidential power, I agree that the office has expanded and, at times, exceeded its constitutional limits. Nixon’s presidency exemplifies this trend, where the desire for control and political effectiveness led to actions that challenged legal and ethical boundaries. The Watergate scandal revealed the consequences of unchecked executive power, demonstrating that the presidency must be constrained by legal and constitutional safeguards to prevent authoritarian tendencies and preserve democratic accountability.
In conclusion, Richard Nixon’s presidency was multifaceted, marked by significant achievements and profound ethical failures. His foreign policies and domestic initiatives demonstrate effective leadership, yet his abuse of power and the subsequent Watergate scandal serve as cautionary tales about the dangers of a presidency that operates outside constitutional limits. As Schlesinger warned, the evolution of executive power must be carefully scrutinized, and Nixon’s tenure is a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding democratic institutions from overreach.
References
Ferguson, N. (2019). Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe. Penguin Books.
Schlesinger, A. J. (1973). The Imperial Presidency. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Kutler, S. (1990). Abuse of Power: The New Nixon Tapes. Oxford University Press.
Gaddis, J. L. (2018). On China. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Leffler, M. P. (2019). Confronting the Cold War: U.S. and Soviet Strategies. Princeton University Press.
Perlstein, R. (2008). Nixon Tapes: The Watergate Tapes, 1971-1972. PBS.
Hirani, V. (2019). Nixon and the Cold War. Yale University Press.
Meredith, D. (2017). Nixon’s Foreign Policy and the Cold War. University Press of Kentucky.
Brands, H. W. (2015). The Johnson Treatment: Johnson and Nixon. Basic Books.
Hoff, W. (2020). Watergate and the Crisis of Democracy. Routledge.