Legends of the American Spirit: Stories of Trailblazers and Innovators

Richard Nixon—The President Who Opened Relations with China and Resigned Over Watergate

Richard Nixon, born on January 9, 1913, in Yorba Linda, California, was the 37th president of the United States. Nixon’s presidency is marked by two major events: his groundbreaking trip to China in 1972, which opened diplomatic relations between the U.S. and the Communist nation, and the Watergate scandal that led to his resignation in 1974.

Nixon’s foreign policy achievements included the strategic arms limitation talks (SALT) with the Soviet Union, as well as efforts to ease Cold War tensions. Domestically, his administration passed significant environmental legislation, including the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency. However, the Watergate scandal, which involved a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and subsequent cover-up, led to Nixon’s resignation, making him the first and only U.S. president to resign from office.