Worst Presidents: Richard Nixon (1969-1974)

February 16, 2007 RSS Feed Print

Nixon's failings were the stuff of dark tragedy: uneven judgment and a deeply suspicious character verging on delusional, combined with great political gifts and considerable vision.

He not only opened up U.S. relations with China but also reached an important arms-limitation agreement with the Soviet Union. He slowly, if not quite steadily, extricated America from the quagmire of Vietnam. He supported a number of progressive domestic policies, including the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. He stepped up the war against crime on multiple fronts.

But the drama of Nixon Agonistes concludes with his resignation under a cloud of wrongdoing. For obstructing the investigation of a petty crime committed by some of his own campaign operatives—an attempt to burglarize the Democratic National Headquarters—Nixon's name and reputation will forever be linked with one word: Watergate.

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really? one of the worst? not a chance. yes he committed a crime, but his service to the nation as president should lift him out of the bottom 10

mark of NE 12:53AM April 27, 2012

Essentially, Watergate places Nixon on the list but breaking into the opposition's hotel room to spy on their campaign plans is mice nuts compared to what the Executive branch gets away with today: spying on EVERYBODY, nullifying the U.S. Constitution (NDAA), and running guns to Mexico (Fast and Furious) to support a political anti-gun agenda and lie. We should resurrect the impeachment-promoting bumper sticker from Nixon's presidency, "HE KNEW" today!

CALIN BRABANDT of OR 9:53PM February 21, 2012

Nixon did less to discredit the office of President than Bill

Clinton. But, Mr. Hot Pants was able to shrug off some of his

bad press because he'd built and perfected a false-face that made

some citizens, particularly liberal women, fall for his line of

B.S. almost every time. Clinton's skills in that area are similar

to those who make women believe he loves them when he doesn't, or

allows used car sheisters to prosper or ponzi-scheme operators to

profit.

Jay Russell of MD 7:21PM February 21, 2012

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