His name seems to ring of bad connotations...
but he did so many things to benefit the country...
He opened talks with china
He ended vietnam
He put control on violent movements (eg black panthers)
admittedly on the other side, he commited the prime sin any political person can... he lied (but they all lie) the main sin was that he got caught.
but this is an honest question... best answer will not go to someone who merely agrees with me without elaboration I am open to your comments on this one...
2006-11-17 07:27:59 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Nixon indded was a strong leader. I am 49 so I clearly remember the Nixon years. When the recession became frightening he took the unprecedented step of a wage and price freeze. A gutsy move that was not real popular. It did help. His quiet negotiations to China and the USSR were very impressive.
On the flip side Nixon did more than just lie. His administrations use of the IRS to hound administration enemies was certainly criminal and his secret enemies lists were frightening.
I hope history will eventually treat him as it should any president. There were amazing strong points to his presidency and incredible weak points. True historians usually give both sides and acknowledge that he was amazing with foreign policy and some internal policies while being a deeply paranoid one. I do differ with some of those answering your question though. He did indeed have to resign. The votes for impeachment and removal for office were clearly there.
In short Richard Nixon was a human being.
2006-11-17 07:40:12 · answer #1 · answered by toff 6 · 8⤊ 1⤋
He did not end the Vietnam war, congress pulled the plug on funding. He did have a big hand in opening up China for trade and now we owe them half the country and Wal-Mart is using their goods to drive Americans out of work. Look around your house and at your clothes, how much is made in America? President Reagan didn't think the Soviet Union was worth being diplomatic about, he played cowboy politics with them. Nixon was a paranoid character, he saw enemies everywhere, real or imagined and acted upon that. I think he was THE reason we lost our trust in our government and all republicans after him just extended that feeling until we are where we are now with President Bush. History has not judged him harshly enough in my opinion.
2016-03-28 23:48:10 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes indeed. Tricky Dick is the most liberal president we have had in 50 years!!! That tells you a great deal about those people who believe that we are heading down the road to socialism.
Nixon opened talks with China.
He encouraged realpolitick with Russia and Eastern Europe. Of course if anyone else had done it Nixon would have yelled "Commie!"
At home he signed the creation of the EPA and signed Title IX encouraging women in sports. Of course that was forced on him by Congress.
He didn't end Vietnam. That dubious honour goes to Gerald Ford, and he didn't put control on violent movements, he just had movements he considered "un-American" infiltrated. His domestic spying programs paved the way for some of Bush Jr's excesses.
I do not think Nixon should ever be remembered as a person who did things to benefit the country.
He was an example of the worst politicians this country has ever known. He played on social unrest and fear.
Other than that: yes, history has misjudged him
2006-11-17 08:00:26 · answer #3 · answered by jcboyle 5 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Our electoral system over here in Merrye Olde Englande is a little different, but our attitude towards our "high profile" politicians is more often " that person has just lied - we can tell - we just haven't found out what it is yet".
We call it "Spin".
Here's an example:
The government had some unpleasant results to publish about the state of the economy. The British Isles were not in immediate danger of sinking into any major body of water, but it was VERY NOT GOOD for the "ruling party".
They needed to time the release of this data very carefully, to minimise damage. It needed to be "hidden" behind some bigger news story.
One of their suggested and preferred dates? can you guess?
9/11/2001
We, as a nation, were ashamed.
2006-11-17 07:48:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
Nixon has gotten a lot of slack over the years for his one mistake.
It's not like he did anything that nobody else has done over the years.
Politicians have been shredding evidence & rigging balots since the birth of this corrupt nation, what makes him any different?
His only mistake was getting caught.
End of story.
Many people say that he deserves to be given a bad title because he lied as well.
Once again, it's not like he was doing anything that hasn't been done before.
Politician's have ALWAYS been dishonest, it's thier job.
Show me a president that hasn't lied, & I'll show you a man that's fooling himself.
Once again, the only thing separating him from all the other scumbag presidents is that he got caught.
Besides, it's not like his lies KILLED anybody.
Unlike somebody else we know of...
People just like to put other people into categories, & judge them solely on ONE characteristic.
Thus they are so wrapped up in trying to condem this man for ONE mistake, that they fail to recognize all of the POSITIVE things he has done for this country.
Nixon might have been one of our finest presidents if he hadn't been sloppy & gotten caught.
2006-11-17 07:48:24 · answer #5 · answered by Lauren C.: Led-head 4 (∞) 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
He did a lot of good things, but he got carried away with his power. Compared to what we have now, he was incredible. When he committed crimes, at least he had the understanding to know they were crimes. Bush just commits them and then claims those laws don't apply to him.
A lot of people don't know that Nixon proposed a national health care system. Pretty progressive for a right wing lunatic.
2006-11-17 07:49:48 · answer #6 · answered by capu 5 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Nixon was the EDSEL of politics. His faults were highlighted instead of the good things. Too many people forget he was the original Ugly American when traveling to South America and dealt with unruly crowds protesting US policies. His morality did not extend to politics because of his strong persecution complex. The esteem problem he fought inside ruled many of His actions and it is too bad History is looking at him incorrectly.
2006-11-17 07:40:26 · answer #7 · answered by old codger 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Yah I think they have judged him too harshly. Nixon is just thought of as a crooked President.
Nixon was taken down because he couldnt be controlled. So I personally dont think he was all that bad. I also love conspiracy theories and have a few for Nixon.
2006-11-17 08:11:16 · answer #8 · answered by Perplexed 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Republican morality has slid so much since Nixon, he is probably not as bad as Tom Delay or Bush or Cheney.
2006-11-17 07:41:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 2⤋
I think so. His work in China and Vietnam was excellent.
I think one reason so many people don't like him is because of his looks. It really helps to have boyish looks like Clinton.
2006-11-17 07:33:40 · answer #10 · answered by Sean 7 · 7⤊ 2⤋