Although Nixon stained his reputation due to the Watergate Scandal, he had made some good acheivements such as ending the Vietnam War and opening 'Red China'. If there were no Watergate Scandal at all, do you think Nixon would have gained much respect from Americans?
2007-09-22 06:51:58 · 26 answers · asked by wodkx2000 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
He did really good things but, as you said, he blew it with Watergate and that will follow him throughout history........
2007-09-22 06:54:47 · answer #1 · answered by Brian 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Nixon, at least, had a withdrawal schedule from Vietnam and was willing to use diplomacy. Problem is, it was painfully slow. It took over five years for Nixon to end the Vietnam War, while we lost an average 1200 American deaths per month and the war divided our country. The actual outcome would not have been much different had he ended it four years earlier. He did go to China and enacted some positive environmental laws. As far as Watergate he was power hungry, corrupt, and terribly dishonest. Al Capone was a pretty nice guy and did some nice things, were not for the fact that he was a gangster and a killer.
2007-09-22 14:41:22 · answer #2 · answered by wyldfyr 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definately. And--that's a capsule of how most historians--liberal and conservative--view the Nixon presidency.
Granted, different historians will have somewhat different takes--especially on particular issues. But Nixon's policies--particularly in international policy--were far-sighted and effective.
As a historian myself, I thinkthat,if it had not beenfor Watergate, Nixon would be considered among the better rpresidents in American history. Not "great"--we've only had a handful of those--but certainly well above the average.
BTW-I do tend (personally) to be liberal--and do have some criticisms of Nixons's policies on some issues--but that doesn't change my professional judgement. God knows I'd rather have Nixon right now than the idiot we've got for President.
2007-09-22 14:03:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Nixon was a paranoid delusional schizophrenic. He kept an enemies list of American citizens. He didn't end the Vietnam war he prolonged it for his own political gain. He left it for Ford to clean up just as our current president will leave it for his successor. He imposed austere economic policies price, and wage freeze. His administration had the first gas shortages in history other than during WWII. Other than that he was a great president.
2007-09-22 14:03:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Nixon obviously has a very mixed legacy, but even his detractors have to admit he got a few important things done. He was obviously a very intelligent man, and living in difficult times. So, I try to take the negative with the positive (although I wish he would not have sold out Taiwan to the Red Chinese, but maybe he prevented a nuclear war that way - who can say?)
2007-09-22 13:56:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well considering America chooses to overlook the many, many MUCH WORSE scandals of another administration anything is possible. Nixon did at least did the honorable thing when he resigned.......I respect that.
2007-09-30 08:02:32 · answer #6 · answered by Cherie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Thank goodness he opened "Red China" that is really benefitting us currently. He didn't end the Vietnam War he escalated it to previously unthought of levels. Congress ended the Vietnam War by refusing to pay for it anymore. Nixon will never be remembered as anything more than a foul mouthed egoist who trampled on the rights of the opposing party.
2007-09-22 13:57:51 · answer #7 · answered by Stephanie is awesome!! 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Tricky Dick was the worst ever ELECTED. UNelected Dictator Dumbya makes Tricky look like an 8 year vacation. Down with Dictator Dumbya!!!
2007-09-22 14:53:29 · answer #8 · answered by rhino9joe 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree, Nixon did some good things. I voted for him twice. One of the good things he did was to freeze prices because they were rising too fast for the average person to handle. We weren't seeing wages keeping up with those rising costs. By freezing the prices he helped us take a breath and for things to settle down. His foreign policy was among the best our nation has ever had. Henry Kissinger was a master diplomat and Nixon used him very well.
Unfortunately Nixon's paranoia and his attempts to find and eliminate perceived enemies caused him to have to resign.
2007-09-22 14:00:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Yes. I was alive during his Presidency. Nixon was a good President except for Watergate.
2007-09-22 13:55:19 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
Nixon said "we are all Keynesians here" and his policies demonstrated that. A prime example was price controls.
For that alone I hate him.
Who exactly voted thumbs DOWN on this????? Someone still thinks Keynesianism could WORK????
Do you long for an NFL coach to bring back the run and shoot too?
2007-09-22 13:54:21 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋