Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9th, 1913 – April 22nd, 1994) was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 until he resigned in 1974. Nixon was a highly corrupt president, most well known for his role in the infamous Watergate scandal. His Vice President, Spiro Agnew, is also considered to be one of the most corrupt politicians in the history of the United States.
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| “ | You must pursue this investigation of Watergate even if it leads to the president. I'm innocent. You've got to believe I'm innocent. If you don't, take my job. | „ |
| ~ Nixon denies his role in the Watergate scandal. |
| “ | Well, I'm not a crook. | „ |
| ~ One of Nixon's most famous quotes |
The Watergate scandal
In June 1972, five men were arrested in the early hours of the morning breaking into the Democratic Party's headquarters at the Watergate hotel (which gave its name to the scandal) in Washington, D.C. They had photographic equipment and wiretapping devices on them. In the following months, connections between several of the suspects and one part or another of the White House were revealed.
As the investigation continued, it was revealed that the scandal was primarily to cover-up his administration's illegal activities as well as sabotage the Democratic Party so his opposition would be weakened.
Other villainy
- His administration spearheaded Operation Condor, a multi-year CIA-backed campaign of state-sponsored terror and political oppresion that established multiple right-wing military dictatorships in South America, including those of Augusto Pinochet, Hugo Banzer, Jorge Rafael Videla, and Alfredo Stroessner.
- Nixon was an avowed anti-Semite who strongly disliked Jews, and was a believer in the conspiracy theory that Jews were planning to take over the government.
- He has made disparaging comments about African-Americans and Hispanics.
- He was homophobic.
- He was responsible for the creation of the Southern Strategy - a political strategy to increase political support among white voters in the South by appealing to racism against African Americans.
- He launched the War on Drugs, which has actually caused more problems than it has solved.
- He supported Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge in their invasion of Laos.
- He extended the Vietnam War instead of ending it.
- Nominated two segregationists to the Supreme Court. Both men were so unashamedly racist that both Democrats and Republicans refused to vote on them.
- He had a strong dislike of the Catholic Church.
Post-presidency
His second Vice President, Gerald Ford (who assumed the presidency after Nixon resigned), pardon Nixon fully for his involvement in the Watergate scandal. Nixon mostly kept a low profile until his death in 1994.
In a series of taped interviews he gave in the late 70's, Nixon expressed regret for his actions involving Watergate and his other crimes.