49. Richard M. Nixon: A Presidency Lost

Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th president of United States, and the only one to resign office in the history of the country. Born January 9, 1913 in Yorba Linda, California, Nixon a Republican Party member who served as vice under President Dwight David Eisenhower in the 1950s. ran for president for the first time in , losing to the very charismatic and young Democrat, F. Kennedy. The 1960 election was one of closest elections in history. Kennedy went on to one of the most popular presidents ever.

Despite loss to Kennedy in 1960, Nixon bounced back the 1968 election when he defeated Democrat, Hubert in a landslide victory. The country was in during the 60s. The conflict in Vietnam was , the country was reeling from the assassinations of F. Kennedy, and his brother Senator Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. Nixon's victory indicated the was ready for a conservative leadership during these times.

Nixon won the 1972 election over Democrat McGovern in another landslide victory, which seemed to Nixon's legacy as a great president. Among his was to open trade with China, and his to end the conflict in Vietnam. However, Nixon end up resigning from office just a year his victory.

It was discovered that the Republican , with Nixon's knowledge, had secretly recorded the Democratic at the Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C. during weeks leading up to the election. Nixon tried cover up the scandal, but the pressure was great. Nixon was forced to resign in disgrace than be impeached from office, which means to removed from office by the U.S. Congress. He the first president ever to quit while serving office.