Vietnam, Watergate and President Nixon

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the US failure of the War in Vietnam, the Watergate scandal and the resignation of Richard Nixon. The paper illustrates how the 1970s created an atmosphere in which the public doubted the ability of the country to wage war, the morality of government in general, and the truthfulness of political leaders. The paper highlights the long-lasting effects of the war in Vietnam and the Watergate scandal.

From the Paper:

"Every president is faced with the need for an agenda on the domestic front and one on the foreign policy front. When Nixon entered the White House, the most important element on the foreign policy front was the Vietnam War, and domestically this war was having a major role as well, contributing to the general unrest in the country and to a public perception of growing lawlessness and anarchy. Nixon was forced to approach foreign policy from a position he would have opposed had he had any real choice: "It was Richard Nixon's fate that he had to preside over the retreat of American power. He hated it" (Ambrose, 1989, p. 252). Once he became president, Nixon proposed to the other side "mutual withdrawal, guaranteed withdrawal, of forces" (Ambrose, 1989, p. 252)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Ambrose, S.E. (1989). Nixon: The triumph of a politician 1962-1972. New York: Simon & Schuster.
• Davidson, J.W. et al. (2002). Nation of nations: A narrative history of the United States. New York: McGraw-Hill.
• Evans, R., Jr. & Novak, R.D. (1971). Nixon in the White House: The frustration of power. New York: Random House.
• Harrington, M. (1972, November 27). The Myth That Was Real. The Nation, 518-521.
• Kovach, B. (1972, November 29). Popkin Freed in a Surprise as U.S. Jury Is Dismissed. The New York Times, 1.

More papers on Vietnam, Watergate and President Nixon:

• Term Paper # 32046 : "The Presidency of Richard Nixon"
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• Essay # 30400 : "The Presidency of Richard Nixon."

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