Examines the period of U.S. History during the Presidency of Richard Nixon and the enduring consequences of his presidency, especially with regard to the Watergate Scandal.
2,150 words (approx. 8.6 pages), 11 sources, 2002, $ 80.95
Abstract Nixon resigned from his office nearly thirty years ago, and his legacy continues to be shrouded in controversy. He was a complex, inconsistent, and highly contradictory personality whose presidency was an extremely mixed bag of successes, failures, and confusion. Nixon once made the prediction that by the turn of the century, he would begin to be viewed in a more favorable light. Marked by solid achievements both at home and abroad, Nixon's work while in office ended the Imperial Presidency, reopened Western communication with China and Russia, helped see the country through its first round of serious welfare reform; in short, Nixon did have a significantly positive impact upon the nation. But, it was Watergate that opened the doors to the seedier and frightening side of the NixonPresidency. Secret tapings, brutal escalations in Vietnam, conspiracies to harm other politicians, and his involvement in the thefts at Watergate all cast a deep shadow over what Nixon had been able to accomplish. The most egregious abuses of executive privilege occurred under PresidentNixon who invoked that doctrine to shield embarrassing and incriminating information (Rozell, 762). It is the purpose of this paper to examine the Presidency of Richard M. Nixon, and to pay special attention to the implications of Watergate both during and after his term.
Abstract This paper discusses the three presidents: Lincoln, Roosevelt and Nixon and their use of their executive powers during their presidency. The extension of executive power has typically created a positive for a president. For example, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt, despite the extension of their executive powers, are considered great presidents. However, Richard Nixon's abuse of this same power, proving his imperial tendencies, showed the necessity of curbing this potential force. The paper details the ways in which executive power was extended by these three presidents, and argues that PresidentNixon not only abused his powers but tried to cheat the American people and therefore was not considered a great president and was impeached.
From the Paper ?Human beings, Abraham Lincoln noted, wished to protect both life and limb. ?Yet often a limb must be amputated to save a life; but a life is never wisely given to save a limb.? If the execution of the of the whole of the laws should require the violation of a single law, "are all the laws but one to go unexecuted, and the Government itself to go to pieces, lest that one be violated"?? (Schlesinger 59) Over the past hundreds of years, many presidents of the United States have extended their executive powers. The extension of executive power has typically created a positive for a president. For example, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt. These two men, regardless of any of their actions that could be considered an extension of executive powers were great presidents. However, Richard Nixon's abuse of this same power, proving his imperial tendencies, showed the necessity of curbing this potential force. If no actions had been taken against Nixon, what would the next president have done? Richard Nixon extended his executive powers too far, and had to be made an example of."
Abstract This paper compares these two movies which offer very different views on PresidentNixon's rule during the Watergate Scandal. The writer explains that the most notable difference in the movies is their format. "Dick" is a political satire, where as "Nixon" is a dramatic recount of factual events flavored with Oliver Stone's insights. The ideology behind both films is drastically diverse.
From the Paper "Dick is a hilarious film about Richard Milhous Nixon's reign as president during the Watergate scandal. The film attempts to satirically retell the events of 1972-1974. The political satire offers a very interesting suggest as to what really happened while Nixon was in office.
The film starts out with two extremely naive 15-year-old girls, Betsy (Kirsten Dunst) and Arlene (Michele Williams) who innocently stumble upon G. Gordon Liddy's "plumbers squad" while they are breaking in at Watergate's Democratic National Headquarters. The following day, Liddy (Harry Shearer) sees the girls on a school field trip to the White House. Again, with excellent timing, they arrive during one of Nixon's paper-shredding projects. After Liddy pulls the girls to the side, Nixon (Dan Hedaya) arrives on the scene and is so impressed by the two that he appoints them as Secret Youth Advisors and the White House's Official Dog Walkers. "
Abstract Nixon resigned from his office nearly thirty years ago, and his legacy continues to be shrouded in controversy. He was a complex, inconsistent, and highly contradictory personality whose presidency was an extremely mixed bag of successes, failures, and confusion. Nixon once made the prediction that by the turn of the century, he would begin to be viewed in a more favorable light. Marked by solid achievements both at home and abroad, Nixon's work while in office ended the Imperial Presidency, reopened Western communication with China and Russia, helped see the country through its first round of serious welfare reform; in short, Nixon did have a significantly positive impact upon the nation. But, it was Watergate that opened the doors to the seedier and frightening side of the NixonPresidency. Secret tapings, brutal escalations in Vietnam, conspiracies to harm other politicians, and his involvement in the thefts at Watergate all cast a deep shadow over what Nixon had been able to accomplish. The most egregious abuses of executive privilege occurred under PresidentNixon who invoked that doctrine to shield embarrassing and incriminating information. This paper examines the Presidency of Richard M. Nixon, and to pay special attention to the implications of Watergate both during and after his term.
Abstract The complex personality of Richard Nixon gave rise to a complex presidency. Nixon, a former Quaker pacifist president, sent millions of young American soldiers to war. He instituted affirmative action and supported the Equal Rights Amendment but was also known for his misogynist views. As president of the land, he knowingly subverted the Constitution through sabotage, political espionage and secret, illegal campaign contributions. This paper examines evaluates PresidentNixon's complex presidency, by paying particular attention to his leadership style, his ethical background and the various decisions he made throughout his two terms. In conclusion, the paper evaluates the effects and continuing legacy of former PresidentNixon.
From the Paper "Haldeman's memoirs revealed a stream of illegal orders from President Nixon, including the establishment of fake ultra-left wing organizations to ally with Democrats, "hatchet-job" IRS audits on Democratic leaders, putting detectives to follow Senator Kennedy's womanizing activities and "destroying" commentator Chet Huntley to discourage criticism from other reporters (Gergen 96-98). The nature of these orders and the secrecy surrounding them are indicative of Nixon's disregard for the other power structures that characterize a democracy. The orders reveal the vindictiveness of a person unable to accept criticism regarding his actions. They also reveal a man unable to trust his own staff, the press and ultimately, the American public."
Tags: Cold, War, Vietnam, Harry, R., Haldeman, Watergate
Abstract The paper discusses how few American presidents in modern times have been as reviled as Richard Nixon. Despite a number of foreign and domestic triumphs, Nixon will be forever associated with the Watergate scandal of the early 1970s. The paper reviews the event leading to Nixon's ultimate demise and considers to what extent the thirty-seventh president of the United States exhibited the sort of behavior similar to the sort of governing principles immortalized in Niccolo Machiavelli.
From the Paper "Strangely enough, while it is easy (and popular) to portray Nixon as being Machiavellian in his pursuit and consolidation of power, the real truth of the matter is that Nixon is but a poor example of Machiavelli's "Prince"; in fact, Nixon was often the exact opposite of what Niccolo Machiavelli considered a capable and forward-thinking ruler."
Abstract This paper examines how the American presidency began with George Washington and the Articles of Confederation and how, under the Articles of Confederation, the Federal government, including the presidency, had very little power. It looks at how early presidents expanded the power of the Office of the President by their interpretation of the Constitution and examines how, over time, the presidents from Jackson to Nixon built up the Office of the President and expanded federal powers. It shows how the power of the presidency has ebbed and flowed over the years, with Congress taking action when it feels a president has gone too far and how the president's power to veto bills guarantees that Congress will have to work with the president to some extent as it passes laws.
From the Paper "The United States Constitution was designed as a series of checks and balances. That is, the rights and powers of one branch were kept in check, or balance, by the rights of other branches. Thus Congress could pass laws, but the Supreme Court could declare them void because they were unconstitutional. The President could negotiate treaties, but they had to be approved by the Senate. After the Civil War, the issue of balance of power came to a head. Congress tried to gain more power, and President Andrew Jackson opposed them. The Congress responded by impeaching President Andrew. He missed being thrown out of office by one vote (WorldBook, 2002). The view through the 1800's remained that Congress held the bulk of governmental authority."
Tags: constitution, jackson, munroe, roosevelt, nixon, george, washington, congress
Abstract This paper examines former U.S. President Richard Nixon's voting record from his tenure in Congress, and asks whether there is any connection to his early life of poverty. The paper attempts to answer whether the positions that he took on various domestic and international issues were influenced by the experience of his family's poverty. The paper also discusses Nixon's ambition and his determination to be an effective legislator.
From the Paper "This segment of the research focuses on Nixon's congressional voting record and the manner in which the positions he took were influenced by the poverty of his family experience. The evidence of Nixon's campaign against...."
Abstract This paper explains that the authority of the presidency is enumerated by Article II of the Constitution; but, because of the efforts of specific office holders, presidential powers have stretched beyond the limitations envisioned by some of the founding fathers. The author points out that, in spite of the best efforts by each man who has held the office of the president, the presidency remains quite separate from the president as manifested with each transition of power from one president to the next; nevertheless, the framers of the Constitution left enough room for ambitious office holders to increase the power of the position as demonstrated by PresidentsNixon and Bush II. The paper states that the growth of presidential authority is not inherently bad for the American people because it is a response to the changing climate and difficult threats of the modern world, which usually require a single leader to ensure the survival of the country.
Table of Contents
Enumerated Powers
Increasing the President's Constitutional Authority
The Future of the Presidency
From the Paper "Since the United States Constitution officially took effect in 1788, very few changes to the document have been made; yet in spite of the relative static nature of the document, the power of the American presidency has increased. And rather than fight against the expanding authority of the president, the American public seems to embrace an ever-enlarging assumption of power by the president. Americans want their president to be strong but not overreaching, decisive but inclusive, commanding but not overbearing. These kinds of demands on the American chief politician have stretched the powers of the presidency. Today, the office has grown to immense proportions not just in the United States, but also in the eyes of the entire world. This all takes place in spite of the efforts of various individuals, groups and even nations that attempt to reign in the power of the leader of the world. Interestingly, this enlargement of the presidency has occurred in spite of the "legislative supremacy"1 many of the framers intended."
Abstract The paper describes the Watergate scandal where PresidentNixon attempted to photograph and steal records from his rival's office with the intent of using this private information to win his next election. The paper details the drama that was uncovered by The Washington Post and relates that Richard Nixon became the first President of the United States to resign. The paper discusses how the scandal had far-reaching and long-lasting results; it demonstrated to the world that a nation could, under the American democratic political system, call the highest official in the land to account for his actions and then pay the price for his misdeeds.
From the Paper "Watergate was an event in American history that changed the course of politics, American life and leaders drastically. At first the public was unaware of the seemingly insignificant event, then when made aware, they were unaware of the importance of what appeared to be five ordinary men burglarizing an office in downtown Washington, D.C., then, when they realized this significance of the burglary and who it led to, they were unaware of the consequences that would arise from this event. Gradually, the significance and the consequences were impressed upon the public by the wide and intense media coverage of the event over a period of six years, from 1970 to 1976."
Abstract Discusses the Constitutional abuses perpetrated by Nixon and those under him and examines the Watergate events and impact. Contends that, although Nixon was responsible for his own downfall, he blamed everyone but himself.
From the Paper "This study will examine the events leading up to the resignation of President Richard M. Nixon as a result of the Watergate scandal, although other peripheral issues also played a part in the fall of Nixon from power. The heart of the issue is certainly..."
Abstract This paper discusses why the constitutional checks and balances system is of such vital importance. It contends that Nixon's criminal presidency proved that power does corrupt, and that absolute power does corrupt absolutely. The author of the paper agrees with James Madison's opinion that in asserting that men are not angels, citizens are best served by a government in which power is divided and a system of checks and balances is established.
From the Paper "In relating Richard Nixon's fall from power to Lord Acton's and James Madison's statements about the corrupting influence of power, it is evident that Nixon's abuses of power provide a powerful example of why our constitutional checks and balances system is of such vital importance. Nixon's criminal presidency proved that power does corrupt, and that absolute power does corrupt absolutely. Consequently, James Madison was correct in asserting that because men are not angels, citizens are best served by a government in which power is divided and a system of checks and balances is established. James Madison understood that constitutions serve the purpose of limiting governmental power by establishing defined limits to what governmental entities have the lawful right to do."
Abstract This paper discusses when Nixon stood for presdiency in 1968. The author looks at how the candidates tried to attract voters and the various initiatives of the Republicans and Democrats. It illustrates how nowadays the Republican Party can be thought of as a coalition consisting of Christian fundamentalists, free market ideologues, and contractors eager to capitalize on the United States? perceived future military obligations.
From the Paper "In 1962, Americans didn?t have Richard Nixon to kick around anymore. Nixon, disillusioned at having lost California to the Democrats after having battled for the White House two years earlier, was on the retreat alongside most of the old-guard conservatives in America. This trend is one that had favored only moderate Republicans like Eisenhower after the anti-communists of the early 50's had squandered the Grand Old Party's last congressional majority. Kennedy was a centrist that wished to modify his party's "New Deal" legacy for a more middle-class electorate while continuing to champion the traditions of America as an alternative to Bolshevism. By 1980, the conservative movement came to dominate the governments of the United States and United Kingdom as it employed rhetoric that appealed to traditional Christians and to libertarians who wished to curtail government spending. An analysis of what took place between these two events reveals an electorate disillusioned with the sweeping social changes of the 1960's and ready to embrace the stability promised by what was at the time an opposition party."
Tags:Nixon, Richard kennedy democratic reagan chicago republican
Abstract This paper explores the subject matter of both speeches by PresidentsNixon and Clinton and looks at the inappropriate activities, lying, and cover-ups of their actions.
From the Paper "Nixon and Clinton
Introduction
Although President William J. Clinton did not have to resign from office following his impeachment hearings, the situation that Clinton was in was very similar to that of Nixon before his resignation (Rivers, 1998). Both ..."
An examination of Arthur Jr. Schlesinger's "The Imperial Presidency", Forrest McDonald's "The American Presidency: an Intellectual History" and Arthur Rudalevige's "The New Imperial Power: Renewing Presidential Powers After Watergate".
Abstract The paper analyzes and compares Arthur Jr. Schlesinger's "The Imperial Presidency", Forrest McDonald's "The American Presidency: an Intellectual History" and Arthur Rudalevige's "The New Imperial Power: Renewing Presidential Powers After Watergate". The paper discusses the theme of these three books, the arguments supporting the challenges each of the authors try to address, as well as the evidence used to support the books' thesis. The paper concludes that each author demonstrates that the presidential prerogatives, depending on the historical conditions, experienced modifications that are not in line with the Constitution.
From the Paper "The issue of the presidential powers in relation to the Supreme Court and the Congress was of great interest to the drafters of the Constitution from the point of view of the previous historical experience which eventually led to the American Revolution. The fear of a new authoritarian regime such as the one imposed by the British rule on the American colonies made the Founding Fathers consider a different set of rules and norms that would establish a clear delimitation between the three powers in the State: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial powers. In this sense, the President was given limited attributions and they were to be exercised in cooperation and in coordination with the Congress. However, the historical circumstances in time established a deviation from this line of action. More precisely, the president became more and more engaged in the conduct of foreign policy, without always having the consent of the legislative part."
