Nixon: A Political Chameleon
The 1970s was a decade of tumult with the war in Vietnam and the Watergate conspiracy in the White House. Many people probably still wonder how five men could break into the national headquarters of a major political party by order of the president, and what would drive a President to abuse his power and lie to the people that trust him the most. To find reasons why one must analyze the life and political career of Richard M. Nixon, and the mood of the Seventies.
Nixon's career in politics began a long time before he even had dreams of the White House. In 1947 he began his career when he was elected to the House of Representatives by the state of California while campaigning as an anticommunist. In 1951 Nixon had moved from the House of Representatives to the Senate, and by 1952 he was embroiled in his first scandal.
English: Elvis Presley meeting Richard Nixon. On D...
Richard Milhous Nixon, 37th President of the Unite...
English: President of the United States Richard M....The charge brought against him was that he was taking money from contributors in exchange for political favors. In Nixon's famous Checkers Speech he denies the charges and gives proof to back up the denials:
I'm proud to be able to report to you tonight that this audit and this legal opinion is being forwarded to General Eisenhower. And I'd like to read to you the opinion that was prepared by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and based on all the pertinent laws and statutes, together with the audit report prepared by the certified public accountants.
It is our conclusion that Senator Nixon did not obtain any financial gain from the collection and disbursement of the fund by Dana Smith; that Senator Nixon did not violate any Federal or state law by reason of the operation of the fund, and that neither the portion of...