Question
In a one paragraph response, evaluate whether the presidency of Richard Nixon was a success, a failure, or somewhere in between. Possible topics to reference include his domestic policies such as the EPA and OSHA, his foreign policy approach to China and the Soviet Union, his role in the Vietnam War, and his resignation. (Information about the presidency of Richard Nixon can be found in lesson 11.1B.)(4 points)
answer this question only using this information The Republicans nominated Richard Nixon. Nixon had served as vice president under Dwight D. Eisenhower and had narrowly lost the presidency in 1960. He promised to represent the “silent majority” of Americans—those who felt uncomfortable with the changes of the preceding decade and wished for a return to the perceived stability of the past. A third candidate, Alabama governor George Wallace, ran on a far-right platform. In November, Nixon carried the race with a narrow popular vote but a wide margin in the Electoral College. He took office in January 1969 as the leader of a nation eager for change, but not in agreement about what kind.
Once elected, Nixon was less supportive of the civil rights movement than Johnson had been. He began to pursue what some historians have called a policy of deliberate neglect. In 1969, federal lawyers sided with the state of Mississippi when leaders there sought to slow the pace of school desegregation. This was the first time in 15 years that the federal government had slowed integration. However, Nixon did not entirely ignore civil rights issues. For example, he expanded affirmative action. This was a program begun during the Johnson administration. It aimed to improve employment and educational opportunities for racial minorities. Nixon also showed compassion toward Native Americans. He addressed several of their long-standing grievances. In 1970, he returned sacred lands to the Taos Pueblo of New Mexico. Among other measures, he more than doubled funding to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. In January 1975, Nixon signed the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, which returned power to the tribes and affirmed tribal sovereignty.
Nixon had criticized Johnson’s Great Society policies before being elected. However, he built on some Great Society features once in office. In 1969, Nixon signed a bill that eliminated the investment tax credit. He moved two million of the poorest people off the tax rolls altogether. He kept Johnson’s food stamp program but established national eligibility requirements to replace Johnson’s simplified requirements. In addition, Nixon signed into law automatic adjustments for inflation for Social Security payments.
Nixon also agreed with President Kennedy’s commitment to put a man on the moon before the end of the 1970s. Like Johnson before him, Nixon supported significant budget allocations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to achieve this goal. On July 20, 1969, millions of people around the world watched in amazement as astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin walked on the surface of the moon and planted the U.S. flag. From the White House, President Nixon spoke to the astronauts via satellite phone. The entire project cost approximately $25 billion, some 4 percent of the nation’s gross national product. The moon landing gave citizens a shared sense of accomplishment.Nixon won the praise of conservatives with his “New Federalism.” This program drastically expanded the use of federal “block grants” to states to spend as they wished without strings attached. Johnson had often designated that federal funds given to states should be used on urban areas and disadvantaged populations.
Nixon sought to manage other problems of the late 1960s and 1970s. He often created new federal agencies to help address these issues. For example, in 1970, approximately 14,000 workers were killed on the job in the United States. To address this crisis, Nixon created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA’s mission is to ensure the health and safety of workers in both private and public workplaces. Workplace deaths have dropped by more than 60 percent since OSHA’s establishment. As you have learned, the public was also becoming more concerned about the effects of environmental pollution. In response, Nixon created the Environmental Agency (EPA). The EPA’s mission is to work for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.
Nixon had campaigned in part on a promise of restoring “law and order” to a nation reeling from nightly exposure to violence on the national news. One problem his administration focused on was the use of illegal drugs. Nixon viewed drug users as criminals. He declared a “war on drugs” aimed at reducing the illegal drug trade in the United States. In 1973, his administration created the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
answer this question only using this information The Republicans nominated Richard Nixon. Nixon had served as vice president under Dwight D. Eisenhower and had narrowly lost the presidency in 1960. He promised to represent the “silent majority” of Americans—those who felt uncomfortable with the changes of the preceding decade and wished for a return to the perceived stability of the past. A third candidate, Alabama governor George Wallace, ran on a far-right platform. In November, Nixon carried the race with a narrow popular vote but a wide margin in the Electoral College. He took office in January 1969 as the leader of a nation eager for change, but not in agreement about what kind.
Once elected, Nixon was less supportive of the civil rights movement than Johnson had been. He began to pursue what some historians have called a policy of deliberate neglect. In 1969, federal lawyers sided with the state of Mississippi when leaders there sought to slow the pace of school desegregation. This was the first time in 15 years that the federal government had slowed integration. However, Nixon did not entirely ignore civil rights issues. For example, he expanded affirmative action. This was a program begun during the Johnson administration. It aimed to improve employment and educational opportunities for racial minorities. Nixon also showed compassion toward Native Americans. He addressed several of their long-standing grievances. In 1970, he returned sacred lands to the Taos Pueblo of New Mexico. Among other measures, he more than doubled funding to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. In January 1975, Nixon signed the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, which returned power to the tribes and affirmed tribal sovereignty.
Nixon had criticized Johnson’s Great Society policies before being elected. However, he built on some Great Society features once in office. In 1969, Nixon signed a bill that eliminated the investment tax credit. He moved two million of the poorest people off the tax rolls altogether. He kept Johnson’s food stamp program but established national eligibility requirements to replace Johnson’s simplified requirements. In addition, Nixon signed into law automatic adjustments for inflation for Social Security payments.
Nixon also agreed with President Kennedy’s commitment to put a man on the moon before the end of the 1970s. Like Johnson before him, Nixon supported significant budget allocations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to achieve this goal. On July 20, 1969, millions of people around the world watched in amazement as astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin walked on the surface of the moon and planted the U.S. flag. From the White House, President Nixon spoke to the astronauts via satellite phone. The entire project cost approximately $25 billion, some 4 percent of the nation’s gross national product. The moon landing gave citizens a shared sense of accomplishment.Nixon won the praise of conservatives with his “New Federalism.” This program drastically expanded the use of federal “block grants” to states to spend as they wished without strings attached. Johnson had often designated that federal funds given to states should be used on urban areas and disadvantaged populations.
Nixon sought to manage other problems of the late 1960s and 1970s. He often created new federal agencies to help address these issues. For example, in 1970, approximately 14,000 workers were killed on the job in the United States. To address this crisis, Nixon created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA’s mission is to ensure the health and safety of workers in both private and public workplaces. Workplace deaths have dropped by more than 60 percent since OSHA’s establishment. As you have learned, the public was also becoming more concerned about the effects of environmental pollution. In response, Nixon created the Environmental Agency (EPA). The EPA’s mission is to work for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.
Nixon had campaigned in part on a promise of restoring “law and order” to a nation reeling from nightly exposure to violence on the national news. One problem his administration focused on was the use of illegal drugs. Nixon viewed drug users as criminals. He declared a “war on drugs” aimed at reducing the illegal drug trade in the United States. In 1973, his administration created the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Richard Nixon's presidency can be viewed as a complex mix of successes and failures. Domestically, he contributed to environmental and worker protections through the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), reflecting a commitment to addressing pressing societal issues. His initiatives, such as "New Federalism," aimed at giving states more autonomy, while some of his social policies, including the expansion of affirmative action and protections for Native Americans, showcased a more nuanced approach toward civil rights than is often acknowledged. However, Nixon's presidency was marred by his lack of support for the civil rights movement and the controversial Vietnam War, which saw him escalate American involvement before ultimately leading to a chaotic withdrawal. His tenure ended in disgrace with his resignation due to the Watergate scandal, undermining any accomplishments. Therefore, while Nixon had notable achievements, particularly in regulatory policy and foreign diplomacy, his presidency ultimately reflects a broader struggle with ethical governance and social divisions, positioning it somewhere in between success and failure.