1. The Life and Politics of Richard Nixon
President of the United States

2. Richard Milhous Nixon Born in Yorba Linda, California
Product of The Great Depression
Very poor, very religious upbringing
Lost two brothers to Tuberculosis
Forced to turn down scholarships to elite universities due to financial limitations
Yale
Harvard
Attended Whittier College and , later, Duke University
Many activities
Debate Team
Football
Basketball
Track
Student Body President

3. Service Record Lawyer Lt. Commander in the United States Navy Congress
Senate
Vice-President
President
Passionate Communism Fighter

4. Congress and Communism
Elected to California’s 12th District in 1946
Gained popularity and credibility with Republicans and Anti-Roosevelt Democrats with the Alger Hiss case
Hiss, a State Department Official was accused of being a spy
Nixon worked day and night to prove Hiss was a liar and a spy
While Hiss was convicted of perjury, he was never convicted of spying
Nixon became a leader in the Republican party

5. Senate Campaign Challenged Democrat Incumbent Helen Douglas
Very bitter campaign
“She is pink, right down to her underwear!”
Douglas referred to Nixon as “Tricky Dick” because of his underhanded campaign tactics
Elected to the Senate in 1950
Used the Senate as a means to fight Communism

6. Vice-President
Because of his popularity, he was selected to run for Vice-President with Dwight Eisenhower in 1952
Almost removed from the ticket when it was alleged that he accepted gifts from donors for his personal use
Eisenhower was urged to remove Nixon, but was reluctant, fearing that he couldn’t win without him
“Checkers Speech”

7. Vice-Presidency
“Checkers Speech” was a hit, and the momentum propelled Eisenhower and Nixon to the White House
Expanded the role of the Vice-President
Visited many foreign countries for debate and diplomacy
“Kitchen Debate” in Moscow
Took place in the Soviet Union at an exposition showing off life in America
Debate between Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and Nixon about communism and capitalism
Nixon proved to be a gifted debater and statesman

8. Election of 1960 Nixon ran to succeed Eisenhower in 1960
One of three Republicans in the primaries
One of the other Republicans was Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater
Opposed Senator John Kennedy
Nixon seemed to have the upper hand
More experience in politics
Older
More established

9. The Nixon Kennedy Debates
After securing the nomination, Nixon attacked Kennedy on issues of foreign and domestic policy
He attacked Kennedy’s inexperience and tapped into his own experience with foreign policy and national security
When it came to the issues, Nixon was essentially flawless
The first televised Presidential Debates Changed all of that
Still frame from the 1960 Presidential Debate

10. The Debates
Nixon’s campaign had been suspended while he was recovering from an infection
Upon being cleared by doctors, he began to vigorously make up for lost time
Not enough time to recover
Physically very weak and tired
He insisted on campaigning until just hours before the first debate

11. The Television
Kennedy, who was young, attractive, and fresh knew how to use the media of television to his advantage
He looked energetic and confident
People saw him as Presidential
Nixon, still weak and tired from his infection, refused stage make up and any physical prep for the debate
He looked sick, tired and uncomfortable
People saw him as old…
This debate was a turning point in the entire election

12. The Election of 1960

13. The Outcome Winner, winner, Chicken Dinner!
Aw, Nuts!
Vice-President Richard Nixon (R-CA)
Senator John Kennedy (D-MA)
Electoral Votes: 219
Popular Vote: 34,108,157
Electoral Votes: 303
Popular Votes: 34,220,984

14. Kennedy wins a close one…
Kennedy’s victory isn’t certain until late in the night of November 8, 1960
The election is a extremely close
Substantial margin of victory for Kennedy in the Electoral College
Kennedy wins by .1% of the popular vote, the closest vote in American history.
Accusations of voter fraud and irregularities plague the outcome
Lyndon Johnson in Texas
Mayor Richard Daly in Chicago
“Dick, they stole this one fair and square…”

15. Nixon Post election
Series of political disasters, culminating in an unsuccessful run for California Governor in 1962
After his defeat he retreat from politics, vowing to never run again
“You won’t have Nixon to kick around anymore…”
Plagued by self pity and doubt
Was basically written off as a politician until the election of 1968.