Richard Nixon’s presidency is one of the most discussed and debated in American history. When considering his time in office, a common question arises: How Many Terms Did Nixon Serve As President? Understanding the answer requires a look into his election victories, his policies, and the circumstances that led to his departure from the White House. This article will explore Nixon’s journey to the presidency, his time in office, and ultimately, how many terms he completed.
Nixon’s Path to the Presidency: The 1968 Election and First Term
Richard Nixon’s quest for the presidency culminated in the tumultuous year of 1968. Presenting himself as a beacon of stability amidst national unrest, Nixon campaigned on a platform of traditional values and “law and order.” He successfully navigated challenges from within the Republican party, including figures like Ronald Reagan and Nelson Rockefeller, to secure the Republican nomination at the Miami convention. In a surprising move, he selected Maryland Governor Spiro Agnew as his vice-presidential running mate.
Alt text: Richard Nixon speaking at a campaign rally in 1968, emphasizing his “law and order” platform to a crowd of supporters.
The 1968 election took place against a backdrop of deep divisions within the Democratic Party, largely fueled by the Vietnam War. President Lyndon B. Johnson’s decision not to seek re-election and the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy further fractured the Democratic landscape. The Democratic National Convention in Chicago became a scene of intense protests and violence, damaging Hubert Humphrey’s campaign. Nixon effectively positioned himself as a symbol of calm and promised peace, both domestically and internationally. Despite a late surge from Humphrey, Nixon secured victory, winning by a margin of nearly 500,000 popular votes. George Wallace’s third-party candidacy also played a significant role, capturing nearly ten million votes and 46 electoral votes, primarily in the Deep South.
Once in office, Nixon immediately confronted the pressing issue of the Vietnam War. Public pressure to end the conflict was mounting, and Nixon addressed the nation in a televised speech on November 3, 1969. He appealed to the “silent majority” to support his administration’s efforts to achieve a negotiated peace in Vietnam. His administration initiated the “Vietnamization” policy, spearheaded by Defense Secretary Melvin Laird, which aimed to gradually withdraw American troops and empower South Vietnamese forces to take on more combat responsibilities. Consequently, U.S. troop levels in Vietnam dramatically decreased from a peak of 543,000 in April 1969 to zero by March 1973. However, Nixon’s administration faced considerable criticism for expanding military operations into Cambodia and escalating bombing campaigns during his first term.
Nixon’s foreign policy extended beyond Vietnam. He prioritized reducing global tensions by establishing connections with long-standing adversaries. In a historic move in February 1972, Nixon journeyed to China, engaging in talks with Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai. This visit marked the first significant contact between the United States and the People’s Republic of China in over two decades, ushering in a new era of diplomatic relations. Following this, in May 1972, Nixon traveled to Moscow for a summit with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, resulting in the signing of the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I), a landmark agreement limiting nuclear weapons between the two superpowers.
Alt text: President Richard Nixon shaking hands with Chairman Mao Zedong during his historic visit to China in February 1972, a pivotal moment in US-China relations.
Domestically, Nixon’s first term saw a mix of policy initiatives. In 1969, he proposed the Family Assistance Plan, a significant welfare reform aimed at guaranteeing a minimum income for all Americans, though it ultimately failed to gain congressional approval. Facing high inflation, Nixon implemented wage and price controls in August 1971 to manage the economy. Simultaneously, he removed the dollar from the gold standard, allowing it to float against other currencies, responding to concerns about the stability of the U.S. dollar.
A monumental moment during Nixon’s first term was the Apollo 11 mission in July 1969. Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon. Nixon famously made a long-distance call to the astronauts on the moon from the Oval Office, celebrating this achievement. Another significant decision was the abolishment of the military draft, signed into law in September 1971.
Beyond major policy and global events, Nixon’s first term also included lighter moments. He awarded Duke Ellington the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969 and led a “Happy Birthday” singalong for the renowned musician. The White House Rose Garden hosted its first wedding when Tricia Nixon married Edward Finch Cox in 1971. And famously, Nixon met with Elvis Presley in December 1970, discussing concerns about drug abuse among young people.
Re-election, Second Term, and the Watergate Scandal
In 1972, Nixon sought re-election and achieved a landslide victory against Democratic Senator George McGovern. He won by a vast electoral margin, securing 520 electoral votes to McGovern’s 17 and nearly 61 percent of the popular vote. This resounding victory seemed to solidify Nixon’s mandate.
However, the triumph was short-lived. The Watergate scandal, which began with a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in June 1972, soon engulfed his presidency. Investigations by the media and official bodies uncovered a pattern of abuse of power by the Nixon administration.
Alt text: The Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C., the site of the break-in that triggered the Watergate scandal and ultimately led to Nixon’s resignation.
The Watergate burglars were linked to the Committee to Re-elect the President. As the scandal deepened, administration officials resigned, and some, including former Attorney General John Mitchell, were later convicted of crimes related to Watergate. Nixon denied personal involvement, but court orders compelled him to release tape recordings of conversations that revealed his participation in the cover-up, including attempts to obstruct the FBI investigation using the CIA.
The Watergate investigations exposed further abuses of power, including illegal wiretapping, campaign “dirty tricks,” and the creation of the “Plumbers” unit within the White House, initially formed to stop leaks like the Pentagon Papers. The Plumbers engaged in unlawful activities, such as breaking into the office of Daniel Ellsberg’s psychiatrist.
Adding to the administration’s troubles, Vice President Agnew faced investigation for bribery. The Justice Department found evidence of Agnew accepting bribes from Maryland construction firms. Agnew resigned in October 1973 and pleaded no contest to income tax evasion. Nixon nominated Gerald Ford as his replacement, who was confirmed by Congress and became Vice President in December 1973.
The Watergate scandal overshadowed Nixon’s second term initiatives, which included the Paris Peace Accords in January 1973, officially ending U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, and further summit meetings with Brezhnev to continue arms control discussions. His administration also worked towards peace in the Middle East following the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
However, the revelations from the Watergate tapes and Nixon’s actions, such as firing the special prosecutor Archibald Cox, severely damaged his public standing and support in Congress. Facing almost certain impeachment and removal from office, Nixon announced his resignation in a televised address on August 8, 1974. He officially resigned at noon on August 9, 1974, and Gerald Ford became president. Subsequently, on September 8, 1974, President Ford pardoned Nixon for any crimes he might have committed during his presidency related to Watergate. Nixon issued a statement expressing regret for not dealing with Watergate more decisively.
Conclusion: Nixon’s Term in Office
So, how many terms did Nixon serve as president? Richard Nixon was elected to two terms as President of the United States, winning elections in 1968 and 1972. However, he did not complete his second term. Due to the Watergate scandal and facing impeachment, Richard Nixon resigned during his second term, in August 1974. Therefore, while elected for two terms, he effectively served one full term and a portion of a second term. His presidency remains a complex and significant period in American history, marked by both notable foreign policy achievements and a domestic scandal that led to his early departure from office.
