Richard Nixon is arguably America’s most infamous president, and the only one in history to resign the position. After serving as Eisenhower’s Vice President from 1953-1961, Nixon was elected as the 37th president when he defeated Hubert Humphrey in 1968. A brash speaker and staunch conservative, Nixon immediately faced backlash at home and abroad when he escalated the conflict in Vietnam. This opposition that he faced led to enactment of the Nixon Doctrine in 1969, which stated that US allies were expected to handle their own defenses, but could request US aid if necessary.

In 1972, Nixon ran for reelection and defeated George McGovern in 1972 to become the first former Vice President to win two presidential elections since Thomas Jefferson. In his second term, Nixon continued to be a polarizing figure to both Democrats and Republicans, which only increased with the Watergate Scandal. Accused of being involved with the five men who broke into the Democratic party headquarters at the Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C. in 1972 Nixon maintained his famous, “I’m not a crook” line, but resigned as president in 1974.

The Nixon administration saw the Moon landing and the signing of Roe v. Wade, but it is the backdoor politics and Watergate scandal that have become synonymous with the name Richard Nixon and make him one of history’s most fascinating and contentious political figures.