Election of 1968

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What happened during or as a result of Nixon's presidency?

Nixon resigned in 1974 and was almost impeached over the Watergate Scandal, named for the burglaries at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Hotel in Washington. D.C by men found to be connected to Nixon's re-election campaign fundraising committee.

The Pentagon Papers, a top-secret U.S. Dept. of Defense study, were leaked to The New York Times in early 1971 by Daniel Ellsberg, who had access to the papers. This document showed that the Johnson administration had secretly been expanding U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.  While there was nothing in the papers about the Nixon administration, Nixon wanted to punish Ellsberg in order to deter other officials who might reveal secrets about his own administration.

Nixon was praised during his presidency for ending American involvement in the Vietnam War.

The Nixon administration dramatically improved relations with China. Nixon made a public visit to China in February, 1972, following Secretary of State Henry Kissinger's secret visit to China in October, 1971.

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