Richard Nixon biography

The Eisenhower-Nixon ticket defeated the Democratic candidates, Adlai E. Stevenson and John Sparkman, and Richard Nixon had avoided a political disaster.

Although Richard Nixon held little formal power as vice president, he expanded the office to an important and prominent post during his two terms. As president of the Senate, he helped assure the passage of Eisenhower approved bills, such as the 1957 Civil Rights Bill. Between 1955 and 1957,

Eisenhower suffered a series of illnesses including a heart attack and a stroke. While the president was incapacitated, Nixon was called on to chair several high-level meetings, though real power lay in a close circle of Eisenhower advisors. The scare prompted Eisenhower to formalize an agreement with Nixon on the powers and responsibilities of the vice president in the event of presidential disability; the agreement was accepted by later administrations until the adoption of the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1967.

Initially, Richard Nixon's efforts to promote American foreign policy were mixed. He undertook many high-profile foreign trips of good will to garner support for American policies during the Cold War. On one such trip go Caracas, Venezuela, Nixon's motorcade was attacked by anti-American protesters, pelting his limousine with rocks and bottles. Nixon came out unscathed and remained calm and collected during the incident. In July, 1959, Nixon was sent by President Eisenhower to Moscow for the opening of the American National Exhibition. On July 24, while touring the exhibits with Soviet General Secretary Nikita Khrushchev, Nixon stopped at a model of an American kitchen and engaged Khrushchev in an impromptu debate. In a friendly, yet determined way, both men argued the merits of capitalism and communism as it affected to the average American and Soviet housewife. While the exchange (later dubbed the "Kitchen Debate") had little bearing U.S./Soviet rivalry, Nixon gained popularity for standing up to the "Soviet bully," as Khrushchev was sometimes characterized, and greatly improved his chances for receiving the Republican presidential nomination in 1960.

Running for the Presidency

Richard Nixon launched his bid for the presidency in early 1960, facing little opposition in the Republican primaries. His democratic opponent was Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy. Nixon campaigned on his experience but Kennedy brought a new vitality to the election and called for a new generation of leadership and criticized the Eisenhower/Nixon administration for endangering United States national security. During the campaign, Nixon advocated for a series of selective tax-cuts that would become a core doctrine of Republican economic policy.

The 1960 presidential campaign proved to be historic in the use of television for advertisements, news interviews, and policy debates. Four debates were scheduled between Nixon and Kennedy. Nixon was recovering from the flu and looked tired. Upon meeting Kennedy at the television studio, Nixon chose to wear little television makeup, fearing the press would accuse him of trying to upstage Kennedy's tan, crisp look.