The 37th president, Richard Milhous Nixon, tarnished not only his reputation, but that of every president after him. The Watergate scandal was a major shake-up in a president's confidence. When it came to electing public officials, President Nixon was not the best; he often elected corrupt officials. The Cambodian campaign, ordered by Nixon, prolonged America's involvement in the Vietnam War, which was motivated by strong anti-communist views, without regard to America's best interests. Using evidence from his life, his education, his political career, and the mistakes of his presidency, we will determine whether his presidency was positive or negative. On January 9, 1913, on a small lemon ranch in Yorba Linda, California, Francis Nixon and Hannah Nixon gave birth to Richard Nixon. Eventual President Nixon was the second of five brothers whose untimely deaths of Harold and Arthur Nixon would greatly impact his life in later years. After his father's lemon farm failed in 1922, forcing them to move to Whittier, California, his family opened and worked at a gas station to survive. (nixonlibrary.gov). Richard Nixon performed well at Whittier Elementary School, but due to his brother Harold being diagnosed with tuberculosis, Nixon's parents sent him to Fullerton High School instead of Whittier (black) High School. His studies would continue at Whittier College, once again Harold suffering from tuberculosis, which he helped treat and work at the family gas station. Nixon's field of study reportedly includes student government, theater and football (nixonlibrary.gov). He graduated from Whittier in 1934 and received a full scholarship to Duke University of Law. Nixon was going to get his third degree in top......middle of article......he was biased against Nixon, but I didn't use this book for my opinion, I needed of a book with factual evidence, and that is what he provided. President Nixon had several things going for him, including his diplomacy and funding of the space program. This is overshadowed by his mistakes and incompetence. I think Nixon was a bad president overall. His escalation of the Vietnam War, his poorly chosen officials, and the Watergate scandal contributed to the American people's loss of confidence in the presidency. This is the flaw that broke his presidency in my eyes. Works Cited Black, Conrad. Richard M. Nixon: Living Life to the Fullest. New York: PublicAffairs, 2007. Print. Gitlin, Todd. The 60s: years of hope, days of rage. Toronto: Bantam, 1987. Print. “Nixon Presidential Library and Museum.” Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. Np, and Web. April 20. 2014.