Richard Nixon's Environmental Impacts

 Richard Nixon: Our 37th President 

A very formal photo of Richard Nixon.

        Richard Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. He was born on January 9, 1913, in Yorba Linda, California, and grew up in a modest family. Nixon attended Whittier College and Duke University Law School before entering politics in the late 1940s. Nixon rose to national prominence as a member of the House of Representatives in the 1950s and was elected to the Senate in 1950. He served as Vice President under President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 to 1961, and then ran unsuccessfully for President against John F. Kennedy in 1960. In 1968, Nixon was elected President of the United States, defeating Hubert Humphrey and George Wallace. During his presidency, Nixon signed several important environmental laws and also played a key role in ending the Vietnam War.

Richard Nixon's contributions to environmental protection were influenced by several factors. First, the environmental movement was gaining momentum during the 1960s and early 1970s, and Nixon recognized the political importance of addressing environmental issues. He saw an opportunity to appeal to younger voters and to establish his legacy as a President who could address pressing environmental concerns. Second, Nixon was also influenced by his own personal beliefs and experiences. He grew up in California, where he witnessed firsthand the effects of pollution and environmental degradation. Third, Nixon was also influenced by scientific evidence showing the detrimental effects of pollution on human health and the environment. He recognized that the country needed to take action to reduce pollution and protect natural resources for future generations. Finally, Nixon's environmental policies were also influenced by political pressures, both domestically and internationally. Other countries were beginning to prioritize environmental protection, and Nixon recognized the need for the United States to keep pace in order to maintain its leadership role in the world.

The Environmental Movement of the 60's and 70's

A newspaper clipping of the first earth day.

The environmental movement in the 1960s and 1970s was a social and political movement in the United States that sought to raise awareness about environmental issues and push for government action to address them. The movement was influenced by a number of factors, including concerns about pollution, the impacts of industrialization on natural resources, and the emerging field of environmental science. One of the most significant events that helped to galvanize the environmental movement was the publication of Rachel Carson's book "Silent Spring" in 1962. The book warned of the dangers of pesticides and their effects on the environment, particularly on wildlife and human health. It became a best-seller and helped to spark public concern about environmental issues.

In the years that followed, a number of other events helped to build momentum for the environmental movement. These included the oil spills off the coast of Santa Barbara, California in 1969, which was one of the largest oil spills in U.S. history at the time, and the Cuyahoga River fire in Cleveland, Ohio, which highlighted the problem of industrial pollution. The environmental movement also gained political traction during this time. In 1970, the first Earth Day was held, which brought together millions of people across the country to raise awareness about environmental issues. The same year, President Richard Nixon signed the National Environmental Policy Act, which required federal agencies to consider the environmental impact of their actions. Other significant environmental legislation followed, including the Clean Air Act of 1970, the Clean Water Act of 1972, and the Endangered Species Act of 1973. These laws helped to establish the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and set standards for air and water quality.

His Many Conflicts

A newspaper clipping of Richard Nixon resigning due to his involvement in Watergate.

Richard Nixon faced a number of significant political conflicts during his presidency. One of the most significant was the Vietnam War, which had been raging since the early 1960s and was deeply unpopular among many Americans by the time Nixon took office in 1969. Nixon inherited the war from his predecessor, Lyndon B. Johnson, and faced mounting pressure to end it. However, his attempts to negotiate a peace agreement were complicated by the continuing fighting and the distrust between the U.S. and North Vietnamese governments.

Another major conflict that Nixon faced was the Watergate scandal, which began with the break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1972 and ultimately led to Nixon's resignation in 1974. The scandal involved illegal activities by members of Nixon's administration, including the use of government resources to cover up their involvement in the break-in. The resulting investigation and legal proceedings were a major political crisis for Nixon, and ultimately led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives. Nixon also faced political conflicts related to civil rights and social unrest.

The 1960s were a time of significant social change in the U.S., with widespread protests and demonstrations calling for greater civil rights for African Americans, an end to the Vietnam War, and other social and political reforms. Nixon's response to these movements was often seen as divisive, and his administration's policies on civil rights and social welfare were criticized by many. Nixon faced political conflicts related to his foreign policy, particularly his efforts to improve relations with the Soviet Union and China. While these efforts were ultimately successful, they were controversial at the time and faced opposition from some members of Congress and the public.

What does this mean for Keene N.H.?

Downtown Keene, New Hampshire.

Richard Nixon's environmental policies had a significant impact on the lives of people in Keene, NH, and across the country. One of the most important environmental laws that Nixon signed during his presidency was the Clean Air Act of 1970. This law established new standards for air quality and gave the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to regulate pollution from factories, power plants, and other sources. The Clean Air Act had a direct impact on the air quality in Keene and the surrounding region, which had long struggled with high levels of pollution from industrial sources. The law required factories and power plants to reduce their emissions of pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which can contribute to smog, acid rain, and other forms of air pollution. In addition to the Clean Air Act, Nixon also signed the Clean Water Act of 1972, which set new standards for water quality and helped to reduce pollution in rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. This law had a direct impact on the quality of the Ashuelot River, which flows through Keene and had been heavily polluted by industrial waste and sewage.