Richard Nixon
The only U.S. president to resign from office, following the Watergate scandal, though also known for significant foreign policy achievements including opening relations with China
Achieving one of the most significant diplomatic breakthroughs of the Cold War even as a separate political scandal was quietly unfolding that would eventually force him to resign in disgrace.
Opening Relations with China
Nixon made a historic visit to China in 1972, significantly opening diplomatic relations between the United States and Communist China after decades of estrangement.
The Watergate Scandal
Nixon's presidency was ultimately consumed by the Watergate scandal, involving a break-in at Democratic Party headquarters and a subsequent political cover-up.
The Only Presidential Resignation
Facing near-certain impeachment, Nixon became the only U.S. president to resign from office, stepping down in August 1974 rather than face a Senate impeachment trial.
A Complicated Legacy
Nixon's legacy remains significantly complicated by Watergate, though historians continue debating his substantial foreign policy achievements alongside the scandal that ended his presidency.
