Nixon Library & Birthplace

Three of the most impressive things I learned about Richard M. Nixon at the library were: his contributions to the space program, the fact that he wrote all his speeches by hand, including the “Silent Majority” speech which he wrote by himself because he felt that the issue was that important, and the fact that Nixon was in favor of having National Health Insurance, even though it was met with political opposition.

After walking through the entire museum and seeing things from a heavily armored car to a chair Nixon’s wife gave him that he took everywhere, the most impressive thing I learned was regarding Nixon’s relationship with the space program. He was extremely important to the space agency and even sold the idea to Eisenhower, in 1958, of having NASA under a civilian agency instead of a government one. In addition, there were more space flights conducted under Nixon than any other president. Even more impressive is the fact that we have never walked on the moon since his Nixon’s presidency. According to an article written by Patrick Martin, “All six Moon missions were completed during the first term of a single US president, Richard M. Nixon.” [1] This in itself is extremely impressive. Therefore, it is easy to see that Nixon’s presidency was a crucial time for the development of the nation’s space program.

According to an article written by Mark Wade, Nixon had six goals for the space program. On March 7, 1970, President Nixon stated his objectives: continue exploration of the moon, continue exploration of the planets and universe, have substantial reductions in the cost of space operations, create an extension of man’s capability to live and work in space, create rapid expansion of the practical applications of space technology, and have a greater international cooperation in space.[2] With these goals, and giving the approval of building the Space Shuttle on January 5, 1972, President Nixon was on his way to impacting America forever. Many people may not have been able to understand the significance of what he was doing, and he even said himself that “The knowledge to be gained from space will lead to scientific, technological, medical and industrial advances which cannot be fully perceived today,” but looking back at all the achievements of NASA now, one can truly appreciate all that was done.

Many people may overlook what Nixon has done for this country because of the shadow that the Watergate scandal creates. However, no one will ever forget the 1969 Apollo XI landing on the moon or President Nixon’s establishment of the United States Space Week in honor of it. Nixon said, “I believe that when a great nation drops out of the race to explore the unknown, that nation ceases to be great.” This strive for greatness, I believe, was thus Nixon’s fuel to contribute to the space program and help make it what it has become today. I truly think that all of the space expeditions and moon landings that took place under Nixon’s presidency helped develop NASA more than under any other president. Never again will there be America’s first moon landing.