consolidation of the northern Solomons (Bougainville) (December 15, 1943-July 22, 1944). 1946-Became the Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 12th Congressional District. Won election over a fiveterm opponent, by more than 15,000 votes. 1947-While serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, Nixon supported U.S. participation in the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. technical assistance for underdeveloped areas, and reciprocal trade agreements.

Nixon also supported civil rights, Alaska and Hawaii statehood, income tax reductions, increase in minimum wages, additional social security benefits and coverage, selective service, the McCarranWalter immigration and displaced persons acts and the St. Lawrence Seaway legislation.

As a member of the House Committee on Education and Labor, Nixon participated in drafting the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947, which provides a cooling off period of 80 days for strikes that jeopardize the national interest.

It was as a member of the Committee on UnAmerican Activities of the U.S. House of Representatives that Nixon attracted national attention. Pursuing an investigation which at first looked hopeless and aroused much antagonism toward his committee, Nixon persisted in laying the groundwork by further investigation of the activities of a former State Department official accused of passing classified information to the Russians. The official was convicted and sent to prison in 1951 for lying under oath. This case became the keystone of the fiery political issue of "Communists in Government."

As a member of the Select Committee on Foreign Aid, Nixon visited Europe to study American economic aid programs. Upon his return, he became a staunch supporter of the Marshall Plan and of a bipartisan foreign policy.

1948-Nixon joined Congressman (later, Senator) Mundt in sponsoring a bill to control communist activity

in the United States. Though the bill failed of passage, much of its substance was incorporated into the Internal Security Act of 1950.

Winning the endorsement of the Democratic Party as well as the Republican Party, under a unique cross-filing California law, Nixon ran for a second congressional term in 1948. He was reelected with 141,509 of the 162,807 votes cast.

1950-Again, with bipartisan support, Nixon was elected,

this time to the U.S. Senate. Obtaining a margin of nearly 700.000 votes, the campaign was largely on the issue of communism-what the United States should do about it, at home and abroad. 1952—When Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower was nominated by the Republican Party as its choice for the Presi dency, the General asked the convention to make Richard Nixon his running mate. The decision came by acclamation.

1953-After winning election, Nixon became the second youngest Vice President in American history. In January 1953, he was sworn into office at the age of 39. (John C. Breckenridge, in 1856, was 4 years younger.) Nixon was reelected to the Vice-Presi dency in 1956 and was again sworn into office in January 1957.

As presiding officer of the U.S. Senate, Nixon broke more tie votes than any other Vice President in history.

In the 8 years of his Vice-Presidency, Nixon became a leading spokesman for the Eisenhower administration. Much of his time was devoted to liaison work between the White House and the Congress, and in directing administration-sponsored legislation through the Congress. As time went on, he was given an increasingly more important role in policymaking decisions. Well informed as to administration policies, Nixon effectively assumed increased responsibilities during President Eisenhower's illnesses in 1955, 1956, and 1957, by presiding over Cabinet and National Security Council meetings.

Nixon headed the President's committee which monitored antidiscrimination clauses in Government contracts, to assure equality in employment, and he also served as chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Price Stability for Economic Growth. He is also credited with a major role in settling the steel strike in 1959.

In a speech delivered in December 1957, Nixon stated his views on foreign and domestic policies: "In the international field, I am an internationalist. I believe deeply in adequate programs of mutual security and foreign aid, a strong national defense, and reciprocal trade. On civil rights, I call myself a moderate in the true sense. I believe we must have steady, determined progress toward guaranteeing the rights and equal opportunities of citizens. On domestic policy I am basically conservative in the classical *: Can we meet the need without

sense

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help or interference from the Federal Govern

ment? If not, then go to the Government-as a last resort. As to fiscal policy-I believe strongly in the concept of a balanced budget. But in times of national emergency it is obvious we must put national security above fiscal considerations."

During his term as Vice President, Nixon visited almost 60 countries and five continents, on good will missions as the personal emissary of President Eisenhower. In 1953, he went around the world; in 1955, he visited the Caribbean and Central America; in 1956, Brazil, the Philippines and the Orient. Also, in 1956, represented the President on a mission to Germany and Austria where he assisted those governments in resettling refugees who had fled from Hungary. In 1957, he went to Africa and Italy; in 1958, he was stoned by Communist incited mobs in Peru and Venezuela while touring nine South American countries. Later that year he went to London, England, and in 1959 he visited the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Poland-a visit which became historic because of the "kitchen debate" with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, which was televised around the world. As Vice President Nixon's tenure of office was coming to a close, President Eisenhower spoke of him: "No man in history was ever better trained for the Presidency, if such duties should fall upon him."

1960-Nixon was the overwhelming choice of the Republican Party for the Presidency in 1960. His democratic opponent was Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts. The campaign was close and hardfought from the beginning. Nixon lost the closest national election in 76 years by a margin of 118,574 votes out of a total of 68,838,218; he carried 26 States to 22 for Kennedy. However, the crucial electoral vote was: Kennedy 303, Nixon 219, Byrd 15.

1961-Returning to California, Nixon resumed the prac tice of law and was later an unsuccessful candidate for the governorship. In 1963, he moved from Los Angeles to New York where he later became the senior partner of the law firm Nixon, Mudge,

Rose, Guthrie, Alexander & Mitchell. He wrote Six Crises, a book which outlined the major crises of his political career.

From 1963 through 1968, Nixon campaigned intensively for Republican candidates all over the country, and in these years he undertook a program of foreign travel which equaled that of his vice-presidential years.

1968-Mr. Nixon was nominated for President of the United States on the first ballot at the Republican National Convention in Miami Beach, Fla., on August 7, 1968. He was elected to the Presidency in November 1968.

1969-Standing on the steps at the Capitol of the United States, Richard Milhous Nixon took the oath of office at high noon on January 20, 1969, becoming the 37th President of the United States. In his inaugural address, Richard Nixon spoke of the future of the Nation and of the world:

"What kind of a nation we will be, what kind a world we will live in, whether we shape the future in the image of our hopes, is ours to determine by our actions and our choices. "The greatest honor history can bestow is the title of peacemaker. This honor now beckons America-the chance to help lead the world at last out of the valley of turmoil and onto the high ground of peace that man has dreamed of since the dawn of civilization.

"If we succeed, generations to come will say of us now living that we mastered our moment, that we helped make the world safe for mankind. "This is our summons to greatness."

Concluding his inaugural address, the President stated:

"Our destiny offers not the cup of despair, but the chalice of opportunity. So let us seize it not in fear, but in gladness-and, 'riders on the Earth together,' let us go forward, firm in our faith, steadfast in our purpose, cautious of the dangers; but sustained by our confidence in the will of God and the promise of man."