Richard Nixon was the most enigmatic American President, brilliant but ultimately brought down by the Watergate scandal. Examine the factors including his humble origins which shaped his rapid rise to power. Assess his period as Vice-President under Eisenhower. Consider the importance of the Nixon administration. Evaluate Nixon’s political successes and failures in domestic policy, in particular in areas of race, the economy and welfare. Examine Nixon’s foreign policy with particular emphasis on the positions taken by his administration in relation to Vietnam, China and the Soviet Union. The course also offers insight into why Nixon resigned over Watergate and its significance. The class discussions will be supported with primary source documents and video clips.