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NIXON, RICHARD M. 1913-

VlCE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 1953-1961

Reputation as an Anticommunist Crusader

Nixon entered the national political spotlight in the late 1940s as the man most responsible for exposing Alger Hiss, a former State Department official and alleged Communist spy. Although Nixon was mostly moderate and internationalist in his political sentiments, the Hiss case made the young California congressman the darling of the Republican party's right wing. During the 1950s he capitalized on his reputation as a crusader against communism in his rise to the Senate and to the vice-presidency.

Role in the Hiss-Chambers Affair

In 1946 Nixon challenged Democratic representative Jerry Voorhis for his House seat. Nixon scored an upset victory over the five-term incumbent after having conducted a hard-hitting campaign in which he subjected Voorhis to red-baiting. As a Republican representative, Nixon served as chairman of the House Un-American Activities Committee, responsible for investigating charges made by Whittaker Chambers, a senior editor at Time magazine and a former Communist. In his testimony Chambers named former government official Alger Hiss as a member of the Communist party; Hiss maintained his innocence. But further Nixon-led investigations into Hiss's alleged involvement in the Communist party revealed that Hiss may have stolen government documents from the State Department. Hiss was convicted of perjury in 1950, and for his dogged pursuit of the alleged spy Nixon became a political star.

"Tricky Dick."

In that year he returned to California and used his newfound political clout to launch a successful campaign against Democratic representative Helen Gahagan Douglas for a vacated Senate seat. Yet, despite Nixon's trouncing of Douglas at the polls, many were horrified by the mean-spiritedness and red-baiting that had characterized the Nixon campaign. The Independent Review, a California newspaper, dubbed him "Tricky Dick"—a nickname he never was able to shake during his political career.

A Respected Partisan

As a Republican senator, Nixon proved to be a tireless partisan in his attacks on the Truman administration and its policies. By the 1952 Republican convention he had become successful in creating for himself a solid power base among conservative Republicans and enjoyed the gratitude of the party brass for having campaigned and raised money for the Republican cause. He proved instrumental in helping deliver the nomination to Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and was at the top of Ike's list of potential running mates.

Vice-presidential Candidate

As the Republicans' vice-presidential candidate, Nixon mercilessly slashed at Democratic presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson. Nixon increasingly accepted the burden of having to perform the "dirty business" of making accusations and in so doing allowed Ike to take the political high road during the campaign. At one point Nixon's place on the Republican ticket was in doubt after newspapers revealed the existence of an eighteen-thousand-dollar fund allegedly set up for his personal use. Nixon acquitted himself in dramatic fashion by hitting the television airwaves to explain the fund and deliver an emotional defense of his actions.

A Valuable Vice-president

As vice-president, Nixon was kept well informed by Eisenhower and the president's men; Ike wanted to ensure a smooth transition if ever he had to hand over the reins of government to the number-two man. Furthermore, Eisenhower and his advisers understood that Nixon's experience and savvy as a legislator would serve as significant assets to a cabinet composed mainly of businessmen with little to no government experience. Nixon often was consulted by administration officials who wondered how to secure votes on the House and Senate floors, and the vice-president labored behind the scenes to whip up support for White House legislation. He also continued to take on tasks and issues that Ike would not touch: as a champion of civil rights, Nixon was recognized by black leaders as the White House official most sympathetic with their cause—and most instrumental in pushing through civil-rights legislation.

Relationship with Eisenhower

Nixon often did not see eye to eye with Eisenhower, especially concerning issues of foreign policy and defense. The vice-president nevertheless kept his objections to himself and publicly endeavored to play the role of team player. When Ike suffered a heart attack in 1955, Nixon scored high marks for conveying to the public a sense of leadership and the reassurance that the executive office would conduct business as usual in a time of crisis. Eisenhower often commented warmly on his vice-president's loyalty, yet he held misgivings about Nixon's ability to serve as a successful president. Ike feared that his young vice-president was too strident in his partisan attacks on the Democrats and too immature to preside over a superpower in dangerous times.

A Political Survivor

Prior to the 1956 presidential elections many pundits questioned Nixon's political future, and the vice-president had to survive a "Dump Nixon" campaign organized by some White House officials. By the end of the decade, however, Nixon had Ike's public support and endorsement for the 1960 presidential elections. The Republicans had taken a severe pounding in the 1958 congressional elections, however, and Nixon was forced to campaign as the nominee of a weakened and politically vulnerable party. After his bid for the presidency was defeated by John F. Kennedy, Nixon returned to California and worked to shore up his power base for another political campaign,