Richard M. Nixon - Essay Example

The following work is an essay that evaluates Richard M. Nixon’s life both as a man and as a president according to Herbert S. Parmet’s book, putting into consideration his successes and failures and his schematic character. Early life Richard Nixon was the second in a family of five boys born of Francis and Hannah Nixon. Nixon and their family lived in a house built by his father Francis in a lemon grove in California. Two of his brothers, Harold and Donald died of tuberculosis. The family was not very poor and not financially well, but grew its own food (Parmet 6).

As the father practiced carpentry, the other members worked on the farm. Nixon’s father had strong affiliations to the Republican Party, and supported the party’s candidates for presidency. His political passion drew Richard’s attention and started surfacing after a short while as he campaigned for one of his father’s favorite candidates, Warren G. Harding. Education and Career goals Nixon attended a village school in the neighborhood for his education. After the election of Harding to the presidency, Nixon, at the age of nine read an article that presented a scandal called Tea Dome where the Harding’s secretary conducted a secret lease of oil fields belonging to the government at Tea Dome, California to his friends (Parmet 17).

Nixon looked at her mother reading the article and said he would be an incorruptible lawyer when he grew up. On his eighth grade, Nixon expressed his wishes of becoming a lawyer and a politician in an essay so that he could stand for the people. Nixon’s family moved to a new town after the lemon land failed, where his father started a business at a gas station, as Nixon’s mother Hannah sold cakes and pies. Nixon’s inspiration at hard work came from their father’s always the reminder of working hard in all aspects of life.

Richard assumed the responsibility of buying fresh vegetables and fruits from the market after he grew old, and would wake up early in the morning to get the best of these. With this entire tight schedule, Richard managed to get to school by eight o’clock. Richard’s hard work in class made him become one of the best students in the school. His career for becoming a politician becomes evident in high school when he joins the school debate club, and tried politics when he vied for the class presidency at Whittier High School, which he lost.

Because of the Great Depression, hardships reigned in almost every part of the country, leaving Nixon and family without much money, just like the others. Disappointments made Nixon work harder participating in plays and debates, which saw him elected president of the student body. Nixon’s hard work in college made him second in class. His dream of becoming a lawyer neared fulfillment when he went Duke University School of law in Northern California. At the school, his hard work was still his four goals, and Nixon continued outworking everyone whom he competed.

His hard work saw him graduate third. Nixon was elected president of Duke Student Bar Association. Nixon had hoped his academic progress would enable him secure job with the FBI or a law firm, but was turned down because it lacked money to hire new agents. Nixon returned to Whittier where he worked with local law firms, as he still acted in community plays. While in play industry, he met Catherine, nicknamed Pat and convinced her until they married after the start of