As the Dominoes Fall: Richard Nixon and the Legacy of Deception

When you think of Richard Nixon, one word probably comes to mind: scandal. The image of a man disgracefully resigning from the most powerful position in the country is automatically associated with his name. However, this paper seeks to reexamine Nixon, who was already entrenched in a legacy of deception inherited from his predecessors, as the last actor in a continuum.

I also address the relevance of Richard Nixon in our current time. The events during the Nixon administration severely tested the system of checks and balances that the nation was built upon, yet the foundations of democracy held strong. Through these challenges, the supreme court forced a crucial re-examination of the role of each branch to hold the others accountable for the powers that they wield. Though this episode in history took place more than fifty years ago, it was not the first nor the last time that the three branches of government would struggle to achieve a working and effective balance of power. From DACA to Roe V. Wade, the nation continues today to face similar challenges in defining the roles and limits that each branch exercises.

As the Dominoes Fall – Caitlyn Tablada.pdf

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