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Richard Nixon was one of the most revered figures in the GOP. His presidency was regarded as one of the most effective, well managed and successful in the history of the United States. From ending the Vietnam War to promoting environmental protection, and from supporting women’s rights to instituting universal healthcare, as well as many, many more achievements, he shaped the politics of his country and many others in the world. His going to China is credited by many of his supporters to have been partly responsible for the USSR’s downfall in 1981. Airports, Bridges have been named after him, there was even a proposal to rename Puerto Rico to “Nixon” upon it being granted statehood back in ‘03.

Recently however, with the Nixon Tapes surfacing, there appear to be some gigantic cracks in his real legacy. Did he actually have the DNC headquarters bugged to win in 1972? There are many who just don’t believe it, the man had the election in his pocket! And yet apparently in the tapes he confesses to doing that and a couple of other, uhhh, “morally grey” stuff while POTUS, not to mention anything of him talking with Vietnam to ensure his election.

America’s love affair with “Tricky Dick” seems to be coming to an end. But what would have happened if some of his crimes had been uncovered while president? Say, him having the Watergate Hotel bugged, or him having the Vietnamese hold out for a better deal in 1968? Would he have been the first president in our history to have been impeached? Would any of his major achievements not have gone through? What would the US and the world look like today? Wouldn’t have been better or worse? Would we have seen the GOP brand itself „The Party of Nixon“?

(OOC: earlier butterflies mean that the oil crises go different, and a stronger solidarity movement, that spreads across the eastern block, spell trouble for the USSR earlier, and his supporters credit Nixon just as Reagan‘s supporters credit him for the USSR‘s downfall IOTL)
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