President Nixon became the very first U.S. President to resign from office when he stepped down, in favor of Vice President Gerald Ford, on August 9, 1974. Nixon had been President since January 1969.

The events that ultimately led to President Nixon's resignation began with the infamous "Watergate" hotel break-in on June 17, 1972.

Nixon was the first U.S. President to visit China while in office. On February 21, 1972, President Nixon and his party arrived in Beijing and paid a 7-day historic visit to China.

After he resigned the Presidency, Mr. and Mrs. Nixon returned to their home in San Clemente, California, where they lived until moving to New York City in 1980. In 1981, they moved to New Jersey.

Nixon's ten books, all bestsellers, include "Six Crises" (1962); his memoirs; and his last, "Beyond Peace" (May 1994).

Nixon's mother wanted him to become a Quaker missionary; Nixon himself, though, wanted to be an FBI agent.

"Milhous" was the maiden name of Richard's mother.

In 1946, Richard Nixon won a seat in the United States House of Representatives.

Nixon's first bid to become President (in 1960) resulted in one of the most closely-fought Presidential Elections ever. Nixon lost the race to John F. Kennedy by a razor-thin margin.

Some Richard Nixon facts & figures (and trivia) ----> http://www.watergate.info/nixon/