Reply #4: Personally, I like Nixon (and a few you missed)

[Kelly Rupert]

As a man, he was a collection of personal flaws on legs. He was a bastard. But, as a president, he wasn't bad.

His foreign policy was downright masterful; as far away from Bush as one could possibly get.

1. China.

2. Détante.

3. SALT

4. (debatable). He extracted us from Vietnam, albeit in a slow and ineffective way. His expansion of the bombing campaign was downright cruel and unnecessary, but Vietnamization was a withdrawal plan that could attract bipartisan support.

His domestic policy was often liberal.

1. EPA, as you point out.

2. OSHA.

3. indexed Social Security for inflation.

4. created the SSI.

5. Legacy of Parks program.

6. Created the Philadelphia Plan, the first real affirmative action program.

As a man, there's a lot to hate. As a president, there's a lot to like.