James A. Garfield
Before becoming the 20th President of the United States, James A. Garfield was a member of the House of Representatives. Prior to being in the House, he was a Union general during the American Civil War, fighting important battles such as Middle Creek, Shiloh and Chickamauga. Garfield was responsible for many important things while in office, such as building up the Navy, stopping corruption in the U.S. postal service and creating a universal education system. He was also very involved in civil rights activism, appointing many African Americans to government positions…Frederick Douglass being one of them! Sadly, after an assassination attempt, his health never fully returned.
James A. Garfield
Richard M. Nixon
Richard M. Nixon was known for being very skilled when it came to negotiating foreign affairs. Nixon was the 37th president and was in office for 1 term, from 1969 to 1974. Before becoming the 37th President, he was Vice President to President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953-1961. President Nixon got quite a lot done while in office, but is not higher on our list for the huge Watergate scandal he was involved in. Not only was Nixon responsible for desegregating the South, opening diplomatic relations with China, ending American involvement in Vietnam, signing the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with the USSR, and bringing POW’s home, he also founded the Environmental Protection Agency, signed the anti-crime bill into law, and started the “War on Cancer”…what a mouthful!
Richard M. Nixon