President Richard Nixon served as the 37th President of the United States from 1969 to 1974. He is known for his foreign policy achievements, including the historic visit to China in 1972, which opened diplomatic relations between the two countries. Nixon also played a significant role in the Vietnam War by initiating the policy of "Vietnamization," aimed at reducing American troop involvement. Nixon's presidency was marred by the Watergate scandal, which involved a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and subsequent cover-up efforts. This scandal ultimately led to his resignation in 1974, making him the first U.S. president to step down from office.