Richard Nixon was first elected as President of the United States in the 1968 presidential election. He defeated the Democratic incumbent vice president Hubert Humphrey and American Independent Party nominee George Wallace in a close race, winning 301 electoral votes to Humphrey's 191 and Wallace's 46. Nixon's first term began with his inauguration on January 20, 1969. He was re- elected in the 1972 presidential election in a landslide victory against Democratic nominee George McGovern, winning over 60 percent of the popular vote. To summarize:
- Nixon was elected president in November 1968.
- He began his first term in January 1969.
- He was re-elected in November 1972 for a second term.
Nixon's presidency lasted until his resignation on August 9, 1974, amid the Watergate scandal.
