Billy Graham writes of Nixon that “every  American feels that he knows him in a very special way, because he hears his voice so often, sees him on television, reads about him in the press.” This ignores the fact that the most remembered appearances of Nixon on television and in print were either contentious or embarressing. 

Most Americans were first introduced to Nixon in his masterful Checkers speech, where he successfully countered claims that he was abusing a secret Republican slush fund. 

But the next time most Americans tuned in to Nixon, he was engaged in an almost comical debate with Soviet leader Nikita Kruschev over which society produced better kitchen appliances. 

Then, in the 1960 presidential debate, Nixon appeared opposite Kennedy looking pale, unshaven and disorientated, in a poor performance that contributed to his election loss.

In 1962, following his defeat in the California gubernatorial election, Nixon gave a bitter and recriminatory press conference in which he declared that "you won't have Richard Nixon to kick around anymore."

In his first press conference following the Watergate break-in, on Thursday, June 22, 1972, Nixon told reporters that "the White House has had no involvement in this particular incident." Secret tapes would later reveal that the very next day, Nixon became personally involved in the Watergate coverup.

Finally, in one of the most infamous televised moments in American history, Richard Nixon became the only President to resign from office.