# Nixon, R. M. Richard Milhous Nixon (1913- ) a political leader of the twentieth century and 37th president of the United States (1969-1974). As a member of Congress in the late 1940s, Nixon came to national attention through his strong support for the investigation of the alleged communist, Alger Hiss (an official in the Department of State who was accused of having been a secret agent for the Soviet Union during the 1930s). He was elected vice-president twice under President Eisenhower, but later lost the presidential election of 1960 to John F. Kennedy. Nixon ran for governor of California in 1962 but was defeated at which point he retired from politics for several years and reemerged as the president at the end of the 60s.