True enough. But at least Nixon had a few accompli

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Environmental problems in the United States burst into the national consciousness after the Cuyahoga River caught fire in June 1969, and in 1970, 20 million Americans protested against pollution on Earth Day, according to the Earth Day Network.

Nixon, ever the fiscal conservative, clashed with Congress on how much to spend on the Clean Water Act to prevent such dangers from happening again, and Congress eventually overrode Nixon's veto.

But he is credited with establishing two environmental oversight bodies -- the Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency -- and with submitting numerous environmental proposals to Congress.

Bostock said Nixon's work on the environment was "hugely important."

"Our environment is in much better shape," thanks to Nixon, Bostock said.

In 1972, Nixon signed into law Title IX, a section of the Education Amendment that says, "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

The 40th anniversary of the law was celebrated this year. ABC's Serena Marshall reported on that anniversary: "Since its passage, girls' participation in sports has gone from 1 in 27 to 2 in 5 at the high school level."

Bostock said this and Nixon's other positive accomplishments did enough to outweigh the failures of his administration.

"I think if you look back -- and what better time to look back on a man's life than on the 100th anniversary of his birth? -- at the totality of his record and the influence he had on the country and the world, it was really extraordinary and on balance for the good," he said.

Fulsom disagreed, saying Nixon's greatest legacy was one of "distrust in the president and the government."

"I think he left definitely a negative impression on all those who lived during the time, and it continues to this day," Fulsom said. "Just about every book that's ever been written about him paints a rather dim portrait as a leader."

Love him or hate him, there's no denying, President Richard Nixon changed the course of American history.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/key-legac...18160523#5

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