Key Dates in Richard Nixon’s Life

* Jan. 9, 1913: Born in Yorba Linda, Calif., son of Francis and Hannah Nixon.

* June 21, 1940: Marries Thelma (Pat) Ryan.

* 1946: Elected to first of two terms in U.S. House.

* 1950: Elected to U.S. Senate.

* 1952: Elected vice president as running-mate to Dwight D. Eisenhower.

* 1956: Re-elected as vice president.

* 1960: Narrowly loses presidential election to John F. Kennedy.

* 1962: Loses California governor’s race; bitterly tells reporters, “You won’t have Nixon to kick around any more.”

* 1968: Elected President over Democrat Hubert Humphrey and independent George Wallace.

* Jan. 20, 1969: Sworn in as 37th President of the United States.

* July 15, 1971: Makes surprise announcement of plans to visit China.

* February, 1972: Makes historic first trip to Communist China.

* June 17, 1972: Break-in at Democratic headquarters at the Watergate complex.

* November, 1972: Re-elected in landslide over George McGovern.

* Aug. 9, 1974: Resigns as President in culmination of Watergate scandal.

* Sept. 8, 1974: Receives unconditional pardon from successor Gerald R. Ford.

* June 22, 1993: Pat Nixon dies of lung cancer.