Nixon was a great President in many ways, esp. with regards to foreign policy. Like Bush, however, he was too much of a domestic spendthrift in some ways.
"Nixon was a great President in many ways, esp. with regards to foreign policy"
I disagree with you his foreign policy. Nixon
1. Sucked up to China, a policy for which we will pay for generations
2. Supported a dictator in Pakistan who killed at least 1 million Bangladeshi's.
Looking back on Nixon, you are correct. He really was no conservative at all. But he was President before there was talk radio, Fox News, and the internet (particularly FreeRepublic). Being a rock-ribbed conservative made it pretty hard to win elections back then. Just ask Barry Goldwater. The best thing about Nixon was his staunch opposition to the spread of communism, both at home and abroad.
Seems to me that Nixon famously refused to spend money allocated to the federal budget by the House and Senate. He said it wasn't necessary and refused to let the government spend it.
That was the first and last time that ever happened.
If any excess monies were spent it was probably due to the Viet Nam conflict which he was attempting to wrap up.