The months before the Watergate scandal marked the peak of Nixon's popularity. Having established peace with the soviet Union and china, and ended the hated conflict in Vietnam. He also supported many domestic policies that gained him popularity, such as the foundation of the Environmental protection agency and many other social reforms. (23) His achievements at home and abroad made him extremely revered by the public. Nixon received all but 15 of the electoral votes and achieved and astounding 60.7% of the popular vote. His political career began with his election to congress, defeating popular Democratic incumbent, Jerry Voorhis in 1946. (24) While in Congress, he helped the passage of the Marshall Plan. Elected to the Senate in 1950, Nixon served as one of the main fighters of communism during the McCarthian era. He was chosen as Dwight Eisenhower's running mate during the 1952 election, and served as Vice President both terms through 1960. (25) during his terms, Nixon was extremely involved in any major decision within the White House. He also proved extremely effective, as he assumed leadership during periods Eisenhower's health failures. Nixon also traveled on many diplomatic visits to controversial areas, beginning to show his knack for foreign policy. In 1960 Richard ran for President and was nominated as the Republican Candidate. Unfortunately he his Democratic opponent was the popular John Kennedy, who ended up winning the election by a narrow margin. This defeat marked Nixon's political decline, eventually losing the governorship of California in 1962. (26) Many believed that his political career was over. However, he ran for President again in 1968, and was able to win a tight election over the incumbent Vice President, Hubert Humphrey. (27)