Mr. HILLINGS: During the Eisenhower years, Nixon became the point man. Eisenhower never expected to have to get into too much political discussion, but that was one of the reasons he put young Senator Richard Nixon on the ticket, because he could do that. So all the tough political assignments usually were given to Nixon.

Senator NIXON: [campaigning] All a Democratic congress offers, if elected this year, is a return to the policies of the Truman administration.

Mr. MORRIS: He's a very partisan creature, after all, and he becomes for the first time really, the focus of genuine criticism in the press. He has enjoyed enormous immunity in the press in Southern California and nationally up until the '52 campaign. And he suffers his first tarnish in the fund episode and that gets worse and worse, until Herb Block begins to give him a heavy beard in cartoons in the Washington Post and he comes under sometimes vicious, often very telling and accurate, attack in the national media.

Seventh NEWSCASTER: A stunned nation hears that its president is stricken with a heart attack.

NARRATOR: Nixon's detractors held their breath during Eisenhower's illness in September 1955, but the vice president surprised even his most severe critics. For nearly two months, Nixon was a cautious substitute president, standing in for Eisenhower, while not calling attention to himself.

Vice President NIXON: The American people can be assured that the business of government will go ahead as usual, despite the president's illness. Under the president's leadership, a team has been developed in Washington which will carry out the very well-defined foreign policies and domestic policies that the president himself has laid down during his first two and a half years in office.

NARRATOR: Fully recovered, Eisenhower announced he would seek reelection, but did not guarantee Nixon a place on the ticket. Privately, he thought him immature, a political liability. But Nixon refused to consider the president's offer of a Cabinet position instead of the vice presidency. He finally forced Eisenhower's hand.

Vice Pres. NIXON: I met with the president this afternoon in the White House and at that time, I informed him that in the event that he and the delegates to the Republican National Convention decided that it was in the best interests of the Republican Party and his administration for me to continue in my present office, that I would be honored to accept re-nomination as the Republican candidate for vice president.

PRESS SECRETARY: And the president has asked me to say that he was delighted to hear of the vice president's decision.

Vice Pres. NIXON: [1956 Republican Convention] No man could be more highly honored than to be selected as the running mate of such a great president. I accept this nomination in that spirit.

NARRATOR: Nixon was less aggressive in 1956 than in earlier campaigns. The press began to write of a "New Nixon," but the vice president remained the Democrats' favorite target.

ADLAI STEVENSON, Democratic National Candidate, 1956: I must say bluntly that every piece of scientific evidence we have, every lesson of history and experience indicates that a Republican victory tomorrow would mean that Richard Nixon would probably be president of this country within the next four years. I say frankly, as a citizen more than a candidate, that I recoil at the prospect of Mr. Nixon as custodian of this nation's future, as guardian of the hydrogen bomb, as representative of America in the world, as commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces.

Eighth NEWSCASTER: As evening returns come in, the trend is unmistakable. It's Eisenhower by a landslide, with 457 electoral votes to 74 for Stevenson and a nine-million vote plurality.

Vice President NIXON: I, Richard M. Nixon do solemnly swear ...

NARRATOR: Nixon was a survivor. He had overcome Eisenhower's indifference, a sometimes hostile press and bitter partisan attacks. He entered his second vice presidential term as the Republican heir apparent.