"Even before Watergate and his resignation, Nixon had inspired conflicting and passionate emotions"

In this quote, author Stephen Ambrose is highlighting the impact that former President Richard Nixon had on the American people. He suggests that even before the infamous Watergate scandal and Nixon's ultimate resignation, he was a polarizing figure who stimulated strong and inconsistent sensations among the general public. This could be analyzed as a reflection of Nixon's complex and controversial political career, which included both significant achievements and major scandals. Ambrose's usage of the words "contrasting" and "enthusiastic" suggests that Nixon's actions and choices were not universally accepted, and that he was a dissentious figure who elicited both admiration and contempt from the American people.