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The Nixon Years

The Nixon Years. The Crises of 1968. MLK Assassinated. April 4, 1968 Memphis, TN Shot by James Earl Ray Rioting followed in 124 cities. RFK Assassinated. March 16, 1968 RFK entered the Presidential race. Ran on an anti-war platform. June 5—he won the CA primary

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The Nixon Years

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  1. The Nixon Years

  2. The Crises of 1968

  3. MLK Assassinated • April 4, 1968 • Memphis, TN • Shot by James Earl Ray • Rioting followed in 124 cities.

  4. RFK Assassinated • March 16, 1968 RFK entered the Presidential race. • Ran on an anti-war platform. • June 5—he won the CA primary • After the victory speech RFK was shot and died the next day.

  5. 1968 Democratic Convention • Held in Chicago • Party was in shambles • VP Hubert Humphrey was set to be nominated • Radicals, peace activists and hippies vowed to descend on the city. • Mayor Richard Daley ordered: • The convention hall enclosed by chain link and barb wire fencing • Police to clear out protestors

  6. Delegates voted down a peace resolution • Protestors rallied near the hotel. • Police moved in and used nightsticks on everyone—protestors, bystanders, guests, and reporters. • Violence was seen on TV and protestors chanted, “The whole world is watching.”

  7. Election of 1968 • Rep’s—Nixon • Dem’s—Hubert Humphrey • American Independent Party—George C. Wallace • “Left-wing theoreticians” • “Briefcase-totin’ bureaucrats” • “Ivory-tower guideline writers” • “Smart-aleck editorial writers” • “Pointy-headed professors” • Result in Electoral College • Nixon 302 • Humphrey 191 • Wallace 45

  8. The Nixon Administration

  9. Nixon’s Personality • Reserved and remote • Grew up in a poor family and always flet like an outsider • Had a “mean side to his nature”—willing to say or do anything to defeat his enemies (Pat Buchanan) • Had few close friends • Wanted the executive branch to dominate the other branches

  10. Nixon’s Staff • Chief of Staff—H.R. Haldeman • Chief Domestic Adviser—John Ehrlichman • Attorney General—John Mitchell • Head of National Security Council (NSC) and later Secretary of State—Henry Kissinger • Haldeman and Ehrlichman shielded the President and became known as the “Berlin Wall”

  11. Domestic Policy • Economy • Inflation • Doubled b/w1965 and 1968 • Was Nixon’s 1st priority • Unemployment • Was high • 1971—Announced that he would follow Keynesian Economics and began deficit spending

  12. The Oil Crisis • 1973—Israel went to war with Egypt and Syria. • US supported Israel • Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) imposed an oil embargo on the US • Oil prices skyrocketed and gas shortages occurred. • Inflation soared and a recession ensued w/ 9% unemployment

  13. Social Programs • Nixon sought to cut the size of government • He cut or closed many of the programs of the Great Society • Law and Order • Stood tough against protestors and radicals. • Said that a, “silent majority of Americans blamed them for many rising social ills.

  14. Moon Landing • July 29, 1969 at 10:56 PM • Neil A. Armstrong stepped off the Eagle onto the moon. • Said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant step for mankind.”

  15. Nixon’s Foreign Policy

  16. Henry Kissinger • Secretary of State • Practiced realpolitik “practical politics”—decisions based on maintaining strength,, not principle.

  17. Détente • Relaxation of tensions • Nixon’s policy toward the USSR • More open to negotiation • Exploited the competition b/w the USSR and Communist China.

  18. China • Sought to open relations w/ China to force the Soviets hand. • Jan. and Feb. 1970—US and Chinese ambassadors met. • Oct 1970—Nixon used the official title “People’s Republic of China” in a speech • March 1971—lifted restrictions on travel to China. • April 1971—Ping Pong Diplomacy • June 1971—ended 21 yr. trade embargo. • July 1971—announced he would become 1st President to visit China. • Feb. 1972—Went to China and met Mao Zedong

  19. Limiting Nuclear Arms • 1972—Nixon met w/ Russian Premier Leonid I. Brezhnev and agreed to: • Work together in space • Ease trade limits • Negotiate weapons limitation • Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I) 1972 • 5 yr. agreement • Held # of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) and Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) at 1972 levels.

  20. Watergate

  21. Siege Mentality • Nixon was extremely secretive and paranoid. • Enemies List • Developed by Charles W. Colson • Prominent people unsympathetic to the administration • i.e.—Sen. Edward Kennedy, Jane Fonda, Steve McQueen, etc. • Aides considered how to harass Whitehouse enemies i.e..—IRS audits, etc. • Wiretaps • 1969—Someone on the NSC leaked info. To the press • Nixon ordered Kissinger (Head of NSC) to wiretap Whitehouse staff.

  22. The Plumbers • 1971—Daniel Ellsberg leaked the “Pentagon Papers” • Nixon was upset that Ellsberg got away w/ leaking classified documents. • Nixon authorized the formation of a Whitehouse unit nicknamed “the Plumbers” that would stop government leaks. • Key Members—E. Howard Hunt (former CIA) and G. Gordon Liddy (former FBI). • Unit broke into Ellsberg’s psychiatrist’s office to get damaging info. to release.

  23. The Watergate Break-in • Committee to Re-elect the President • Whitehouse committee formed to help Nixon win. • Included Liddy and Hunt • Carried out several questionable plans. • The Idea • Wiretap Democratic National Committee HQ in the Watergate Apartment Complex in D.C. • Liddy would oversee the operation • First Break-in failed

  24. June 16, 1972—Second Break-in • Operatives were discovered by security guard Frank Willis • Fiver were arrested • Money found on the men was traced to Nixon’s campaign. • The Cover-up • Nixon knew nothing about the break-in b/4 it happened • Nixon asked the CIA to convince the FBI to stop the investigation b/c it involved “National Security.” • Aides worked hard to keep the truth hidden • Haldeman, Ehrlichman, Mitchell, and others gave hush money to defendants. • 1972—Nixon won reelection.

  25. Watergate Unfolds • Nixon had said that no one in the Whitehouse or administration were involved. • The Trial • All 5 pleaded guilty or were found guilty. • Judge Sirica suggested cooperation in Senate hearings could result in reduced sentences.

  26. Woodward and Bernstein • Reporters for the Washington Post • Gained info. From an inside informant. • Pursued the story and broke it.

  27. Senate Investigation • Watergate burglar James McCord testified in secret session and indicated Nixon staffers • April 1973—Nixon fired Haldeman and Ehrlichman • May 1973—Televised hearings began • John Dean (President’s personal counsel) tried to save himself by indicating Nixon in the cover up. • An aide revealed that the Pres. Had a secret taping system in his office.

  28. The “Saturday Night Massacre” • May 1973—Nixon agreed to the appointment of a special prosecutor—Archibald Cox • Cox immediately requested the tapes from the oval office. • Nixon refused. • Cox persisted and Nixon went to the Justice Dept. on Sat. Oct. 20, 1973, and ordered the Att. Gen. Elliot Richardson to fire Cox • The Att. Gen. refused and Nixon fired him. • That night Nixon continued to force resignations and firings until Robert Bork finally agreed to fire Cox. • Bork later said that he did it b/c he believed Nixon would have fired everyone in the Justice Dept. down to the janitor.

  29. Falling Apart • Cox was replaced by Leon Jaworski • Jaworski also asked for the tapes. • Nixon released a few edited tapes. • B/4 the Sat. Night Massacre, VP Spiro Agnew had to resign b/c of charges of tax evasion and bribery. • Nixon chose Gerald R. Ford to replace him and the Senate approved.

  30. Nixon Resigns • July 1974—The House began hearings on whether or not to impeach Nixon • They voted to recommend impeachment • August 5, 1974—Nixon released the rest oft eh tapes. One had an 18 ½ min. gap. • August 9, 1974—Nixon became the first President to resign. • Gerald Ford became President • Ford said, “Our long national nightmare is over.” • Believing a trial would divide the nation, Ford pardoned Nixon. • The Constitutional system had prevailed.

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