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The Changing 1970’s. Vocab: Henry Kissinger Détente OPEC Guiding Questions: What advances were made for women’s rights? What happened in the Watergate Scandal?. Election of 1968. Democrats were divided
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The Changing 1970’s Vocab: Henry Kissinger Détente OPEC Guiding Questions: What advances were made for women’s rights? What happened in the Watergate Scandal?
Election of 1968 • Democrats were divided • After the death of RFK, they were divided between Hubert Humphrey (D) and George Wallace (who ran independently) • Allowed Nixon to win the election
Women’s Rights • The Feminine Mystique: Betty Friedan wrote a book about how women felt trapped by domestic life • More women were going to college, working to get jobs in the workforce • Campaigned for an Equal Rights Amendment for women • It failed • Roe vs. Wade • Made abortion legal in the US in 1973 • Gave women control over their bodies
Nixon’s Presidency • Created the “War on Drugs” • Established the Environmental Protection Agency • Nixon named Henry Kissinger as his National Security Advisor (later Sec of State) • Kissinger believe in realpolitik—basing foreign policy on what is best for the nation…not on principles like “communism is bad” • Nixon was against communism but believed in détente: the easing of tensions or strained relations • Brought the troops in Vietnam home • Started working with China and Soviet Union to de-arm • Actually went to China • Oil Embargo • Because of war between Israel and other Arab countries OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) refused to ship oil to the US • Caused HUGE shortages
Watergate Scandal • Nixon had a secret group of men he called the “plumbers.” Their job was to fix any “leaks” in any secret information • For example: They broke into a shrink’s office and tried to find papers that would prove that this man leaked the “Pentagon Papers” which were documents about Vietnam. • Worried about re-election, Nixon and his team planned to break into the offices of the Democratic National Committee (at the Watergate Building) • The five burglars were caught in the act and convicted • Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein believed Nixon had something to do with it • Released information that would be incriminating to Nixon • Had a secret informant named “deep throat” who passed them information
Watergate continued • The Senate began its own investigation on Watergate to see if Nixon was involved • “I’m not a crook” • Nixon tried to have the people in charge of the investigation fired • Nixon was forced to turn over tapes of conversations • Transcripts of tapes suggested that Nixon knew about it • There was 18 min mysteriously erased • Nixon resigned as President before he could be impeached • His vice president Gerald Ford came to office • Pardoned Nixon