1970s

1. 1970s Chapter 39

2. I can… • I can analyze the causes and the consequences of the Watergate scandal and the OPEC Oil Embargo.

3. Stagnant Economy • The economy had rapid gains since WWII. • The standard of living in the US had increased 225% since 1945. • By the 1970s, the economy slowed.

4. Factors in 70s Economy • Baby boomers entering workforce • Women and teens working • Shift from manufacturing to service • Vietnam War • Rising oil prices • More government programs without a tax increase • Foreign competition • Failure to modernize to more efficient methods • Inflation (prices tripled)

5. Vietnamization • Nixon very experienced in foreign affairs. • Vietnamization = slow withdrawal of US troops, increase in commitment of SV troops. • Path to victory through other means, will not quit • Nixon appealed to the “silent majority” of Americans that worked, paid taxes, but did not protest the war. • The draft caused problems, poor and AA disproportionately drafted.

6. Vietnam • The Vietcong disguised themselves as civilians; became difficult for troops to distinguish between friend and foe. • Drug use and fragging (murder of a commanding officer) were problems for Army. • My Lai Massacre • 1968 • US troops investigating a village are ordered to kill over 200, many women and children. • Did not become public until 1970; public outraged; protests increase.

7. Expansion of the War • Nixon talked of a troop withdrawal, but secretly sent troops into Cambodia and Laos to search for communist bases. • The Vietminh had been smuggling supplies into SV through their neighbors for years. • Protests erupt throughout the nation. • Kent St: Protesters burn the ROTC building, Ohio Nat. Guard provoked into firing; killing 4 students. • Jackson St: 2 die in Mississippi

8. More Trouble • 1971: Pentagon Papers publish the truth about Gulf of Tonkin (1964). • Showed that Kennedy and Johnson had lied about our reasons for entering the war. • Results of Pentagon Papers, My Lai, and Cambodia = • Less trust in government officials. • 26th Amendment • 18 year olds can vote

9. Detente • Henry Kissinger: Nixon’s Sec. of State • 1970s: USSR and China have border clashes, US sees split as an opportunity • Triangular Diplomacy: US hoped to appeal to China and USSR to end their support of North Vietnam • 1971: Nixon visits China • Meet Zedong • US/China normalize trade relations • Result = Everything you own now comes from China • 1972: Nixon visits USSR • US sells food to USSR

10. How ya like me, Mao?

11. Détente • SALT: Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty • 1972 • USSR and US agree to limit the number of missiles they each have • US develops MIRVs (multiple warhead missiles) to get around the new limit • Chile Revolution • US backs dictator Pinochet over pro-communist elected official • Pinochet goes on to massacre thousands, but at least he isn’t commie • 70s Latin America weather report: Chile today, hot tamale

12. The Supremes • Chief Justice Earl Warren presided over an era of civil rights and expansion of rights of those accused of crimes • Griswold v. Connecticut: right to privacy • Gideon v. Wainwright: right to an attorney • Miranda v. Arizona: right to remain silent • Engel v. Vitale: prohibition of required school prayers • Reynolds v. Sims: fairness in House reapportionment

13. Roe v. Wade • Nixon hated Warren because he had a “loose interpretation” of the Constitution. • Replaced retiring Warren with Warren Burger. • The Burger court shocked conservatives with their next big ruling. • Many states had laws banning abortions. • Jane Roe sued, and the SC agreed that a woman does have the right to an abortion. • Conservatives fumed, and have attempted to overturn the ruling ever since.

14. The Nixon You Didn’t Know • Nixon supported the creation of food stamps and increases in Medicaid and Social Security for those in need. • Expanded affirmative action (programs to hire minorities) • Outlawed intelligence tests for certain jobs • Created OSHA to ensure workplace safety • Supported environmental reforms such as the EPA, Clean Air and Water Acts, and the Endangered Species Act • Almost single handedly ended the “solid south” by turning the South Republican.

15. 1972 Election • In 68 Nixon promised to end Vietnam, 4 years later and it was still going. • Republicans re-nominate Nixon • Democrats run Senator George McGovern on a platform of immediate withdrawal. • McGovern appealed to doves and radicals, and minorities, but he drove away many traditional Democrats in 72. • McGovern lost more support when news that his VP selection had psychiatric problems was leaked. • Nixon won 520-17

16. 1972 Election

17. Ending Vietnam • During the election Nixon increased the bombing of NV while pushing for a peace settlement. • News came out that Nixon was still bombing Cambodia as well. • In early 1973 the US and NV agreed to a cease-fire. The US withdrew troops. • Congress passed the War Powers Act, requiring the Pres. To notify Congress before major military engagements.

18. Results of Vietnam • 58,286 American Dead • 1.475 million total dead • War not over, North v. South will continue without the US. • Cambodia becomes communist; dictator Paul Pot murders 2 million+ • Laos becomes communist • US distrust of authority increases • Reluctance to involve our nation in war • 26th Amendment

19. OPEC Oil Embargo • 1973: Egypt and Syria, backed by the USSR invade Israel (6Days War) • Israel, backed by US, beat back the invaders, even taking some of their territory. • In retaliation, the members of OPEC embargoed the sale of oil to the US. • With oil short, prices went up on everything. • Long lines/rationing to get gas • National speed limit set to 55 miles per hour • US begins to investigate alternate sources of energy, but it will be a slow change.

20. Oil Crisis

21. Watergate • 1973: Nixon’s VP Spiro Agnew is forced to resign after taking bribes. • Nixon and the Senate select Congressman Gerald Ford as the new VP • In 1972, during the election, 5 men were arrested for burglary in the Democratic headquarters at the Watergate building • At 1st it just seemed that these men were zealous supporters of Nixon, as no clear connection was made. • Reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of the Washington Post began to investigate. Eventually their stories got the attention of Congress, whom also investigated. • Remember Pentagon Papers, My Lai, Cambodia!

22. Watergate

23. Watergate • Nixon denied all knowledge of the incident. • As Congress began it’s interviews a former Nixon aide, John Dean, implicated Nixon, saying that he tried to cover-up the break-in, but he had no evidence. • Another White House staffer told Congress that the President records all conversations in the Oval Office. • Congress asks for the tapes, Nixon refuses stating “Executive Privilege”

24. Richard Nixon • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh163n1lJ4M

25. Watergate • Nixon suddenly fires his Att. General along with other officials (“Saturday Night Massacre”) • US v. Nixon: The SC gets involved; rules that Nixon must hand over tapes • Nixon complies, but large portions of the tapes are missing • Nixon claims that his secretary accidently hit delete.

26. Watergate

27. Watergate • Public = mad • Supreme Court = mad • Congress = mad • Democrats = mad • Republicans = mad • House begins impeachment process. • Republican Congressmen inform Nixon that they will no longer support him • August 8, 1974: Nixon resigns

28. Watergate • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEOGJJ7UKFM • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3U4MhKDxcw

29. Lessons of Watergate • Rule of Law: no one is above the law, not even the president • The nation will no longer trust it’s leaders blindly • Checks and balances work

30. 38th: Gerald Ford • Ford Timeline • 1974 • Ford Pardons Nixon • 1975 • Helsinki Accords • South Vietnam Falls

31. Ford’s Troubles • Nixon could not be impeached after resignation, but he still could be charged as a criminal. • The nation debated the options: should a former president go to jail? What would the rest of the world think? • At every press conference Ford was bombarded with questions about Nixon’s guilt. • Ford finally issues Nixon a full pardon for any crimes he “may” have committed.

32. Pardon Me • Many upset, but the nation moved on to other matters quickly. • Doomed Ford’s hopes of election in 1976

33. The Finale in Vietnam • 1975: North Vietnam unleashes an all out invasion of South Vietnam. • Ford goes to Congress and asks to help SV; they say no. • Without US, SV is doomed. • The military does rescue 140,000 South Vietnamese that would have been executed for working with the US. • Containment failed; Vietnam united under communism • How far was US really willing to go to stop communism?

34. Fall of Saigon

35. Feminism • Aside from Roe v. Wade, feminists had some victories and defeats in the 70s. • Divorce rates tripled. • Title IX: law that requires equality among the sexes in education • Girl’s athletic teams • Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) • Proposed and ratified by 35 states (38 needed) • Would have eliminated any discrimination based on sex. • Conservatives fought against it; felt it would be bad for families and would draft women.

36. Civil Rights • Affirmative action laws were questioned in the 70s. • Bakke v. Univ. of California: race cannot be the only consideration in hiring and school admissions • School integration slowly dragged on 20 years after Brown v. Board • American Indian Movement (AIM) • Inspired by AA movements, AI united to push for rights. • Practiced civil disobedience by seizing Alcatraz and Wounded Knee • Courts eventually agree that AI tribes can be ruled by Congress, but not states.

37. AIM

38. 1976 Presidential Election • Republicans nominate Ford despite strong opposition from Ronald Reagan • Democrats nominate Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter • Carter used a “Washington Outsider” campaign against “big government” • Played on the memories of Watergate; “I’ll never lie to you.” • His down home southern charm worked, won 297-240

39. 1976 Election

40. 39th James “Jimmy” Carter • 1978 • Camp David peace Accords • 1979 • Iranian revolution • Iran Hostage Crisis • SALT II • USSR invades Afghanistan

41. America Under Carter • Carter pardoned 10,000 draft dodgers • Economic woes continue • Inflation was at 13%, very high • US was unable to dominate foreign trade • Huge budget deficits • Carter attempts to battle the economy: • Creates Department of Energy • Urged US to conserve energy and convert to renewable forms • America and Congress ignored him

42. Carter’s Diplomacy • Carter focused on improving human rights worldwide. • Camp David Peace Accords: Got Israel and Egypt to sign a peace treaty (Egypt got land back and would respect Israel’s sovereignty) • Won Nobel Peace Prize • Brought attention to apartheid in South Africa and Zimbabwe • Gave Panama Canal to Panama • Signed SALT II with USSR- Senate didn’t ratify • Did little to stop communist incursions in Afghanistan and Africa.

43. Iran • 1953: CIA helps the Shah of Iran gain power (Liked him because he wasn’t commie) • Many Iranians didn’t like the Shah because he tried to modernize Iran into a secular nation. • 1979: Muslim fundamentalists take over Iran, Shah flees to US • US Embassy gets taken by Iranian rebels; 66 hostages were taken.

44. Iran Hostage Crisis

45. Iran Hostage Crisis • The Iranians demanded that the US turn over the Shah in exchange for the hostages. • Carter refused • For two years the TV networks constantly covered the situation • Carter orders on rescue attempt, but sandstorms doom the crew of two planes. • The entire crisis made Carter seem inept; doomed any chance of reelection. • In 1980 America would turn to someone that promised to be tough on our enemies……

46. Ronald Reagan