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The Post-Watergate Period Chapter 33

The Post-Watergate Period Chapter 33. The Gerald R. Ford Administration. Nixon Pardon. Ford had declared it was time for communication, conciliation, compromise, and cooperation. September 8--Ford Pardoned Nixon for all offenses The action backfired and Ford lost popularity. Economic Woes.

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The Post-Watergate Period Chapter 33

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  1. The Post-Watergate PeriodChapter 33

  2. The Gerald R. Ford Administration

  3. Nixon Pardon • Ford had declared it was time for communication, conciliation, compromise, and cooperation. • September 8--Ford Pardoned Nixon for all offenses • The action backfired and Ford lost popularity.

  4. Economic Woes • Inflation and unemployment rose while the economy stalled-- “stagflation” • This led to recession. • The Fed tightened the money supply.

  5. Congressional Battles • Ford believed in limited government • The Democratic Congress wanted more government intervention in the economy.

  6. Foreign Policy • War Powers Act • Had been passed over Nixon’s veto • Limited the President’s ability to send troops abroad to: an emergency, a declaration of war or an act of Congress • In Emergencies the President must: • Notify Congress within 48 hours • Not keep troops overseas over 60 days w/o congressional approval • Bring troops home if Congress passes a resolution.

  7. Vietnam • Americans had been fully withdrawn. • 1975--North Vietnam invaded the South • Despite requests for aid from Ford, Congress did nothing.

  8. The Carter Transition

  9. The Election of 1976 • Republicans reluctantly nominated Ford • Democrats nominated the Governor of GA, Jimmy Carter • Carter won by a narrow margin.

  10. Carter’s Style • Carter tried to be a “folksy” “down home” leader. • Rarely let the band play at his entrance • Wore casual clothing in public and when addressing the nation

  11. Carter’s Foreign Policy

  12. Overview • Carter’s cornerstone issue was human rights.

  13. Middle East • Carter invited President Anwar el-Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Menachem Begin to Camp David in 1978. • Carter served as a negotiator • The result was the Camp David Accords in which: • Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula • Egypt became the 1st Arab country to recognize Israel’s existence as a nation. • This did not solve all the problems of the Middle East

  14. Panama Canal • Carter successfully fought to pass treaties giving the Panama Canal to Panama.

  15. China • Carter recognized China. • He established official diplomatic relations. • In doing so, he unrecognized Taiwan as the official government of China.

  16. The Soviets • SALT II • Limited the # of nukes and missiles • Prohibited building of ground based missile defense systems • Afghanistan • 1979--Soviets invaded. • Carter denounced the invasion, stopped grain shipments and imposed a boycott of the 1980 Olympic games in Moscow.

  17. The Iran Hostage Crisis • For years the US supported Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. • January 1979--revolution broke out. • It was led by Muslim fundamentalists. • The Shah was forced to flee to the US and was replaced by Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini. • November 4, 1979--followers of Khomeini seized the US embassy in Tehran and took 66 hostages. • More than 50 were held for over a year • Carter responded by breaking relations and freezing Iranian assets in the US.

  18. Khomeini insisted the Shah be sent back for trial • April 1980--Carter authorized a naval commando rescue attempt that ended in desert helicopter crashes and 8 deaths. • January 1981--The hostages were released within moments of Ronald Wilson Reagan’s inauguration.

  19. Carter’s Domestic Policy

  20. Domestic Crises and Policy • Economic Instability • High inflation--21% • High interest rates--21% • Continued and worsening energy crisis • Carter’s policies did not help

  21. Three Mile Island Accident • Occurred March 1979 • Near Harrisburg, PA • Faulty seal in cooling system caused coolant pumps to shut down. • Operators misread symptoms and shut down the emergency cooling system. • A partial core melt down occurred and some radiation was released. • 140,000 people fled • Resulted in a slowdown of nuclear power and more regulation.

  22. Amnesty • Carter granted amnesty to all Vietnam draft dodgers.

  23. 1980 Campaign • Carter’s popularity had dropped • He would face the governor of California, Ronald W. Reagan

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