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TO A NEW CONSERVATISM, 1969-1988

TO A NEW CONSERVATISM, 1969-1988. America: Past and Present Chapter 31. Nixon in Power. Apparent success in first term Triumphs in foreign affairs Nixon cuts himself off from Congress, his own cabinet, and the nation. Reshaping the Great Society. Nixon and the Great Society

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TO A NEW CONSERVATISM, 1969-1988

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  1. TO A NEW CONSERVATISM, 1969-1988 America: Past and Present Chapter 31

  2. Nixon in Power • Apparent success in first term • Triumphs in foreign affairs • Nixon cuts himself off from Congress, his own cabinet, and the nation

  3. Reshaping the Great Society • Nixon and the Great Society • more efficient administration • shift responsibility to the states • shift school desegregation to the courts • Shift to conservative Supreme Court • appointment of conservatives and moderates • Burger Court similar to Warren Court • Pace of change slows but continues

  4. Nixonomics • Nixon and inflation • inflation spurred by Vietnam • federal spending cuts • interest rates forced up • 1970--Nixon-induced recession • 1971--wage and price controls • Economy revives

  5. Building a Republican Majority • Nixon obsessed about reelection • Inactive on desegregation to win South • Attack cultural revolution to win “middle America” • Democrats retain majority by joining crusade against drugs, crime

  6. In Search of Détente • Foreign-policy assumptions • Cold War to be managed, not won • America must make a strategic retreat • improve relations with China to neutralize Russia • February 1972--Nixon visits China

  7. In Search of Détente:Outcome of China Visit • February 1972--U.S. recognition of Communist China set in motion • May 1972--Russians sign SALT I • Apparent mutual desire to reduce Cold War tensions

  8. Ending the Vietnam War • Nixon’s plan • gradual reduction of American troops • intensify American bombing • hard line at the peace talks • 1970--invasion of Cambodia • January, 1973--peace talks conclude with disguised American surrender

  9. The Crisis of Democracy • June, 1972--Nixon agents arrested for attempted Watergate break-in • Nixon stonewalled the press about White House involvement • even instructed aides to lie under oath

  10. The Election of 1972 • Nixon’s opponents • American Independent George Wallace--shot and disabled, followers vote for Nixon • Democrat George McGovern--nomination alienates middle class • Nixon landslide suggests new alignment • middle class shifting to Republicans • African Americans, Jews, the poor remain strongly Democratic

  11. The Watergate Scandal • Summer 1973--Senate investigation • damaging Senate hearings on cover-up • White House tapes discovered • Summer 1974 • Nixon must relinquish tapes • House Judiciary committee recommends impeachment • August 9, 1974--Nixon resigns

  12. The Watergate Scandal: Consequences • Demonstrates growing power of the executive branch • Illustrates vitality of institutions • the press • the federal judiciary • Congress

  13. Energy and the Economy • U.S. way of life based on cheap energy • 1970s energy crisis sparks inflation

  14. The October War • October, 1973--Yom Kippur War pits Egypt, Syria against Israel • U.S. supplies weapons to Israel • Arab oil nations retaliate with boycott • prices of gasoline and home heating fuel rose sharply

  15. The Oil Shocks • Effects of soaring oil prices • consumer spending plunges • recession by 1974 • inflation persists through 1970s • Tax cut aids recovery • 1979--Iranian Revolution causes second surge in oil prices

  16. The Oil Shocks: Price Increases of Crude Oil and Gasoline, 1973-1985

  17. The Search for an Energy Policy • Ford tries to encourage production • Carter tries to encourage conservation • Congressional legislation to • encourage production, e.g. Alaska pipeline • encourage conservation, e.g. gas rationing • Energy problem persists

  18. The Great Inflation • Oil prices drive inflation • price of goods soars • real income declines • Attempted government controls result in record high interest rates

  19. The Shifting American Economy • U.S. share of world markets declines • U.S. heavy industry declines • High technology prospers • Businesses tend to diversify

  20. Private Lives—Public Issues • Traditional American family gives way to more diverse living arrangements • Number of working women increases sharply • Gay rights movement emerges

  21. The Changing American Family: Family Life by 1990 • 21% of women solely in childrearing • 30% of married coupes without children • 25% of households consist of one adult • Birthrate begins to climb after 15-year fall • Divorce rate levels and drops slightly

  22. The Changing American Family: New Family Structure • Many never marry or postpone marriage • Most mothers work outside the home • Proportion of single-parent households doubled • Women without partners head 1/3 of impoverished families • Children comprise 40% of the poor

  23. Types of Households in the United States, 2000

  24. Gains and Setbacks for Women • Rapid movement of women into work force • Breakthroughs for women • leaders in industry, higher education • Roe v. Wade strengthens reproductive rights • women appointed to Supreme Court • Resistance • most women remain in female-dominated jobs • wages only 77.5% of men’s earnings • Equal Rights Amendment fails • abortion widely stigmatized

  25. Voting on the Equal Rights Amendment

  26. The Gay Liberation Movement • 1969--Stonewall Riot sparks gay rights movement • 1980--Democrats include gay rights plank • 1980s--AIDS activism • 1987--600,000 march on Washington • 1993--“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy a setback • 1996--Defense of Marriage Act prohibits state recognition of same-sex unions • 2000--Vermont legalizes same-sex “civil unions”

  27. Politics After Watergate • Watergate erodes public trust • Confrontation leaves nation leaderless

  28. The Ford Administration • Pardon of Nixon unpopular • Democratic Congress alienated • disclosure of illegal CIA activities under Kennedy and Johnson • opposes Democratic bills protecting the environment and civil rights

  29. The 1976 Campaign • Ford damaged by Watergate • Democrat Jimmy Carter wins close vote • former governor of Georgia • campaigns as outsider • calls for decency, morality in government

  30. Disenchantment with Carter • Carter displays lack of political vision • Outsider status hampers effectiveness • 1979--Carter blames American people for "national malaise"

  31. From Détente to Renewed Cold War • U.S. international dominance declined sharply in the 1970s • Internal and external events weakened foreign policy

  32. Retreat in Asia • April 1975--North Vietnam captures Saigon • U.S. response--evacuation, no aid • Subsequent incidents met with caution, restraint

  33. Accommodation in Latin America • 1977--treaty returns Panama Canal to Panama • 1979--U.S. refuses aid to Nicaraguan government against Sandinistas • Carter assists El Salvador against Marxist rebels

  34. The Quest for Peace in the Middle East • Carter’s success • 1978--Camp David Accords • 1979--Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty • Carter’s failure • 1979--Iranian Revolution • November--U.S. embassy in Teheran invaded, 58 Americans taken hostage • Carter fails to secure hostages’ release

  35. The Cold War Resumes • Carter, Brzezinski shift from Détente • condemn Soviet human rights abuses • new missile systems deployed • increased aid to China • December, 1979--Russians invade Afghanistan

  36. A Failed Presidency • Carter lost public confidence during the Iranian hostage crisis • Double-digit inflation also contributed to voter disappointment

  37. Reagan in Power • Roosevelt coalition continues to splinter • Republican party picks up pieces

  38. The Reagan Victory • Carter’s negatives • Iranian hostage crisis • economic ills • Reagan’s positives win the election • warm telegenic personality • optimistic message • draws Jewish, working class vote • Republicans win majority in the Senate

  39. Cutting Spending and Taxes • Reagan’s premise: cut spending to encourage private investment • Reagan cuts over three years • federal spending by more than $40 billion • social services included in cuts • taxes cut by 25%

  40. Limiting the Role of Government • Environmental regulations relaxed • Attempted cuts in Social Security • Neglect of interest-group opponents • labor hurt in air traffic control firings • lack of support for civil rights legislation • women ignored in judicial appointments

  41. Reaganomics • Reagan’s reductions in spending and taxes prompt conflicting expectations • Supply-side economists expect economic growth • Reagan’s critics expect massive deficits, economic stagnation

  42. Recession and Recovery • 1981-1982--unemployment hits 10% • 1983--economic recovery • rise in consumer spending • prices remain level • worldwide decline in energy prices

  43. The Growing Deficit • Basis for the Reagan prosperity includes • massive deficit spending • massive inflows of foreign investment • 1983--federal budget deficit $200 billion • Spending caps on defense, services • 1985--U.S. becomes a debtor nation

  44. U.S. Budget Deficits, 1980-1997

  45. The Rich Grow Richer • Gains of Reaganomics • inflation reduced to 4% • employment grows after 1982 • growth in service sector jobs • Losses of Reaganomics • high-paying manufacturing jobs decline • increasing social inequality • wealthy benefit • poor left in poverty • middle class hurt

  46. Share of Aggregate Household Income by Quintiles, 1975-1995

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