Important Dates and Connections in Nixon Era

1. Important Dates • Connections Projects = Friday, MAY 13th • Historic Novels = Tuesday, MAY 17th • FINAL TEST = Monday, MAY 23rd • **LATE WORK DEADLINE = • Friday, MAY 20th B-Day

2. Important Dates • Historic Novels = Thursday, MAY 12th • Connections Projects = Monday, MAY 16th • FINAL TEST = Friday, MAY 20th • **LATE WORK DEADLINE = • Friday, MAY 20th A-Day

3. Energy Crisis & Watergate Scandal Nixon & the 1970s

4. Review • Nixon elected 1968 • Tet Offensive • My Lai Massacre • 1972 Election • Vietnamization • Laos/Cambodia Bombings • Cease Fire signed 1973 • Saigon Falls, 1975

5. Energy Crisis, 1970s • Post WWII • U.S. economy growing increasingly dependent on foreign oil • By 1973, Americans consuming twice as much oil as they produced • June 1973 • Nixon’s warning that “the supply of domestic energy resources available to us is not keeping pace with our ever growing demand”

6. Organization of petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) • OPEC founded in 1960 by 5 oil producing countries • Islamic Republic of Iran • Iraq • Kuwait • Saudi Arabia • Venezuela • GOAL: • To co-coordinate and unify petroleum policies, including production and pricing

7. OPEC Response • In response to United States supporting Israel, OPEC… • Reduced petroleum production • Proclaimed an embargo on oil shipments • Increased oil price • A barrel of oil that has sold for $3.00 in the summer 1973, cost $11.65 in December of 1973

8. Energy Crisis, Winter 1973-’74 • Cost of electricity, gasoline, and heating oil soared, causing hardship • Hospitals cutting back on thermostats • Blow to the automobile industry • Conservation efforts (no holiday lights, gas stations closing on Sundays, etc.) • Hours to wait for gas • Created Anxiety • Fear that the nation was running out of energy

9. Results of 1970’s Energy Crisis • OPEC lifts embargo on March 1974 • Price of oil still remains high • Impacts on the decade: • Oil price controls • National speed limits • Search for renewable sources of energy • Wind • Solar • Nuclear power • Legislation • Emergency Petroleum Allocation At • Department of Energy • Environmentalism • Environmental Protection Agency • Endangered Species Act

10. Nixon’s Foreign Policy

11. Nixon’s Foreign Policy • Review… • Realpolitik • “Practical Politics” = national interests, rather than ideological notions or moral and ethical premises, should guide U.S. foreign policy • NIXON & KISSINGER: • Goal = to establish a balance of power among the worlds’ five major powers • China, Japan, USSR, USA, and Western Europe • “The only time in the history of the word that we have had any extended period of peace is when there has been a balance of power. It is when one nation becomes infinitely more powerful in relation to its potential competitors that he danger of war rises.” –Richard Nixon

12. Ping Pong Diplomacy • IMPACTS • China invites more US journalists • U.S. removes 20-year trade embargo on China • 1972: Nixon visits Beijing – promotion of trade relations and cultural and scientific exchange

13. May 1972—Visit to the USSR • Nixon visits the Soviet Union (3 months after visit to Beijing) • Trade and cooperation negotiations • SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) • Limited number of intercontinental nuclear missiles • Enter a period of Détente • Lessening of military and diplomatic tensions between countries

14. Watergate

15. Impacts • Increased interest in investigative journalism • Gerald Ford’s presidency • Approval rating dropped from 71% to 50% • 1st resignation of a United States President • Distrust of government and leadership

16. Frost-Nixon interviews