The Ford & Carter Administrations

The Ford & Carter Administrations

Gerald Ford (1974-1977) • President (1974-1977) • Only non-elected President • Famous quote: “HEALING PROCESS MUST BEGIN” • Pardoned Nixon • Granted clemency for draft dodgers (Vietnam) • Helsinki Accords • Did little domestically or in foreign affairs because Congress was controlled by the Democrats. • Instituted campaign to “Whip Inflation Now” (WIN) • Bicentennial of USA!

Nixon’s Pardon • 1 month after Nixon resigned, Ford granted him full pardon. • This decision was not popular among the American people. • Many Americans felt angry and disillusioned after Watergate. • Tried to restore faith back in America’s leaders

“Whip Inflation Now- WIN” • Encouraged conservation of gas and oil • Energy-saving methods • Inflation and unemployment still high • OPEC still soaring • Tried to cut spending and increase interests rates • Lead to worst economic recession in 40 years!

Helsinki Accords- 1974 • Wanted continued negotiations with Soviet Union and China • Traveled to Helsinki, Finland • Signed Accord- series of agreements that promised greater cooperation between the nations of Eastern and Western Europe • Ford’s greatest presidential accomplishment

Ongoing Turmoil in SE Asia • Heavy fighting was still going on in Vietnam. • Ford asks for $722 million to help S Vietnam • Congress refuses • South Vietnam falls to the communist North- 1975 • That same year, Cambodia seizes US ship Mayaguez in the Gulf of Siam. • Ford uses massive force to rescue the 39 crew members • In doing so, 41 US troops lives are lost • Lost more than we saved

Jimmy Carter (1977-1981) • Americans were attracted to Carter • “Washington outsider” – very personable/down-to-earth • Human Rights Diplomacy • Panama Canal • Camp David Accords (1978) • Iran Hostage Crisis (1979) • Afghan Invasion (1980) • Inflation • Rising Interest Rates • Gives ‘crisis of confidence’ speech • reflecting what voters see in him • Loses re-election campaign to Reagan

Confronting the Energy Crisis • Carter had inherited an unstable economy in which inflation and unemployment continued to grow. • Most important issue • America’s reliance on imported oil • Urges Americans to cut back on their usage of oil • After much battle with Congress/lobbyists: • Passage of the National Energy Act • Called for tax on “gas-guzzling” cars, removed price controls on oil and natural gas, and extended tax credits for the development of alterative energy • Eased our dependence on imported oil slightly

Energy Crisis (continued) • He also created a new Cabinet department, the Department of Energy. • A partial meltdown of a nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, eroded people’s confidence in nuclear power. • It gets worse: • Renewed violence in Middle East leads to OPEC announcing price spike (increase) • Major fuel shortage in US • Inflation will continue to climb to nearly 14%. • This unsolved problem will help Ronald Reagan become the next president!

Amnesty • Carter’s concern for moral values influenced his civil rights actions. Soon after taking office, he granted amnesty, or a general pardon, to those who had evaded the draft during the Vietnam War.

Civil Rights Issues • Appt first African American to US Ambassador • Andrew Young • Judicial branch- appt 28 African Americans, 29 women, and 14 Latinos. • Regents of the University of California v. Bakke • Quota-based affirmative-action plan were unfair to Bakke (white male). RESERVE DISCRIMINATION?? • 14th amendment- “The guarantee of equal protection cannot mean one thing when applied to one individual and something else when applied to a person of another color. If both are not accorded the same protection, then it is not equal.”

 Andrew Young • Protesters for Regents v. Bakke

African Apartheid- 1978 • Apartheid- racial segregation enforced by South African Nationalist gov’t. • Residential neighborhoods, education, medical care, beaches, and other public services were all segregated • Provided black people with services inferior to those of whites and were stripped of citizenship • This policy was criticized by Young (US am.)

Advancing Human Rights/Foreign • US wanted to promote human rights around the world • The freedoms and liberties listed in the Declaration of Independence • But to facilitate cooperation, Carter overlooks violations in China, Iran, South Korea and the Philippines • This inconsistency makes him more unpopular • Carter pays Panamanians back for violations of national sovereignty by guiding return of Panama Canal • Treaty turned over full control of the canal in 1999 • Created better relations with the US and Latin America • US FORMALLY RECOGNIZES CHINA’S GOVERNMENT IN 1978

Peace Abroad & Collapse of Détente Camp david accords USSr-American relations Although détente was at a high point when Carter took office, by the end of his term it was effectively dead. Soviets were angered by Carter’s support of Soviet dissidents, writers and other activists who criticized the actions of their government. Although a second round of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT II) was begun, the resulting treaty was never ratified. Still, both nations followed its terms. • In 1978, Carter brought Egyptian President Anwar el-Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem • Begin working together for negotiations at Camp David. • The resulting framework for Middle East peace, known as the Camp David Accords, was an important step toward peace in the Middle East. • Under its terms, Israel agreed to withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula, and Egypt became the first Arab country to recognize Israel officially. • Camp David- presidential retreat in Maryland

Camp David Accords

Soviet-Afghanistan War • Afghanistan borders the Soviet Union. • A strong group of Muslim rebels will try to overthrow the Afhgangovt • Soviets invade Afghanistan in late 1979 • Surprisingly, struggle between the two countries lasted 10 years! • Soviet Union withdraws its troops (many casualties) • Fighting amongst the rival factions continues for years.

Soviet-Afghanistan War • Taliban, a radical Muslim faction, controlled 90% of Afghanistan by 2000. • US backs Muslim rebels at the time for anti-communism goals ((Charlie Wilson’s War)) • Carter boycotts 1980 Olympics and embargoes grain sales

Iran Hostage Crisis • Iran- supported by US • The Shah of Iran (Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlevi) was resented by his people for his corruption/ dictatorial tactics • Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Muslim religious leader, led an uprising to overthrow the shah. • He was successful- making Iran a religious state based on strict obedience. • US allowed the shah into America for cancer treatments. • The shah had already fled Iran in 1979 • Infuriated revolutionaries • Took 52 Americans hostage in Tehran, Iran’s capital • Demanded that shah be sent back to Iran • Carter refused- captives were released 444 days later.

Iran Hostage Crisis • US hostages were moved from place to place over the course of the year. • They were paraded around Tehran in blindfolds. • Carter’s failed attempts to secure the hostages’ freedom decreased his popularity and made his chances for reelection appear slim.

Life in the 1970s @ a Glance • Conservative • New Right emerges • Huge religious revivals • Moral Majority • Immigration • Mostly Latin America and some Asian • Cubans leave communism and settle in Miami, FL! • Voting Rights Act of 1975 • Bilingual Education Act of 1974 • Migration to Sun Belt! • 22.5% of Americans will live alone and get married later. • Divorce rate rises 

The “Me Decade” • Focused on human potential/self-actualization • Yoga-inner self • Self-help books • Physical fitness • Jogging/running • Tennis • Alcohol consumption rose • McDonalds- single largest provider of meals in the US • Entertainment • Steven Spielberg • Jaws • ET • Schindler’s List • Saving Private Ryan • Beatles broke up! • Disco music • Technology • Apple Computer Company created by Steve Jobs & Steve Wozniak (college drop outs) • Skylab, 1st US Space Station placed in orbit

The Ford & Carter Administrations