30-1

1. 30-1 Nixon, Watergate, and Years of Doubt

2. The nation confronts domestic problems • Key? What problems did America face at the time Nixon took office? • Nixon wanted to focus on foreign policy, but America was torn apart by several domestic conflicts (inflation, racial problems, controversy over the Vietnam War) • Nixon, during campaign, promised to end the unrest • Appointed several conservatives to the Supreme Court • Controversially had CIA and FBI investigate his opposition, but later said this was necessary for the nation’s security

3. A Troubled Economy • Promised to lower spending, but couldn’t make much progress because Congress was controlled by Democrats • Economic recession around 1970, caused inflation • Unemployment also rising • 1973 Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, oil cartel consisting of large oil providers quadrupled gas prices

4. Nixon and the cold war • Key? What were some of Nixon’s foreign-policy goals? • Nixon aimed for world stability • During campaign, promised to “end the Vietnam war quickly and honorably,” but the war ended four years later • Nixon visited “Red” (communist) China in February 1972 • Visited Soviet Russia in May 1972, formed the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) which limited the amount of nuclear weapons each country could own

5. Watergate • Nixon aimed for a landslide victory for his re-election • In 1972, five men (who were later linked to Nixon’s re-election campaign) carrying listening devices and camera were caught trying to break into the Democratic Party campaign complex in the Watergate Hotel Complex • Nixon ordered a cover-up of the burglary, asked the CIA to halt the FBI investigation • Nixon said that his assistant John Dean investigated the incident and found that the crime had nothing to do with his campaign, but John Dean didn’t actually do that

6. watergate • A check was found in the bank account of one of the burglars from the Nixon administration • Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, key reporters • “Deep Throat” (later revealed to be FBI associate director Mark Felt), inside informant • In 1973, one of the burglars gave names of people in the cover-up, they resigned • Senate created a committee to investigate the scandal • Revealed that everything in the White House was recorded on tape

7. watergate • Battle for Nixon to reveal tapes • Nixon originally gave edited tapes • Supreme Court ordered him to give the tapes, he finally gave them • Tapes revealed plans to blackmail and conversations with Dean about the cover-up • Secretary claimed to have accidentally deleted 18.5 min of tapes • Nixon, in a dangerous position, resigned • Ford immediately pardoned him

8. Ford • Key? What challenges faced presidents Ford and Carter? • Spiro Agnew, Nixon’s Vice President accepted bribes, resigned in 1973 • Nixon selected Gerald Ford, who became the first unelected president • After pardon, many people disagreed, lost popularity • Lost election to James Carter, an outsider who promised a policy of honesty

9. carter • Outsider, politics difficult for him • 1977, oil and natural gas shortage, cuts to other programs • Carter tried to promote alternate energy, but was unpopular among the people • OPEC increased prices, inflation around 10% and unemployment rose • Carter solved conflict with Panama over Panama Canal • Camp David Accords, treaty between Egypt and Isreael