ADMINISTRATION OF NIXON, FORD, & CARTER

ADMINISTRATION OFNIXON, FORD, & CARTER

NIXON’S FOREIGN POLICY • Détente-deliberate reduction of cold war tensions • China-Feb. 1972, traveled to Beijing to meet with Mao Zedong (communist leader), First president to visit China, led to US recognition of Peoples Republic of China in 1979

NIXON’S FOREIGN POLICY • Soviet Union-New relationship with China put pressure on Soviets to meet and discuss limiting anti-ballistic missiles (ABMs), Nixon travels to USSR • Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I)- Agree to freeze the number of ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads

NIXON’S DOMESTIC POLICY • New Federalism-shifted some social programs (welfare) back to state governments • Economy-”stagflation”-economic slowdown and high inflation • Imposed 90 day wage and price freeze • Took US off gold standard • Improve Economy

NIXON’S DOMESTIC POLICY • Southern Strategy-Nixon wanted support in the South • Appealed to “Silent Majority”-southern democrats who were concerned with the liberal turn of the party • Delayed integration by busing (court rejected) • Appointed two southern judges to Supreme Court (Senate rejected)

BURGER COURT • Four justices resign • Nixon’s opportunity to replace liberal judges with conservatives • 1969-appoints Warren Burger, Chief Justice • Two nominees rejected by Senate • Harry Blackman-Nixon’s favorite, accepted, moderate-ironically will write the pro-abortion ruling in Roe v. Wade • During Watergate-Court he appointed and should have controlled will deny his claims to executive privilege

ELECTION OF 1972 • Nixon’s re-election assured by three factors-popularity of foreign policy, removal of nominee George Wallace by attempted assassination, and nomination of Democrat George McGovern-very liberal

ELECTION OF 1972 • Results: Nixon wins by landslide • 60% of popular vote • Carried all states except Massachusetts • Broke “solid South”-supported first Republican since 1860 • Made revelations about Watergate scandal so shocking

WATERGATE SCANDAL • June 1972,During campaign for re-election,-group of men hired by Nixon’s re-election committee were caught breaking into Democratic National Headquarters in the Watergate complex • Led to uncovering of a series of illegal acts and tricks conducted by the Nixon Administration and The Committee to Re-elect the President (CRE(E)P)

WATERGATE SCANDAL • Nixon orders wiretaps on government employees to find those leaking information • Presidential aides created group called “the plumbers” their job was to discredit individuals thought to be leaking information

WATERGATE SCANDAL • Investigators had no solid proof that Nixon knew about the break in • However, they did have proof that Nixon had helped in the cover up • Discovered an “enemies list”-names of Americans who opposed Nixon • Discovery of taping system throughout the White House including the Oval Office • Nixon claimed the tapes could not be used as evidence because they were classified as an executive privilege

RESIGNATION • Fall 1973-Vice President, Spiro Agnew, forced to resign when it is discovered that he took bribes as the governor of Maryland • Nixon appoints Gerald Ford (minority leader in the House) to Vice President • July 1974-Nixon forced to turn over tapes

RESIGNATION • House of Representatives indicts on three articles of impeachment • Obstruction of justice • Abuse of power • Contempt of Congress

RESIGNATION • Tapes have enough proof to impeach and convict • August 9th, 1974-Nixon resigns • Ford becomes the first unelected president

FORD’S ADMINISTRATION • Most controversial act-granted Nixon full and unconditional pardon • Economic recession-unemployment over 9%-worst since the Great Depression • Tried to restore morals and humility to the White House • Majority of public still do not trust Republicans

ELECTION OF 1976 • Republican-nominated Ford, although heavily challenged by Ronald Reagan • Democrats nominate James “Jimmy” Carter • Close election-Carter wins 287 to 241

CARTER’S ADMINISTRATION • Human Rights-Focus of Foreign Policy • Gave ultimatum to South Africa, Argentina, and Chile-rights to citizens or the US would cut off trade • Panama Canal (1978) • Re-negotiated Panama Canal Treaty • Turnover the canal to Panama by 2000 • Cost him the 1980 election-very unpopular

CARTER’S ADMINISTRATION • Camp David Accords (Sept. 1978) • Greatest achievement of Presidency • Invited Egyptian President, Anwar Sadat, and Israeli Prime Minister, Menachen Begin, to Camp David • Negotiated peace settlement between the two countries • Treaty opposed by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and most of the Arab world because Egypt recognized the Nation of Israel

CARTER’S ADMINISTRATION • Iran Hostage Crisis (1979) • Shah of Iran supported by the US because he adopted western policies that were unpopular in Middle East • Islamic fundamentalists in Iran led by the Ayatollah Khomeini overthrew the Shah • Oil production came to a halt causing a worldwide oil shortage

CARTER’S ADMINISTRATION • Iran Hostage Crisis (1979) • Nov. 1979-Fundamentalists seized the US embassy in Tehran and held 50 Americans hostage • April 1980-Carter approved a rescue attempt by Blackhawk helicopters • The mission was aborted when the helicopters broke down over the desert • Failure will by used by the Republicans in the 1980 election

CARTER’S ADMINISTRATION • SALT II Treaty (1979)-limited size of nuclear delivery system-Senate rejected • Afghanistan (Dec. 1979) • Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan • Carter orders embargo on grain and technology exports to the Soviet Union • Give support to rebel government-Taliban • To show disapproval-US boycotts the 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow

ELECTION OF 1980 • Democrat nominee-Pres. Carter (although heavily challenged by Ted Kennedy) • Republican nominee-Ronald Reagan, Gov. of California-”Are you better off then you were four years ago?” • Results-Reagan received 51% of popular vote and 91% of electoral vote • Significance-blue collar workers abandoned the Democratic party, Republicans majority in the Senate, and “working” majority in House. Marked the end to 50 years of Democratic dominance in Congress

SOCIETY IN THE 1970S • Population: 205 million • Average salary: $7600 • Life expectancy: Males-64, Females-75 • Prices: Bread- 24 cents; Milk- 33 cents; Steak-1.30/pound

Art in 1970s • Popular forms of expression in Earth Art and Pop Act • Wanted people to question their interpretation of reality

Architecture • Sears Tower in Chicago-World’s tallest building-1974 • National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC-1976

Literature • Main theme-Man’s alienation from his spiritual roots • Top authors-John Updike and Kurt Vonnegut

Music • Due to the break up of the Beatles and the death of Elvis, Rock N Roll divides into splinter groups • Soft Rock • Hard Rock • Punk Rock • Dance craze of the decade-Disco

Movies and Television • Due to new technologies in sound the motion picture industry makes a come back with blockbusters such as; Star Wars, Rocky, The Godfather, and Saturday Night Fever • All were relived in sequels • Television explored new controversial topics like abortion, race, and homosexuality in shows like: All in the Family and Saturday Night Live • The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is created bringing children’s shows like Sesame Street • People were also glued to their sets watching live broadcasts of the Watergate Hearings

ADMINISTRATION OF NIXON, FORD, & CARTER