The Nixon Years

1. The Nixon Years

2. The Crises of 1968

3. MLK Assassinated • April 4, 1968 • Memphis, TN • Shot by James Earl Ray • Rioting followed in 124 cities.

4. RFK Assassinated • March 16, 1968 RFK entered the Presidential race. • Ran on an anti-war platform. • June 5—he won the CA primary • After the victory speech RFK was shot and died the next day.

5. 1968 Democratic Convention • Held in Chicago • Party was in shambles • VP Hubert Humphrey was set to be nominated • Radicals, peace activists and hippies vowed to descend on the city. • Mayor Richard Daley ordered: • The convention hall enclosed by chain link and barb wire fencing • Police to clear out protestors

6. Delegates voted down a peace resolution • Protestors rallied near the hotel. • Police moved in and used nightsticks on everyone—protestors, bystanders, guests, and reporters. • Violence was seen on TV and protestors chanted, “The whole world is watching.”

7. Election of 1968 • Rep’s—Nixon • Dem’s—Hubert Humphrey • American Independent Party—George C. Wallace • “Left-wing theoreticians” • “Briefcase-totin’ bureaucrats” • “Ivory-tower guideline writers” • “Smart-aleck editorial writers” • “Pointy-headed professors” • Result in Electoral College • Nixon 302 • Humphrey 191 • Wallace 45

8. The Nixon Administration

9. Nixon’s Personality • Reserved and remote • Grew up in a poor family and always flet like an outsider • Had a “mean side to his nature”—willing to say or do anything to defeat his enemies (Pat Buchanan) • Had few close friends • Wanted the executive branch to dominate the other branches

10. Nixon’s Staff • Chief of Staff—H.R. Haldeman • Chief Domestic Adviser—John Ehrlichman • Attorney General—John Mitchell • Head of National Security Council (NSC) and later Secretary of State—Henry Kissinger • Haldeman and Ehrlichman shielded the President and became known as the “Berlin Wall”

11. Domestic Policy • Economy • Inflation • Doubled b/w1965 and 1968 • Was Nixon’s 1st priority • Unemployment • Was high • 1971—Announced that he would follow Keynesian Economics and began deficit spending

12. The Oil Crisis • 1973—Israel went to war with Egypt and Syria. • US supported Israel • Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) imposed an oil embargo on the US • Oil prices skyrocketed and gas shortages occurred. • Inflation soared and a recession ensued w/ 9% unemployment

13. Social Programs • Nixon sought to cut the size of government • He cut or closed many of the programs of the Great Society • Law and Order • Stood tough against protestors and radicals. • Said that a, “silent majority of Americans blamed them for many rising social ills.

14. Moon Landing • July 29, 1969 at 10:56 PM • Neil A. Armstrong stepped off the Eagle onto the moon. • Said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant step for mankind.”

15. Nixon’s Foreign Policy

16. Henry Kissinger • Secretary of State • Practiced realpolitik “practical politics”—decisions based on maintaining strength,, not principle.

17. Détente • Relaxation of tensions • Nixon’s policy toward the USSR • More open to negotiation • Exploited the competition b/w the USSR and Communist China.

18. China • Sought to open relations w/ China to force the Soviets hand. • Jan. and Feb. 1970—US and Chinese ambassadors met. • Oct 1970—Nixon used the official title “People’s Republic of China” in a speech • March 1971—lifted restrictions on travel to China. • April 1971—Ping Pong Diplomacy • June 1971—ended 21 yr. trade embargo. • July 1971—announced he would become 1st President to visit China. • Feb. 1972—Went to China and met Mao Zedong

19. Limiting Nuclear Arms • 1972—Nixon met w/ Russian Premier Leonid I. Brezhnev and agreed to: • Work together in space • Ease trade limits • Negotiate weapons limitation • Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I) 1972 • 5 yr. agreement • Held # of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) and Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) at 1972 levels.

20. Watergate

21. Siege Mentality • Nixon was extremely secretive and paranoid. • Enemies List • Developed by Charles W. Colson • Prominent people unsympathetic to the administration • i.e.—Sen. Edward Kennedy, Jane Fonda, Steve McQueen, etc. • Aides considered how to harass Whitehouse enemies i.e..—IRS audits, etc. • Wiretaps • 1969—Someone on the NSC leaked info. To the press • Nixon ordered Kissinger (Head of NSC) to wiretap Whitehouse staff.

22. The Plumbers • 1971—Daniel Ellsberg leaked the “Pentagon Papers” • Nixon was upset that Ellsberg got away w/ leaking classified documents. • Nixon authorized the formation of a Whitehouse unit nicknamed “the Plumbers” that would stop government leaks. • Key Members—E. Howard Hunt (former CIA) and G. Gordon Liddy (former FBI). • Unit broke into Ellsberg’s psychiatrist’s office to get damaging info. to release.

23. The Watergate Break-in • Committee to Re-elect the President • Whitehouse committee formed to help Nixon win. • Included Liddy and Hunt • Carried out several questionable plans. • The Idea • Wiretap Democratic National Committee HQ in the Watergate Apartment Complex in D.C. • Liddy would oversee the operation • First Break-in failed

24. June 16, 1972—Second Break-in • Operatives were discovered by security guard Frank Willis • Fiver were arrested • Money found on the men was traced to Nixon’s campaign. • The Cover-up • Nixon knew nothing about the break-in b/4 it happened • Nixon asked the CIA to convince the FBI to stop the investigation b/c it involved “National Security.” • Aides worked hard to keep the truth hidden • Haldeman, Ehrlichman, Mitchell, and others gave hush money to defendants. • 1972—Nixon won reelection.

25. Watergate Unfolds • Nixon had said that no one in the Whitehouse or administration were involved. • The Trial • All 5 pleaded guilty or were found guilty. • Judge Sirica suggested cooperation in Senate hearings could result in reduced sentences.

26. Woodward and Bernstein • Reporters for the Washington Post • Gained info. From an inside informant. • Pursued the story and broke it.

27. Senate Investigation • Watergate burglar James McCord testified in secret session and indicated Nixon staffers • April 1973—Nixon fired Haldeman and Ehrlichman • May 1973—Televised hearings began • John Dean (President’s personal counsel) tried to save himself by indicating Nixon in the cover up. • An aide revealed that the Pres. Had a secret taping system in his office.

28. The “Saturday Night Massacre” • May 1973—Nixon agreed to the appointment of a special prosecutor—Archibald Cox • Cox immediately requested the tapes from the oval office. • Nixon refused. • Cox persisted and Nixon went to the Justice Dept. on Sat. Oct. 20, 1973, and ordered the Att. Gen. Elliot Richardson to fire Cox • The Att. Gen. refused and Nixon fired him. • That night Nixon continued to force resignations and firings until Robert Bork finally agreed to fire Cox. • Bork later said that he did it b/c he believed Nixon would have fired everyone in the Justice Dept. down to the janitor.

29. Falling Apart • Cox was replaced by Leon Jaworski • Jaworski also asked for the tapes. • Nixon released a few edited tapes. • B/4 the Sat. Night Massacre, VP Spiro Agnew had to resign b/c of charges of tax evasion and bribery. • Nixon chose Gerald R. Ford to replace him and the Senate approved.

30. Nixon Resigns • July 1974—The House began hearings on whether or not to impeach Nixon • They voted to recommend impeachment • August 5, 1974—Nixon released the rest oft eh tapes. One had an 18 ½ min. gap. • August 9, 1974—Nixon became the first President to resign. • Gerald Ford became President • Ford said, “Our long national nightmare is over.” • Believing a trial would divide the nation, Ford pardoned Nixon. • The Constitutional system had prevailed.