Reading #VI: Nixon & Foreign Affairs

1. Reading #VI: Nixon & Foreign Affairs

2. Henry Kissinger is the architect of American foreign policy in the Nixon & Ford years. • National Security Advisor & Sec. of State in the Nixon & Ford Administrations from 1969 to 1977. Major diplomatic accomplishments..... • Negotiated the Paris Peace Accords that ended the Vietnam War • Responsible for détente with the Soviet Union • Facilitated the opening of the People's Republic of China • Key role in the Middle East peace negotiations during this time

3. The China Card (1972) • The US never diplomatically recognized the People’s Republic of China (PRC). • Nixon’s goal was to form an alliance with PRC in order to pressure the USSR into being more cooperative. The thought of the US & PRC cooperating would create Soviet suspicion & give the US leverage against the USSR. • Nixon establishes diplomatic relations with the PRC... -The PRC communist government is recognized -The US will support PRC’s admission to the UN -The US & PRC begin trade Improved relations with the PRC is often cited as the most successful diplomatic achievements of Nixon’s Presidency.

4. President Nixon & the First Lady visit China & walk the Great Wall. • The first time a U.S. President visited the PRC. • The visit ended 25 years of fear & hostility strained relations.

5. The cultural ice breaker between China & US...Ping Pong DiplomacyJuly, 1971 Forest Gump plays ping pong... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJP5svbymi0

6. Nixon plays the “China Card”... • Three months after the China visit the Soviets want to talk • Nixon meets with Soviet Premier Brezhnev regarding... -Nuclear arms reduction -Selling grain to the Soviets... Due to a food crisis in the Soviet Union Brezhnev & Nixon

7. S.A.L.T. I (1972)Strategic Arms Limitations Talks The U.S. & USSR reach the first agreement on limiting their offensive intercontinental ballistic missiles.

8. Détente(French meaning: Relaxation) Nixon & Kissinger are credited with having opened up a period of détente. A period in the late 70s in which Cold War tensions were reduced.

9. The Yom Kippur War October, 1973 • A coalition of Arab nations (primarily Egypt & Syria) attack Israel on Yom Kippur in 1973. • This was a Cold War confrontation... The US & Soviet Union supply their respective allies during the war & this almost led to war between the two superpowers. • Results of the Yom Kippur War... • Israel fought the aggressors & regained territory lost in the previous Six Day War. • Israel took territory from Syria & Egypt. • Henry Kissinger helps negotiate a settlement.

10. 1973 Oil (Energy) Crisis As a result of the Yom Kippur War, OPEC stops shipments of oil to nations supporting Israel Oil Producing & Exporting Countries...

11. The Oil Crisis - October, 1973 • Gas prices double • No gas + gas rationing • Gas lines… Fist fights • Siphoning… Gas locks

12. Nixon’s response… • Created the Dept. of Energy • 10% cut in air travel • 55 MPH Speed limit • State & local response… • Winter break or “energy break” for schools

13. Reading #VIII:The Nixon Economy

14. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) • Nixon supported the creation of the EPA • Charged with protecting the environment & human health related to the environment.

15. Occupational, Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Nixon established this agency to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses & deaths by enforcing workplace safety rules.

16. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) The US law enforcement agency that combats drug smuggling & use within the US.

17. Roe v. Wade (1973) • The U S Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. • Decided that the right to privacy under the 14th Amendment extended to a woman's decision to have an abortion.

18. The Apollo 11 LaunchJuly 16, 1969 July 20, 1969 "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." -Neil Armstrong

19. 1972 Presidential Election • Nixon has been successful in his first term... • A good economy • Ending American involvement in the Vietnam War • The diplomatic opening of China

20. George McGovernLiberal Democrat McGovern on the issues... • Anti-war… Return our POWs • Reduce defense spending • $6,500 minimum income for Americans • Supports the Equal Rights Amendment for women & abortion • Amnesty for Vietnam draft evaders • Acid (LSD) The perception of many voters was that he was a left-wing extremist.

21. Big problems for McGovern... • Senator Thomas Eagleton ran as McGovern’s VP candidate • Eagleton had undergone electroshock therapy for depression &the press played up the issue • McGovern consulted with doctors & was advised that the depression could reoccur • McGovern dismissed Eagleton. ..the lack of conviction was perceived badly & hurt McGovern’s campaign ... McGovern's poll ratings had plunged from 41% to 24% • Six prominent Democrats refused the VP nomination • Sargent Shriver, brother-in-law to JFK, RFK & TK, accepted.

22. 1972 Election – A Landslide win • Results of the 1968 Election • Electoral College / % Pop Vote • Nixon: 520… 60.7% • McGovern: 17… 37.5%

23. Nixon & Dirty Tricks-Deceitful, unethical or unfair political strategies Nixon’s dirty tricks… • Breaking into Ellsberg's psychiatrists office • Nixon used the FBI to gather info on political rivals • Manufactured, irrelevant, cruel & incorrect rumors about political rivals • Nixon accepted illegal campaign contributions

24. Two important terms moving forward... Committee to Re-elect the President (CREEP) • A private group of loyal Nixon supporters who raised money to reelect the President. The money was funneled into to paying for Nixon’s “dirty tricks.” • The White House Plumbers or Plumbers • Nixon’s covert investigation group • The Plumbers were financed by CREEP & became involved in many illegal activities ...Dirty tricks

25. The Watergate Hotel Forrest Gump & Watergate... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_f4rEqaOds

26. An overview of Watergate... • CREEP breaks into the offices of the Democratic National Committee NC (Watergate Hotel) - 5 arrested & convicted • Questions arise ...Who would want to do this? • RMN denies any knowledge of the incident • Washington Post Reporters (Woodward & Bernstein) follow evidence that traces the crime back to the oval office & Nixon. • Congress appoints a special prosecutor & conducts an investigation • The hearings are televised unravel a troubling pattern of wrongdoing • The existence of recorded oval office tapes is revealed • The special prosecutor demands the tapes… Nixon refuses claiming “executive privilege” • Nixon fires the special prosecutor over the tape issue • The tape issue becomes a Supreme Court case and the court orders the tapes be turned over as evidence. ...the issue is executive privilege vs. criminal evidence

27. The Nixon tapes reveal… • Nixon ordering the Watergate break-in & Watergate cover-up • Nixon ordering government agencies to harass private citizens

28. RMN: Resigns August 9, 1974 * The first US President to resign

29. Vice President Spiro T. Agnew In 1973 Spiro Agnew resigns as a result of … - Receiving “kick backs” (money given for state contracts ...illegal!) as the Gov. of MD. - Income tax evasion

30. Gerald Ford President Gerald Ford Taking the oath of office • On Oct. of 1973, VP Agnew resigns & Gerald Ford was sworn in as the VP • The Watergate investigation continued & evidence linking Nixon to Watergate was discovered. ... The “smoking gun” had been found in the tapes • In Ford’s words... "Al Haig [asked] to come over and see me," ..."to tell me that there would be a new tape released on a Monday, and he said the evidence in there was devastating and there would probably be either an impeachment or a resignation. And he said, 'I'm just warning you that you've got to be prepared, that things might change dramatically and you could become President.' And I said, Betty (his wife), I don't think we're ever going to live in the vice president's house.”