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The Nixon Years. 1969-1974. Richard Nixon. Vietnam War. New Strategy renew Bombing of North change draft system Vietnamization - let South Vietnamese fight Protests continue - 300,000 to DC in ‘69. The 1970’s. Cambodia invaded
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The Nixon Years 1969-1974
Vietnam War • New Strategy • renew Bombing of North • change draft system • Vietnamization - let South Vietnamese fight • Protests continue- 300,000 to DC in ‘69
The 1970’s • Cambodia invaded • 4 Kent State (Ohio) students killed in protest over Cambodia invasion • Jackson State - 2 students killed by police • Colleges go on strike
You know, you see these bums, you know, blowin' up the campuses. Listen, the boys that are on the college campuses today are the luckiest people in the world, going to the greatest universities, and here they are, burnin' up the books, I mean, stormin' around about this issue, I mean, you name it —- get rid of the war, there'll be another one. -- Richard Nixon, New York Times, May 2, 1970
The War Ends • 1969-73 De-escalation • Paris Accords - Jan ‘73 - Americans agree to pull out • ‘75 - Saigon Falls (Capital of S. Vietnam)
Easing the Cold War • Nixon takes steps to build better relations with communist countries • Visits Red China & Moscow • Détente - replace confrontation w/cooperation
Easing the Cold War • SALT I – Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty signed with USSR • Shuttle Diplomacy – Sect. Of State Henry Kissinger acted as 3rd party intermediary between belligerent nations • Forms U.S.-China anti-Soviet alliance
More on Nixon/Kissinger Foreign Policy • Did nothing to discourage Pakistan from committing genocide in India • Multiple interventions in Latin America to support non-communist governments • Instigated military coup in Chile • Supported dictatorships in Argentina, Indonesia and Africa
Build-up to Watergate • 1972 Presidential Campaign • Worried about Vietnam & inflation • The “Enemies List”– Included journalists, politicians, Democratic donors, etc. • Landslide Victory over George McGovern
Watergate Scandal • Break in at Watergate Hotel • Republican “plumbers” install listening devices to spy on Democrats • 1973 - Senate holds hearings on scandal • VP Spiro Agnew resigns after taking bribes
The Crisis Deepens • Congressbegins considering impeachment • If found guilty by 2/3 of Senate he would be forced out • Nixon resigned rather than face impeachment