The Nixon Years

1. The Nixon Years 1968 to 1974

2. The New Conservative Movement • Nixon is elected President in Nov. 1968 • His goals included: • Limiting federal government/reduce its power • Reverse Johnson’s policies • Restore U.S.’s status in the world that has been damaged by the Vietnam War

3. The New Conservative Movement • Nixon thought that the Federal govt. was too big and powerful. • His plan, called New Federalism*, was to give that power back to state and local govts. • To pay for it, revenue sharing was created • State and local govts. could spend federal $$ how they want to with some limits (examples today?) • Considered successful

4. The New Conservative Movement • Welfare Reform is Nixon’s next plan • Wanted a program that would reduce role of supervising by Federal govt. • Would make welfare recipients responsible for own lives • Senate would not approve and bill to make changes died in 1970

5. The New Conservative Movement • The rest of the changes: • To get what he wanted, Nixon compromised with Democrats who had the majority in Congress • Increased Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and Food Stamps (aka entitlement programs)*

6. Eyes on the Next Term • Southern Strategy • The “New South” is where Nixon tried to appeal to conservative Democrats* in the South • They were unhappy with Great Society programs that were too liberal* • Nixon also slows integration in the South to appeal to white voters– violates Brown (we all know about this, eh?) • Also tries to stop busing students to integrate schools

7. Supreme Court Changes • Nixon has the opportunity to shape the Supreme Court – • Four justices retire – especially Chief Justice Earl Warren whose decisions reflected liberal changes • Decisions included: Brown v. Board, banning prayer in school, limited power of communities to censor books and films, free speech by wearing black armbands to school is allowed, reapportionment of congressional districts, and rights of the accused (Mapp v Ohio, Gideon v. Wainright, Miranda v. Arizona)

8. The Economy • Nixon has to Deal with Stagflation • High inflation and high unemployment • OPEC – Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries – cut off exports to the US after US gave support to Israel in the Yom Kippur War in 1973 • Result was that gas prices rose 4X

9. Foreign Policy Wins • Henry Kissinger is Secretary of State • Based on “realpolitik” – means political realism in German – foreign policy is based on the power a nation has - Weak power= being ignored • Called this détente – to lessen Cold War tensions • BIG RESULT: Nixon visits China in February ‘72 AND visits Moscow in May ’72 • SALT I Treaty is the result of the Moscow visit. • BUT Vietnam is not over….

10. WATERGATE • Name of scandal that led to President Nixon’s resignation. First, last and only one so far… • Nixon’s administration attempt to cover up a burglary at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) HQ in DC.

11. WATERGATE • Background: • Nixon entered office at time when Presidential power was at a peak b/c of Depression, WWII, & Cold War • Examples of Nixon’s use (or abuse) of power were • Holding back federal funds for programs he opposed • Sending troops into Cambodia w/o approval from Congress

12. WATERGATE • The president’s men: • H.R. Haldeman – White House Chief of Staff • John Ehrlichman – Chief Domestic Adviser • John Mitchell – Nixon’s former Attorney General All helped Nixon get elected in ‘68 and led White House policies and all believed in secrecy, consolidating power and that they were above the law

13. WATERGATE • Nixon was running for reelection and his campaign team wanted to get an advantage over the Democrats • 5 men were caught breaking into the Dem. Campaign HQ on June 17, 1972. Plan was to photograph document and wiretap phones.

14. WATERGATE • Leader of burglars was James McCord, a former CIA agent. • He also was security coordinator for Committee to Reelect the President (CRP) • John Mitchell, former Attorney General, was CRP’s director • Cover up starts – documents in Haldeman’s office shredded

15. WATERGATE • Two Washington Post reporters, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein wrote a series of stories that uncovered info and linked the White House to the break in and cover up. • The Post published information connecting Nixon’s administrative staff to the burglary. • White House denies it, public not interested. • Nixon reelected in 1972.

16. WATERGATE • The trial of the burglars begin in January 1973, Judge John Sirica says the men did not act alone. • Right before sentencing, James McCord sent a letter to Judge Sirica that he lied under oath (what is that term?) and more powerful people are involved.

17. WATERGATE • Nixon fired White House counsel John Dean, and Haldeman, Ehrlichman and Attorney General Richard Kleindienst resigned. • Nixon then went on TV and denied a cover-up. • Too little, too late. May 1973, the Senate began to investigate Watergate. Dean testified to the famous question “What did the President know and when did he know it?”

18. WATERGATE • Dean said Nixon knew A LOT. Dean testified that Nixon was in a meeting that talked about how to keep on hiding the truth. • Testimony from presidential aide Alexander Butterfield said that Nixon taped almost ALL conversations in his office. • Took a year for the tapes to be released.

19. WATERGATE • Resulted in the “Saturday Night Massacre” • Special prosecutor Archibald Cox subpoenas the tapes, Nixon refuses • Nixon wants Cox fired, A.G. Elliot Richardson refuses • Results in Richardson resigning-his deputy AG refuses to fire Cox too-so, Solicitor General Robert Bork fires Cox • Cox’s replacement, Leon Jaworski wants to get the tapes

20. WATERGATE • Right before “Saturday Night Massacre”, Vice President Spiro Agnew resigns b/c he accepted bribes when governor of Maryland • 25th amendment kicks in – Nixon nominates Gerald Ford as new VP and congress confirms

21. WATERGATE • The beginning of the end… • March 1974 – grand jury indicts 7 presidential aides of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and perjury • Nixon releases 1200+ pages of EDITED transcripts of what was on tapes • Not good enough-Supreme Court said on 7-24-74 to release tapes

22. WATERGATE • S. Court refused to agree with Nixon’s argument that info on tapes would hurt national security, evidence about criminal activity cannot be withheld, even by the president • Nixon maintains innocence saying “I am not a crook” • House Judiciary Cttee approves 3 articles of impeachment on 7-27-74 – obstruction of justice, abuse of power and contempt of Congress

23. WATERGATE • Nixon releases tapes 8-5-74, have lots of gaps, especially a 18.5 minute one. • White House says secretary Rose Mary Woods accidentally erased it – was with Haldeman and Nixon AND another tape 6 days after break in had enough info to get Nixon • Nixon resigns 8-8-74 later Ford is sworn in as Prez

24. EFFECTS OF WATERGATE • 25 members of Nixon’s administration were convicted of crimes and served prison terms • Combined with Vietnam, public distrust in elected officials lingers today