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Chapter 32,33

Chapter 32,33. Post-Watergate: Politics and Society from Ford to Bush. Gerald Ford took office August 9, 1974. Michigan congressman conveyed likeable decency Pardoned Nixon for any and all crimes , shielding him from prosecution Americans were outraged.

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Chapter 32,33

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  1. Chapter 32,33 Post-Watergate: Politics and Society from Ford to Bush

  2. Gerald Ford took office August 9, 1974 • Michigan congressman conveyed likeable decency • Pardoned Nixon for any and all crimes , shielding him from prosecution • Americans were outraged

  3. Conservative: vetoed environmental, social-welfare bills • Economic problems: oil prices shot up Arab oil embargo • OPEC price hikes • Consumer prices rose in 1 year 23% • Unemployment: 11%

  4. Oil prices hurt the US Auto industry • 225,000 workers laid off by GM,Ford, Chrysler • SALT II victory: 2400 nuclear missiles each for US/USSR • South Vietnam fell 1975

  5. 1776 Election year/Bicentennial Declaration of Independence

  6. Gerald Ford vs. Jimmy Carter • 1976 ELECTION Results • Jimmy Carter Democrat 40,827,394 (49.9%) 297 • Gerald Ford Republican 39,145,977 (47.9%) • Carter enjoyed large Democratic majorities in Congress. • Democrats so dominant,the Republicans seemingly doomed by Watergate

  7. Jimmy Carter: The Outsider • Georgia peanut grower • Post-Watergate themes: honest, religious, Washington outsider • rejected trappings of imperial presidency • populist symbolism • appointed women, minorities

  8. Carter’s Domestic Agenda • Fought recession with tax cut, public works program • Fought federal spending, wanted administrative reforms • Called for overhaul of welfare system,income tax reform

  9. Foreign Policy Under Carter • Urged attention human rights, abuses in Chile, Argentina, Ethiopia, South Africa • Gave back Panama Canal • Issues in South Korea/Philippines weredownplayed

  10. Foreign Affairs continued • Full diplomatic relations restored with China • SALT II talks with Russia dissolved when Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan • Anti-Soviet measures: boycott 1980 Olympics

  11. Camp David Accords • Middle East is where Carter had his proudest achievement, bitterest setback • Peace treaty between Anwar Sadat (EGYPT) and Menachem Begin (Israel) • Timetable for West Bank/Gaza Strip

  12. 1979: Iranian Crisis • Iran had been ruled by the Shah, repressive but pro-US regime • Ayatollah Khomeini led revolt against him, imposed strict Islamic rule, preached hatred of US • Shah fled to US for cancer treatment • US embassy stormed, 50 US hostages seized • 444 day ordeal/rescue attempt failed

  13. Carter’s Term Ends in Sea of Trouble • Prices rose 13% • Second oil crisis: 30 cents a gallon to $100 • Federal Reserve Board: 20% loan rate by 1980 • Stagflation: business stagnation, price inflation

  14. Reagan Revolution • Promised to reverse tax/spend policies of Democrats • attacked the social welfare ideology of New Deal, Fair Deal, Great Society • revived national pride • revived belligerent rhetoric of Cold War, intensified Soviet arms race

  15. What underlay Reagan’s appeal? • Poor economy+ easy solution: dramatic tax cut boost tax revenues • George Bush called it “voodoo economics” • Cold War rhetoric; US would stay ahead • Uncomplicated patriotism

  16. Reaganomics • 30% tax cut • Lost revenue meant massive cuts in school lunches, student loans, mass transit • Secretary of Interior James Watt opened federal wilderness lands, forest lands, coastal waters to developers

  17. Reagan Confronts “Evil Empire” • Communists focus of evil: El Salvador/Nicaragua • Backed military junta to defeat leftists • Sandinistas assaulted by contras, linked to Somoza regime • invaded Grenada in 1983 • Star Wars missile defense plan

  18. Reagan • US tilted toward Saddam Hussein in his long war with Iran • 2000 Marines stationed attacked by suicide bomber in Lebanon ; 239 killed • “Teflon” president: nothing seemed to stck to him • Appointed first woman justice: Sandra Day O’Connor

  19. Middle East Crisis • Palestinian uprisings in late 1980’s • Israel continued to build Jewish settlements • Qaddafi’s bombing of Berlin nightclub, Line of Death Pronouncement • US bombers hit five Libyan targets

  20. Iran-Contra Scandal • In 1986 US shipped, via Israel, 508 antitank missiles to anti-American government of Iran • Oliver North diverted profits from Iran arms sales to the Contras, at a time when Congress forbade such aid • No proof of Reagan’s personal knowledge • considered abuse of executive power

  21. Mission to Moscow • At Reykjavik, Iceland new arms control negotiations • led to cordial relationship • At 1988 election, George Bush likely leader

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