1 / 25

Limits of a Superpower, 1969-1980

HIST 202 - HESEN. Limits of a Superpower, 1969-1980. Richard Nixon’s Foreign Policy. January 1969 – inaugural address Bring Americans together Alienated himself “Imperial Presidency” Henry Kissinger – Nixon’s chief security advisor. Nixon and Vietnam. 500,000 troops in Vietnam

danyl
Download Presentation

Limits of a Superpower, 1969-1980

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. HIST 202 - HESEN Limits of a Superpower, 1969-1980

  2. Richard Nixon’s Foreign Policy • January 1969 – inaugural address • Bring Americans together • Alienated himself • “Imperial Presidency” • Henry Kissinger – Nixon’s chief security advisor

  3. Nixon and Vietnam • 500,000 troops in Vietnam • Wanted to reduce U.S. involvement in war • Wanted to avoid perception of defeat • U.S. was seeking “peace with honor”

  4. “Vietnamization” • Gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops • Send S. Vietnam money to help rebuild • Allowed advisors to train S. Vietnamese • Troops – 540,000 in 1969….30,000 in 1972 • Nixon Doctrine

  5. Opposition to Nixon • 1970 – U.S. invades Cambodia • Nationwide protests • Kent State University • Jackson State • Repealed Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • My Lai Massacre • Pentagon Papers • Daniel Ellsberg

  6. Peace in Vietnam • 1972 – “Peace is at hand” • More B-52 bomber attacks on N. Vietnam • Paris Accords – Nov. 1973 • Cease fire • Free elections • War ended in 1975 • 58,000 American lives lost • $118 billion spent

  7. Détente with China and Soviet Union • Nixon and Kissinger • Focused on China and USSR • Détente – reduction of Cold War tensions • Nixon in China • First pres. to visit China (1972) • Visit led to discussions and recognition of Chinese govt. (1979)

  8. Détente with China and Soviet Union • Arms control with USSR • Used relations with China • Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) • Asked Soviets to freeze missile production • No nuclear testing • Significant drop in tension

  9. Nixon’s Domestic Policy • The New Federalism • Nixon tried to rid Johnson’s GS plans • Clean water and clean air • Native American rights • Civil rights • Put control of social programs in state and local hands

  10. Nixon’s Economic Policies • Recession – 1970 • High inflation + economic slowdown = stagflation • Increased tariffs 10% • Price and wage fixed for 90 days • Recession ended in 1972

  11. Southern Strategy • 43% of southern votes in 1968 • Wanted to appeal to South • “Silent Majority” • Delayed integration plans • Nominated two southern conservatives to S. Court

  12. Election of 1972 • Southern Strategy was successful • Election was assured by: • Visit to China and policies towards USSR • Hyperliberal Democratic candidate – George McGovern

  13. Watergate • June 1972 • Nixon’s reelection committee broke into Democratic offices • CREEP – Committee to Re-Elect the President • Plumbers – stopped leaks • Enemies Lists • Bugging, break-ins

  14. 1973 • Watergate Scandal • Resignation of high profile political members • War Powers Act – limited President’s powers during war • Congress must approve any action lasting more than 60 days

  15. Nixon Resigns • August 4, 1974 • Nixon resigns amid criticism • Several members of his staff also resign • House Judiciary Committee • Obstruction of justice • Abuse of power • Contempt of Congress

  16. Gerald Ford • Nixon resigns – Gerald Ford becomes president • Pardoned Nixon for Watergate • Investigated CIA • Appointed George HW Bush to reform CIA

  17. Failure in Vietnam • Unable to get funds to continue war • Fall of Saigon • April 1975 • U.S. supported govt collapsed • Genocide in Cambodia • Vietnam War is marked as U.S. failure

  18. Ford on the Economy • WIN (Whip Inflation Now) Program • DID NOTHING!!! • People lost hope in federal govt.

  19. Reminders • 1970s/1980-2001 tonight! • Class evaluations • Wednesday – STUDY GROUP – 530-630 • Next Wednesday – FINAL – 7-9

  20. Election of 1976 • Ford won nomination over Ronald Reagan • Democrats pick Jimmy Carter • U.S. picked lesser of two evils

  21. Carter’s Presidency • Informal • Likable former governor of Georgia • Seen as an outsider • Veterans in Congress made fun of Carter

  22. Carter’s Foreign Policy • Human Rights • Appointed Andrew Young as ambassador to UN • Criticized apartheid in S. Africa • Panama Canal • Transferred control of canal to Panamanians

  23. Carter’s Foreign Policy • Camp David Accords (1978) • Brought Egypt and Israel together • Peace settlement in Middle East • Egypt recognized Israel • Israel withdrew troops from Sinai

  24. Carter’s Foreign Policy • Iran Hostage Crisis • 1979 • Ayatollah Khomeini • Militants seized U.S. embassy in Teheran, Iran • 50 American hostages were held • Carter reacted too slow • 1981 – hostages released

  25. Carter’s Domestic Policies • Dealing with inflation • 1980 – inflation rose to 13% • Standard of living was poor for middle class • Sick and tired of Carter and Democrats • 1980 – Election of Ronald Reagan

More Related