The Ford and Carter Years

1. How does the country heal during the late 70s? The Ford and Carter Years

2. Ford Pardons Nixon • After being sworn in President Gerald Ford tells America “our long national nightmare is over” • To move the country beyond Watergate, Ford pardons Nixon of any crimes he may have committed while President • Ford loses much public support – but many say it allowed the country to heal quicker from wounds of Vietnam & Watergate

3. Ford and the Economy • Mid 70s also experiencing an energy crisis due to high oil & electric prices - Ford urged energy conservation • Recession is getting worse, Inflation at 10%, Ford starts WIN – Whip Inflation Now • WIN=Cut spending, higher interest rates, made recession worse • Constant battles w/ Dem Congress – vetoes 50 bills in 2 yrs

4. Ford’s Foreign Policy • Congress passed War Powers Act, limiting President’s abilities to use troops (60 days), Ford can’t help in S. Vietnam • Kissinger stays on as Sec’y of State, continues Nixon’s détente • Ford participates in the Helsinki Accords • 35 nations signed the Accords, which mend relationships between Eastern and Western Europe

5. 1976 Election • Ford faces challenge in his own party from CA Gov Ronald Reagan • Ford beats Reagan for Republican nomination, faces Georgia Gov Jimmy Carter in November, Carter seen as an “outsider” • Carter beats Ford in very close election

6. Economy Worsens • Carter goes to Congress with 100 proposals on Energy Crisis, is met with resistance by Senators who states depend cars/gas • 1978: Carter & Congress agree pass National Energy Act: tax “gas guzzlers” & give tax credits for alternative energy • Americans use less foreign oil so OPEC slows production • Oil prices rise, less gas, inflation climbs to 14%, unemployment is on the rise

7. Three Mile Island • Many citizens debate if nuclear power is safe in US • US faces nuclear crisis in 1979, series of human errors leads to a partial meltdown of a nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island in PA • Clip: What causes radiation to escape? How many reontgens were measured and is the amount deadly? • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGI7VymjSho Skylab • 1979: US Space Station Skylab is about to fall out of space, people begin to panic, will Skylab fall on me? • Clip: How long was Skylab manned?Where did Skylab eventually hit? • http://videos.huffingtonpost.com/may-14th-the-life-and-times-of-skylab-517353976

8. Carter’s Foreign Policy • Carter & Sec’y of State Cyrus Vance reject realpolitik policy of Kissinger, want to focus on human rights • Cut off relations with Argentina and Brazil due to dictatorships • Agreed to return the Panama Canal to Panama on 12/31/99 • Signs SALT II w/ Soviets • Boycotts 1980 Olympics in Moscow when Soviet Union invades Afghanistan – Congress refuses to ratify SALT II

9. Middle East • Carter gets leaders of Egypt & Israel to meet at Camp David • Carter mediates peace agreements between two nations Camp David Accords • Israel returns the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt • Egypt recognizes Israel’s right to exist

10. Iran Hostage Crisis • 1979: Ayatollah Khomeini tells people of Iran to revolt against the rule of Shah Mohammad Pahlavi, who is backed by US • Shah flees Iran, Khomeini takes control • Carter allows Shah into US for medical treatment • Iranian students storm US embassy taking 52 workers hostage, students demand the return of the Shah for US hostages

11. 444 Days • Carter refuses, US tries rescue attempt but it fails • Shah dies in hospital – hostages still held for 444 days • Economy & hostage crisis cause Carter to lose 1980 election • Clips : 1) Why was the Shah a good/bad leader? 2) What happens to the Shah in 1953 and who restores him to power? • 3) What happens when Carter lets Shah into US? 4) What happens to the rescue attempt? 5) When are hostages released?