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Nixon Agonistes

Nixon Agonistes. Focus Question:. When, if ever, should a president be impeached?. Richard M. Nixon. Hard-nosed politician Highly suspicious of others Earned a reputation as a staunch anti-Communist. Nixon’s Political Career. Elected to Congress as a Red-Baiter Leading member of HUAC

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Nixon Agonistes

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  1. Nixon Agonistes

  2. Focus Question: When, if ever, should a president be impeached?

  3. Richard M. Nixon Hard-nosed politician Highly suspicious of others Earned a reputation as a staunch anti-Communist

  4. Nixon’s Political Career • Elected to Congress as a Red-Baiter • Leading member of HUAC • Led investigation of Alger Hiss • Served as Eisenhower’s Vice-President • Narrowly lost to Kennedy in 1960 • Lost California governor’s race in 1962 • “Retired from politics”

  5. Election of 1968 Democrats in disarray Race riots throughout American cities Stalemate in Vietnam The Republicans campaigned as the Law and Order Party “Secret Plan to end the war in Vietnam”

  6. Nixon’s First Term • Governed as a moderate • Expanded Social Security • Expanded “Affirmative Action” policies • Established federal protection agencies • OHSA • Environmental Protection Agency • Established price controls

  7. Utilized Detente • Nixon negotiated with the Soviets and China • Pushed strategic arms limitations • Used talks to forge links • Practiced “Vietnamization” • Turned war in Vietnam over to the Vietnamese

  8. “Southern Strategy” • Adopted a cynical political policy • Pry white conservatives from the Democratic Party • Appoint conservative judges • Promote grassroots political organizations • Weaken enforcement of various Civil Rights policies

  9. Election of 1972 • Democrats imploded • Leading candidate had to pull out • First Vice-Presidential nominee had to remove himself • War in Vietnam winding down • However Nixon laid the seeds of his downfall

  10. Watergate Break-In • Attempted break-in of the Democratic National Headquarters in Washington DC • Five burglars “White House Plumbers” attempted to bug the Democrats • All five were employed by CREEP • Story pursued by the Washington Post

  11. Investigation Cover-Up • Nixon put up blocks on any official investigation • Similar actions carried out by the Administration • “Dirty Tricks” approach to politics

  12. Patterns Discovered • Secret tapes revealed • Nixon refused to honor a Senate subpoena • “Saturday Night Massacre” October 20, 1973 • United States v. Nixon • Tapes revealed to have massive gaps • One did have him order a cover-up

  13. Resignation The House drew up three articles of impeachment Senior advisers informed Nixon he would be removed from office Nixon resigned, August 8, 1974

  14. Impact on the U.S. Increased distrust of the national government Deepening sense of the Southern Strategy Democratic Party maintained a false sense of popular support

  15. Assignment Identify the main charge against the President Why would this charge be seen as intolerable to Congress and the people? Select three passages which stand out. Identify two questions which may arise from this article

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