National Politics Since 1968

1. National Politics Since 1968 SSUSH 25

2. ssush 25 A Describe President Richard M. Nixon’s opening of China, his resignation due to the Watergate scandal, changing attitudes toward government, and the Presidency of Gerald Ford

3. Opening of China • Nixon’s foreign policy goal was to establish cordial relations with the world’s major nations: • End fighting in Vietnam • “Normalize” relations with China • Nixon & his National Security advisor, Henry Kissinger, visit China in 1972

4. Results of China Visit • 1. Recognizing one China (not Taiwan) • 2. Future trade b/w US & China • 3. Soviet Union abandons support for North Vietnam (1973) • 4. Nuclear disarmament treaty b/w US & USSR

5. Watergate Scandal • 1972 Nixon re-elected as President; however, scandals caused his resignation on August 9, 1974. • -illegal campaign contributions • Burglary of DNC Headquarters at Watergate

6. Impact of Watergate Negative Positive • Increased cynicism & distrust of govt. • Damaged reputation of Republican Party • Protection for media to disseminate information • Efforts began to limit corporate campaign contributions

7. Ford as President • Nixon’s VP, Spiro Agnew had been forced to resign over tax- evasion charges, and he was replaced by Gerald Ford. • Issues during his presidency: • Pardon given to Nixon • Recession in national economy & fights with Congress • Failed to develop a national energy policy • Continued to improve foreign relations

8. SSUSH 25 B Explain the impact of Supreme Court Decisions on ideas about civil liberties & civil rights; include such decisions as Roe v. Wade (1973) & the Bakkedecision on affirmative action

9. Roe v. Wade 1973 • Topic: Abortion • Court expanded the constitutional right of privacy to include abortion = expanded protection of civil liberties

10. Regents of Univ. of California v. Bakke 1978 • Ruled that race can be used when considering applicants to colleges butracial quotas cannot be used • Significant because it gave constitutional protection to affirmative action programs that gave equal access to minorities.

11. Part c Explain the Carter administration’s efforts in the Middle East; include: Camp David Accords, His response to the 1979 Iranian Revolution, and the Iranian hostage Crisis

12. James (Jimmy) Carter, D • Elected in 1976 • Presidency viewed as a domestic failure (economic problems, energy crisis) but great foreign policy success (human rights)

13. Foreign Policy • Returned the Panama Canal zone to Panama • Camp David Accords (1978)- brokered an end to the Israeli-Egyptian conflict • Carter Doctrine- Pledge to protect Persian Gulf from Soviet aggression after Soviets invaded Afghanistan.

14. Iranian Revolution/ Hostage Crisis- • US support for Shah of Iran vs. Islamic Fundamentalists Fundamentalists win • US interests targeted by Iranian backed terrorist groups (angry over US support of Shah & support for Israel) • Revolutionaries take over the US embassy and hold staff hostage (11/79- 1/81) • Carter tried to negotiate but failed, tried to rescue but failed major reason for his failed re-election in 1980

15. Part d Describe domestic and international events of Ronald Reagan’s presidency. Include: Reaganomics Iran-contra scandal and The collapse of the Soviet Union

16. Ronald Reagan • 1980 Elected President • Promised to restore the U.S. Economy and prestige at home & abroad • Nicknamed “The Great Communicator”

17. Domestic Policies • Supply-side economics Reaganomics. • If Americans had more money to spend the economy would improve • Key Pts of Reaganomics: • Reduce govt. spending increases • Reduce income tax & capital gains tax • Reduce govt. regulation • Control money supply to reduce inflation • General period of economic growth; however, dramatic increases in federal deficits

18. Foreign Policies • Reagan began the largest peace-time build-up of the U.S. military in our history • Reagan Doctrine we would support any anti-Soviet guerilla movement (also Islamic terrorism). • Support in Afghanistan resulted in Soviet defeat • Air strikes against Libya (after terrorist attack on US servicemen in Germany) • Put down Communist backed movements in Central America

19. Iran-Contra Scandal • Congress refused to support the Contra in Nicaragua • Reagan had the National Security Council sell guns to Iran to • Encourage the release of American hostages held by pro-Iranian forces in Lebanon • Gain profits to send to the Contra in Nicaragua • Influence Iran in a “pro-western” direction

20. End of the Cold War • Reagan begins rebuilding the military and talks about the anti-ballistic missile shield (“Star Wars”) • Soviet’s can’t afford to respond THEN • Reagan convinces Saudi Arabians to lower the price of crude oil (cuts into Soviet revenue) • USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev introduces economic & political reform programs

21. Result of those programs in the USSR: • a dialog b/w the two countries • a nuclear arms agreement • Rebellion for independence of many satellite nations • 1989 Berlin Wall is torn down • 1991 marked the end of the Cold War with the collapse of the Soviet Union

22. Next president: George H.W. Bush, R

23. Ssush 25 e Explain the relationship between Congress and President Bill Clinton. Include: North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and Impeachment and acquittal

24. President William Jefferson Clinton, D • Elected in 1992 • Economically oversaw tax cuts, reduced spending, a balanced budget with a surplus! • Rocky relationship with Congress: • Executive Order DADT • Attorney General nominee had used illegal immigrants as domestic help • By 1994 Republican dominated congress

25. NAFTA • Brought Mexico into a free-trade (tariff-free) zone that already existed between the US & Canada. • Arguments: • Against send US jobs to Mexico and harm environment • For—> open up a growing Mexican market to US companies

26. Impeachment • 2nd president to suffer impeachment • House of Reps. Charged him with perjury & obstruction of justice • b/c of improper use of $ from a real estate deal and denial of an affair • Senate acquitted him

27. Ssush 25 f Analyze the 2000 Presidential election & its outcome emphasizing the role of the electoral college.

28. Election of 2000 • Al Gore, D vs. George W. Bush, R • Bush won electoral college, Gore won popular vote • Controversy: Florida (where Jeb Bush was Governor) • Vote was so close there was a mandatory re-count which resulted in a law suit & counter suit. • Supreme Court rusled recount would be unconstitutional.

29. Ssush 25 g Analyze the response of President George W. bush to the attacks of September 11, 2001: on the US, the war against terrorism, and the Subsequent American interventions in Afghanistan & Iraq

30. 9/11 • Islamic terrorist launched a series of attacks on the US using airliners (Twin Towers, the Pentagon, Pennsylvania)

31. Bush’s Response • Bush signed the Patriot Act (supported by Congress & the Am. Public) • US could hold foreign citizens suspected of being terrorists for up to 7 days • Increased ability of law-enforcement agencies to search private communications & personal records • Creation of Department of Homeland Security • Responsible for protecting the US from terrorist attacks & natural disasters.

32. Response Cont…. Larger war on Terrorism • Authorization of Operation Enduring Freedom invasion of Afghanistan by the US and allied forces. • Why? The Taliban govt. there was harboring al-Qaeda leadership (Osama Bin Laden escaped) • March 2003, Operation Iraqi Freedom invasion of Iraq by the US & GB • Saddam Hussein went into hiding while forces searched for weapons of mass destruction (WMD). • No WMDs were ever found, Hussein was convicted and executed in 2006 for crimes against humanity