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Chapter 49

Chapter 49. Presidents on the Griddle: The Nixon, Ford, and Carter Years 1968–1980. The Nixon Presidency. President Richard Nixon Nixon lacks good looks, charisma Liberals hate Nixon Right wing does not trust Nixon Nixon earns everything he gets Politically savvy

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Chapter 49

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  1. Chapter 49 Presidents on the Griddle: The Nixon, Ford, and Carter Years 1968–1980

  2. The Nixon Presidency • President Richard Nixon • Nixon lacks good looks, charisma • Liberals hate Nixon • Right wing does not trust Nixon • Nixon earns everything he gets • Politically savvy • Nixon has little interest in domestic affairs • Relies on aides, Vice President Spiro Agnew • New Federalism gives social programs to states • Nixon understands “Silent Majority”

  3. The Nixon Presidency (cont.’d) • The Warren Court • Court favors judicial activism not restraint • Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka • Miranda v. Arizona • Nixon appoints Warren Burger new chief justice

  4. Nixon and Vietnam • Vietnamization • Nixon objects to war for political reasons • ARVN replaces U.S. troops • U.S. troops reduced to 24,000 in 1972 • Democrats still demand end to war • Expanding the war • Nixon wants victory in Vietnam • Nixon secretly bombs Cambodia • U.S. troops in Cambodia produces protests • Congress repeals Gulf of Tonkin resolution

  5. Nixon and Vietnam (cont.’d) • Laos and Cambodia both fall • U.S. agrees to withdraw troops in Paris Accords • North Vietnamese move on Saigon • Vietnam unites as Communistnation 1975 • War destroys Vietnamese prosperity • War creates flight of refugees • War costs U.S. $150 billion • War produces many casualties • 57,000 U.S. dead

  6. Nixon-Kissinger Foreign Policy • Long crusade • Most see world in two hostile camps • Third Worlds: unaligned, undeveloped nationsNixon sees opportunity for change • Détente • Nixon sees bipolar view of geopolitics as obsolete • Nixon envisions balance of five centers of power • Nixon a realist who wants relaxed tensions • Nixon depends on Henry Kissinger

  7. Nixon-Kissinger Foreign Policy (cont.’d) • China • U.S. table tennis team visits China • Nixon visits China • U.S. China open up trade, cultural exchanges • U.S. drops veto of China entering U.N. • Détente • Soviets have rivalry with China • Soviets seek better relations with U.S. • Nixon visits Moscow • Nixon opens Strategic Arms Limitation Talks • Shuttle diplomacy • Kissinger becomes secretary of state • Kissinger negotiates peace in Yom Kippur War • U.S., Soviets compete for spheres of influence • Kissinger aids coup in Chile

  8. Watergate and Gerald Ford • Redefining the Democratic Party • Liberals gain control of Democratic machinery • Liberals change procedure for choosing delegates • Convention delegates based on gender, race • Election of 1972 • Democrat delegates younger, more diverse • Democrats nominate George McGovern • Democrats platform more liberal than country • Nixon wins 60.8 percent of vote

  9. Watergate and Gerald Ford (cont.’d) • Watergate burglary • CREEP hires break-in of Democratic headquarters • Nixon denies knowledge, okays cover-up • Investigative reporters uncover more dirt • Senate investigative committee finds more dirt • The Imperial Presidency • Nixon creates enemies list • Watergate not the only illegal break-in • Imperial presidency—too much power? • Agnew has to resign due to corruption

  10. Watergate and Gerald Ford (cont.’d) • Resignation • Recordings implicate Nixon in cover-up • Courts order surrender of tapes • House prepares to impeach Nixon • Nixon resigns, August 9, 1974 • A Ford, not a Lincoln • Gerald Ford assumes presidency • Ford object of ridicule, but forthright • Ford pardons Nixon • Ronald Reagan challenges Ford

  11. Watergate and Gerald Ford (cont.’d) • Americans assume cheap energy unlimited • U.S. dependent on fossil fuels • U.S. world’s largest user of nonrenewable energy • OPEC and the energy crisis • U.S. produces 61% of oil it uses, imports rest • OPEC halts oil shipments, raises prices • OPEC wants capital to diversify economy • High energy costs fees inflation • Whip Inflation Now • Ford launches WIN! campaign against inflation • Ford tightens money supply; U.S. enters recession • Ford gains Republican nomination • Jimmy Carter defeats Ford in 1976

  12. Quiet Crisis • President Jimmy Carter • Carter a Washington outsider • Carter has little political experience • Carter has difficult presidency • Peacemaking • Panamanians protest U.S. sovereignty over canal zone • U.S. turns canal over to Panama • Camp David Accords promote peace between Egypt, Israel

  13. Quiet Crisis (cont.’d) • End of détente • Carter relies on advice of Zbigniew Brzezinski • Carter dislikes Soviet human rights record • Carter introduces new SALT treaty • Treaty dropped when Soviets invade Afghanistan • Inflation • Inflation reaches 20% • Energy crisis continues • U.S. continues to consume more oil • U.S. reluctant to rely on nuclear energy • Malaise • Carter presidency lacks dignity • Carter lacks direction • Carter unable to exert strong leadership

  14. Discussion Questions • How would you specifically evaluate Nixon’s presidency on issues of domestic, economic, and foreign policy? • What is détente? How did Nixon change the United States’ relations with the Communist nations? • Examine the Watergate incident. Why did Nixon leave office? How did his disgrace affect the office for future presidents? • Examine the Carter Administration. What were Carter’s greatest achievements? Was his a successful or failed presidency?

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