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Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter

Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter. Last section of Ch 29 & All of Ch 31. Richard Nixon. 1913 – 1994; 37 th President Whittier College, Duke Law School Navy in WWII, Served in House & Senate Eisenhower’s VP Married to Pat – 2 daughters – Tricia & Julie President for the Moon landing

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Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter

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  1. Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter Last section of Ch 29 & All of Ch 31

  2. Richard Nixon • 1913 – 1994; 37th President • Whittier College, Duke Law School • Navy in WWII, Served in House & Senate • Eisenhower’s VP • Married to Pat – 2 daughters – Tricia & Julie • President for the Moon landing • Had Elvis to the White House in 1970

  3. “Realpolitik” • From German for “real politics” • Deal with solid national interests not just fear of communism • Recognized that communism was NOT one unified movement • Dr. Henry Kissinger, National Security Advisor & later Secretary of State • German Jewish Immigrant, Army, Harvard • Détente – flexible diplomacy, easing of Cold War

  4. People’s Republic of China • Nixon quietly began plans to recognize China • Kissinger played key role in this • “Ping – Pong Diplomacy” – US table tennis team visited China in April 1971 • Feb ‘72 – Nixon’s official visit to China • Saw Great Wall, Imperial City • Premier Zhou Enlai & met with Mao • Result: trade with & travel to China thrived

  5. Détente with the Soviet Union • Premier Leonid Brezhnev concerned about US - China relations • Invited Nixon to Moscow! May 1972 • Announced joint space mission • Signed SALT I – 1st step at arms limits • Froze deployments of ICBMs • Intercontinental ballistic missiles • Limited ABMs (antiballistic missiles) • Viewed as 1st step towards end of Cold War

  6. New Federalism - Nixon’s Domestic Agenda • Environmental laws & created the EPA • Clean Air, Clean Water, Endangered Species Acts • 1st Earth Day celebrations in 1970 • Created OSHA – Occupational Safety & Health Administration • Tried to deal with inflation & enacted price controls for period of time • Enforced Supreme Court order on busing to further desegregate schools

  7. Watergate – The Beginning • Watergate – building in Washington DC • Offices, hotel, condos • June 17, 1972 – Burglary at the Democratic National Committee HQ • 5 caught by security linked to CREEP • Committee to Re-Elect the President • The Washington Post’s reporters kept with story • Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein • Had gov’t source – “Deep Throat” (Mark Felt – FBI)

  8. The Investigation • Mostly led by Woodward & Bernstein • Senate committee est. in Feb 1973 • White House staff to testify • Archibald Cox named Watergate Special Prosecutor • Nixon responded in speeches in April & Aug ‘73 & in April ’74 • Always denied any involvement - • Indicted - 5 burglars & G. Gordon Liddy, CREEP lawyer (convicted) & Howard Hunt, CIA & consultant (plead guilty)

  9. Allegations of a Cover Up • Accused John Dean & John Mitchell of orchestrating the cover up • Council to the President & Attorney General • Revealed deeper political espionage • Plots to discredit candidates, break in at Pentagon Papers Ellsberg’s psychiatrist • July ‘73 Nixon claims executive privilege & won’t testify for Senate Committee

  10. White House taping system revealed • Committee discovers that since ‘71, Nixon has recorded all conversations & phone calls • To be remembered in history! • Nixon’s refusal to hand over tapes & subsequent release of tapes w/ parts erased • United States v. Nixon – Supreme Court case • Ruled he had to produce the tapes in July 1974

  11. “Saturday Night Massacre”, Oct ‘73 • Nixon ordered Attorney General Richardson to fire Special Prosecutor Cox; refused & resigned • Ordered Deputy Att. Gen. Ruckelshaus to fire Cox; refused & was fired • Robert Bork, Solicitor General fired Cox • Nation watched…wondering • Nov 1st- New Special Prosecutor Leon Jaworski • Nov 17th Press Conference – Nixon urged nation to move on and says “I am not a crook”

  12. The End of a Presidency • After Supreme Court ruling on the tapes… • House Judiciary Committee adopted three Articles of Impeachment (step 1) – July ‘74 • “The Smoking Gun” – transcript of Nixon talking 6 days after break in, proving he ordered the cover up, are released – Aug 5th • Aug 8th- Nixon told nation he would resign • Aug 9th – resigned…Ford = 38th President • Pardoned Nixon Sept 8th or would’ve been charged

  13. Gerald Ford • 1913 – 2006, reputation for integrity • U of Michigan, Yale Law School & football! • Navy for WWII, lawyer, House of Rep • House Minority Leader, 1965-73 • Married to Betty, 3 sons, 1 daughter • Former NY Governor Nelson Rockefeller was his appointed Vice President • “our long national nightmare is over”

  14. Issues of the Ford Presidency • Stressed efforts to grow economy & limit fears of energy shortages • Vetoed 39 bills he felt would hurt economy • WIN – Whip Inflation Now – mostly voluntary plan • Reformed antitrust laws • Continued visits with Soviet leaders – détente • Kissinger still Sec of State • “shuttle diplomacy” – started w/ Middle East • Ultimately economy blamed on him

  15. Ford’s Foreign Policy • Helsinki Accords – pledge to protect human rights, not a formal treaty • Signed by US, Canada, Soviets, & most of Europe • Seen as another step towards ending the Cold War • USS Mayaguez – seized by Khmer Rouge • Ford sent in Marines, rescued ship & crew • Saw rise in “boat people” after fall of Saigon

  16. Reforms after Watergate • Federal Election Campaign Act amended • Set limits on contribution, provided some federal funding for campaigns, created Federal Election Commission • Freedom of Information Act amended • Penalty to gov’t officials who withheld documents • Sunshine Act – opened meetings of most gov’t agencies to the public • Ethics in Gov’t Act – required financial disclosures, restricted lobbying, created a special prosecutor

  17. Jimmy Carter • 1924 – still alive, 39th President • Georgia peanut family farm, devout Baptist • Naval Academy, nuclear engineer for subs • State gov’t, Georgia Governor • Married to Rosalynn, 3 sons, 1 daughter – Amy • Walter Mondale, VP • Carter Center, Habitat for Humanity, 2002 Nobel Peace Prize

  18. Domestic Policy • Pardon to draft dodgers – campaign promise • Economy still bad – gave loan to save Chrysler • Energy Crisis & gas lines also hurt him • Nominated Paul Volcker as Fed Chairman • His actions will help improve economy • Created Department of Education • Expanded lands for National Parks • Ultimately now remembered for over-managing the administration

  19. Carter’s Foreign Policy • Détente seemed to fade…emphasized human rights in relations w/ all nations • SALT II – pledge to limit nuclear weapons • After heated debate in Senate, Carter withdrew it… • Because the Soviets invaded Afghanistan • Imposed sanctions & boycotted 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow • Difficulties with both Nicaragua & Cuba • Pledged to return the Canal to Panama in 1999

  20. Middle East – High & Low points • Camp David Accords – peace agreement between Egypt & Israel • After 2 weeks of personal diplomacy • Considered biggest victory of Presidency • Iranian Hostage Crisis – 66 hostages taken from US Embassy & held for 444 days • US allowed the Shah to enter US for medical care • Ayatollah Khomeini had seized power • Carter blamed for failing to free them • Failed rescue attempt hurt him too

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