Chapter 24: An Age of Limits

1. Chapter 24: An Age of Limits

2. Nixon’s New Conservatism • President Nixon entered office in 1969 determined to turn America in a more conservative direction.

3. Section 1: The Nixon Administration • Nixon become President • 1968 – won by less than 1% of popular vote • Selects Henry Kissinger • Special Adviser to foreign affairs • Nixon appeals to American public • End the War in Vietnam! • YAY!! • More conservative approach to government • “New Federalism” • Distribute federal power to the state and local governments

4. New Federalism • Nixon’s plan to give more financial freedom to state and local govts. • Decrease the size of the federal govt. • LBJ’s Great Society – gave too much responsibility to Nat’l Gov. • Revenue sharing = state and local gov’ts. could decide how to spend federal money

5. Welfare Reform • Family Assistance Plan (FAP) – • every family of four receives $1,600 a year and have to accept any reasonable work • Nixon also increase Social Security. , Medicare and Medicaid • Nixon = Republican • Congress = Democratic • Nixon also withheld funds from Gov’t Programs • Impound

6. Social Programs Nixon Increases Fed. $ Nixon Decreases Fed. $ • Social Security • Medicare • Food stamps • Impounded (withheld) $15 billion for housing, health, education • Ruled unconstitutional • Ended the Office of Economic Opportunity

7. Law and Order Politics Vietnam End Urban Riots and Protests • Pledge to end war in Vietnam • De-escalate troops • Peace negotiations with N. Vietnam • FBI • Nixon Wiretapped Democratic Party • Watergate Office • CIA, Internal Revenue Service • Investigated people who objected govt’s policies • target antiwar and civil rights activists

8. USA LANDS ON THE MOON • July 20th 1969 • Apollo 11 mission • Neil Armstrong • Wapakoneta, Ohio

9. Nixon’s Southern Strategy • Since Reconstruction the South had been mainly Democratic • White Southern Democrats are losing faith in their “liberal” party (anti-Great Society and Civil Rights) • Some Democrats converted to Republicans • Nixon tries to reverse civil rights policies by delaying desegregation plans for schools • Orders South Carolina and Mississippi to delay integration. • Supreme Court orders Nixon to change policies • 90% of schools desegregated • Opposes the extension of the Voting Rights Act 1965 • Tries to deny over 1 million African Americans from voting • Appoints 3 conservative judges to the Supreme Court

10. Economic Problems • Stagnant Economy • 1967-1973 increase inflation and increased unemployment • Stagflation • Inflation caused by LBJ • War funding + social programs = federal deficit • America dependent on foreign energy • Oil from Middle East • OPEC – Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries • Control oil prices • Cut off oil to USA once aid was given to Isreal

13. Foreign Policy • Nixon – honorable peace in Vietnam • Relationship with USSR and China • Henry Kissinger • Realpolitik – foreign policy should be based on power not moral principles. • Ignore weaker countries • Goes against containment policy • Détente – ease cold war tensions • Nixon visits China – 1972 • Normalize relations with china (diplomatic and economic) • Moscow • SALT I – limit number of intercontinental ballistic missiles

14. Watergate:Nixon’s Downfall Main Idea President Nixon’s involvement in the Watergate scandal forced him to resign from office. Why it Matters Today The Watergate scandal raised questions of public trust that still affect how the public and media skeptically view politicians.

15. Watergate Timeline July 1974 Judiciary Committee Votes to impeach June 1973 John Dean Testifies June 1972 Watergate Break-in October 1973 Saturday Night Massacre May 1973 Senate Investigates August 1974 Nixon Resigns

16. President Nixon and His White House • The Watergate scandal centered on the Nixon administration’s attempt to cover up a burglary of the DNC headquarters at the Watergate office and apartment complex in Washington, D.C. • An Imperial Presidency • Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. • Executive branch had become the most powerful • The President’s Men • H.R. Haldeman- W.H. chief of staff • John Ehrlichman- chief domestic adviser • John Mitchell- attorney general • Above the Law

17. The Drive Toward Reelection • By the end of 1972, Nixon’s campaign team sought advantages to win the election, by any means necessary.

18. The Fall of a President • Nixon Releases the Tapes • Spring 1974- Nixon releases editing transcripts of White House conversations about Watergate. • Investigators demand unedited tapes. • The President Resigns • House Judiciary Committee charged the president with obstruction on justice, abuse of power, and contempt of Congress. • August 8, 1974- before the House could impeach, Nixon announced his resignation from office. • The Effects of Watergate • 25 members of Nixon’s administration were convicted and served prison terms for crimes connected to Watergate.

19. The Ford and Carter Years 24.3 Main Idea The Ford and Carter administrations attempt to remedy the nation’s worst economic crisis in decades. Why it Matters Today Maintaining a stable national economy has remained a top priority for every president since Ford and Carter.

20. Ford Travels a Rough Road • Upon taking office, Gerald Ford urged Americans to put the Watergate scandal behind them. • Restore honor to the White House • “A Ford, Not a Lincoln” • Sept. 8, 1974- Ford pardoned Nixon. • Troubled Economy • US Dependent on foreign Oil/OPEC increase prices • “W.I.N.”-Whip Inflation Now • Urged Americans to limit gas and fuel • “Tight Money” policy • Cut Gov’t spending and encouraged the Federal Reserve Board to restrict credit through higher interest rates. • Worst economic recession in 40 years.

21. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyN5LPHEQ_0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyN5LPHEQ_0

22. Ford’s Foreign Policy • Carrying out Nixon’s Foreign Policies • Ford followed Henry Kissinger’s advice • Continue talks with Russia and China • Helsinki Accords • A series of agreements that promised greater cooperation between the nations of Eastern and Western Europe. • Ford’s greatest accomplishment • Ongoing Turmoil In Southeast Asia • 1973- Vietnam • Peace talks broke down • Ford asks Congress for $722 million in support – Congress denies • 1975- S. Vietnam surrendered to the North

24. Carter Enters the White House • Election of 1976- • Republican- Gerald Ford; • Democrats-Jimmy Carter • Carter a peanut farmer from Georgia and former governor. • “never tell a lie to the American People.” • Jimmy Carter wins election • 40.8 million votes – 39.1 million votes • Energy crisis in America • Soft-spoken, personable.

26. USA and Middle East • Why has the United States been involved/interested in the Middle East for decades? • Can you name specific historical examples/reasons?

27. Confronting energy Crisis • Foreign Oil • America relied too heavily on foreign oil • Carter created more than100 proposals for alternative energy • National Energy Act • Tax gas guzzling cars • Tax credit on alternative energy • Dependence on foreign oil decrease in 1979 • Energy crisis of 1979 • Violence in Middle East • 2nd fuel shortage in America • OPEC –raised prices • Carter couldn’t solve energy crisis.

28. California v. Bakke • The United States Supreme Court in the Regents of the University of California v. Bakke case ruled in favor of Bakke. The Court found that the University of California was guilty of violating both the 14th Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3-Q-HFIevE

29. Crisis in the Middle East • Camp David Accords • Peace between Egypt and Israel • Israel withdrawal from Sinai Peninsula • Egypt officially recognizes Israel • Iran and the United States • 1953 Britain/CIA overthrow Mohammed Mossadegh • Install Shah (King) Mohammed Reza Pahlavi “puppet” • Control Oil • Revolution in Iran 1979 • Ayatollah in… Shah out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WVtpao0KSM

30. USA and IRAN • Revolution in Iran 1979 • Ayatollah in… Shah out • Carter supported the Shah • -USA access to Oil • Shah enters USA for cancer treatment • Riots/Revolutionaries attack the US Embassy • Nov. 4 1979 • 52 Americans Hostage • 444 Days captive • Captives released Jan 20. 1981

31. Section 4: Environmental Activism • 1962 – Rachel Carson – publishes Silent Spring • Pesticides – chemicals used to kill insects and rodents – were dangerous • Americans realize human behavior and our nation’s industrial growth have a damaging effect

32. Environmental Concerns in the 1970s

33. Environmental Concerns – 1970s • April 22,1970 – first Earth Day – almost every community in the country hosts an environmental – awareness activity • 1970 – Nixon brings 15 existing fed. pollution programs into the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and signs the Clean Air Act • 1971 – Nixon signs Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and Carter furthers it in 1978

34. Environmental Concerns – 1970s • Nuclear power plants seem like a good alternative to foreign oil but scientists warn about health risks • 1979 – nuclear reactor at a plant on Three Mile Island (Penn) malfunctions and low level radiation escapes • 100,000 residents are evacuated but no one dies

35. Alaskan Pipeline • The 800-mile-long Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) is one of the largest pipeline systems in the world. It stretches from Prudhoe Bay on Alaska’s North Slope, through rugged and beautiful terrain, to Valdez, the northernmost ice-free port in North America. Since pipeline startup in 1977, Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, the operator of TAPS, has successfully transported over 15 billion barrels of oil.