The Stagnant Seventies

1. The Stagnant Seventies America Screeches to a Halt

2. Election of 1968 • JFK’s younger brother, Bobby, ran for the Democratic Party’s Presidential nomination. • At a campaign rally in Indianapolis, Bobby had the unfortunate duty to inform the crowd of the assassination of MLK • Two months later, he too would be fatally shot after winning the CA primary.

3. Abraham, Martin, and John - Dion

4. “Tricky Dick” before the White House • The “Checkers Speech”: Senator Nixon was accused of misusing funds established by his backers to reimburse him for his political expenses. He delivered a half-hour television address in which he defended himself and attacked his opponents in hopes of remaining on the ticket for VP. During the speech, he stated that regardless of what anyone said, he intended to keep one gift: a black-and-white dog who had been named Checkers by the Nixon children, thus giving the address its popular name. • The Kitchen Debate was an intense discussion between VP Nixonand Nikita Khrushchev at the opening of the American National Exhibition in Moscow in 1959. For the exhibition, an entire house was built that the American exhibitors claimed anyone in America could afford. It was filled with labor-saving and recreational devices meant to represent the fruits of the capitalist American consumer market. The debate was recorded on color videotape, a new technology pioneered in the U.S., and Nixon made reference to this fact; it was subsequently rebroadcast in both countries.

5. Détente • Détente – a lessening of tensions between the US, China, and the USSR • Promoted by national security adviser, Henry Kissinger • Nixon was the first American to visit China in 25 years “We want the Chinese with us when we sit down and negotiate with the Russians.”

6. Détente • Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) – a series of arms-reduction negotiations between the US and USSR • Nixon and Brezhnev signed the SALT I Treaty – a five year agreement that limited the number of missiles each country could have. • Under President Nixon and Ford, U.S., China, and the Soviet Union had better relations • However, Congress refused to sign the SALT II treaty after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan • Tensions arose as many countries began stock piling nuclear weapons =

7. Oil Embargo • Soviet-backed Syrians and Egyptians attacked Israel for land lost in the Six-Day War • Nixon approves of $2 billion in war materials to protect Israel • In response, Arab nations placed an embargo on oil to the United States, causing an energy crisis • Alaska Pipeline • Drive 55 • Gas rotation

8. Watergate • The Scandal was the result of a June 1972 break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. • It was revealed that President Nixon had a tape-recording system in his offices and he had recorded many conversations. Recordings from these tapes implicated the president, revealing he had attempted to cover up the break-in. • After a protracted series of bitter court battles, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the president had to hand over the tapes to government investigators; he ultimately complied, though with a suspicious 18 minute blank spot. • The scandal eventually led to the resignation of Richard Nixon, who would later be pardoned by his replacement, Gerald Ford

9. Watergate Infographic

10. Gerald Ford Finishes Nixon’s Term Nickname: Mr. Nice Guy, the Accidental President Major Events: • Ford grants Nixon an unconditional pardon • Helsinki Agreement – declaration signed by the US and most European states in an attempt to improve relations between the Communist bloc and the West.

11. Stagflation in the Seventies • Stagflation: A combination of stagnation and inflation, is a term used to describe a situation where an inflation rate is high, the economic growth rate slows down, and unemployment remains steadily high.

12. Peanuts, Not Politics • Ran on the pitch that he was a Washington outsider, and thus not tied down to “playing the game”; came into trouble when faced with the Washington insiders. • Camp David Accords – Carter invited the leaders of Egypt and Israel to a conference at Camp David, in which he persuaded them to sign a peace accord. • Panama Canal Treaty – vowed to give full control of the Panama Canal over by the year 2000.

13. Iran Hostage Crisis • Fifty-two Americans were held hostage for 444 days (November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981), after a group of Islamist students and militants supporting the Iranian Revolution took over the American Embassy in Tehran. • After failed attempts to negotiate a release, the United States military attempted a rescue operation off the USS Nimitz. The mission was a failure and resulted in the deaths of eight American servicemen, one Iranian civilian, and the destruction of two aircraft. • After the death of the former Shah, and an invasion by Iraq, Iran entered negotiations with the U.S., with Algeria acting as a mediator. The hostages were formally released into United States custody the day after the signing of the Algiers Accords, just minutes after the new American president Ronald Reagan was sworn into office.

14. Supper Powers Face of in Afghanistan • 1950’s Soviet influenced increased • By 1970, Muslim revolt threatened Afghanistan’s Communist regime • Revolt led to a Soviet invasion in 1979 • Expected to withdraw after boosting Communism

15. Supper Powers Face of in Afghanistan • Rebel forces outmaneuvered Soviet forces • U.S. armed rebels due to oil interests • President Carter warned against the invasion of Persian Gulf-stopped grain shipments to U.S.S.R. and ordered U.S. boycott of 1980 Olympics in Moscow

16. Results of Afghanistan • Late 1980s saw a new Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev • Acknowledged war’s devastating cost and withdrew all Soviet troops by 1989 • Internal unrest and economic problems tore the Soviet Union apart • Also led to issues with the United States and terrorist groups, former rebels armed by the U.S.