THE NIXON YEARS

1. THE NIXON YEARS THE IMPERIAL PRESIDENCY “This country could run itself domestically without a President. All you need is a competent cabinet to run the country … you need a President for foreign policy.”

4. Richard Nixon President of the U.S. from 1969-1974. The Imperial Presidency Vice President under Eisenhower from 1953-1961. Served in the Congress from 1946-1952. Only President to resign from office (after Watergate Scandal). Strict Republican and Anti-Communist.

5. NEW FEDERALISM • Policy to reduce federal government’s role in the economy and turn over many tasks to state and local governments • Passed “revenue-sharing” bills that granted federal funds to state and local governments to do with as they wished.

6. 1ST President to be elected in modern times after having lost a prior bid for the Presidency Southern Strategy – What is it? Anti-war protest at his inauguration WAR ON CRIME: Takes a stance against permissive attitudes of courts towards criminals Replaces liberal judges on Supreme Court with conservatives Appoints Warren Burger as new Chief Justice to replace Earl Warren DOMESTIC ISSUES:

7. Nixon”& his Staff – the “Berlin Wall” Avoided Cabinet & relied on his staff Fiercely loyal team players Cabinet posts are approved by Senate, staff positions aren‘t H.R. Haldeman, Chief of Staff, “I get done what he wants done and I take the heat instead of him.” John Ehrlichman, chief domestic advisor, framed issues and narrowed down options John Mitchell, Attorney General, Nixon’s former law partner and most loyal supporter All will later do prison time for their roles in Watergate.

8. MAJOR SUPREME COURT DECISIONS: • NY TIMES vs. U.S., 1971 • Publication of Pentagon papers NOT a violation of national security • SWANN case, FORCED BUSING, 1971 • To achieve racial integration; Nixon opposed • ROE vs. WADE, 1973 • Legalization of abortion • CAPITAL PUNISHMENT (reverses Warren Court) • Court holds that it does NOT violate Bill of Rights • U.S. vs. NIXON, 1973 • Watergate – executive privilege does NOT allow P to withhold items requested by Congressional subpoena • 26TH AMENDMENT passed lowering voting age to 18

9. Environmental Awareness!

10. The “Greenest” President • Rachel Carson, Silent Spring • Pesticides – led to ban on DDT • EPAcreated under Nixon in 1970 • Deals with all environmental & toxic waste policies • CLEAN AIR ACT, 1970 • DOT has responsibility to reduce automobile emissions • Water Pollution Control Act, 1972 • To clean up nation’s lakes and rivers • Endangered Species Act, 1973 • Earth Day – April 22, 1970

11. Nader’s Crusade, “Nation’s Nag” Convinced that the law placed too much emphasis on driver mistakes and not enough on the unsafe design of cars. Unsafe at Any Speed, charged that automakers stressed styling, comfort, speed, power, and a desire to cut costs at the expense of safety – particular target was the Corvair Get two dozen landmark consumer protection laws, including the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, Occupational Safety and Health Act, Consumer Products Safety Act, and the Freedom of Information Act

12. FOREIGN POLICY: • Major focus & Nixon’s greatest strength • After a period of confrontation, we are entering an era of negotiation.”-Richard Nixon’s 1st Inaugural Address • Sheds his image as a “Cold Warrior” • Policy of DÉTENTE: • Relaxation of tensions with communist nations

13. FOREIGN POLICY GOALS Strategic arms limitation Peaceful negotiation with foreign powers “Rapprochement” with China “Détente” with the Soviet Union Reduced commitments of manpower to foreign nations (Nixon Doctrine) Promote peace and prevent imposition of power by hostile countries on others “Peace with honor” in Vietnam - how? Minimal public support for the war Major reason for Nixon’s election

14. Henry Kissinger National Security Advisor from 1969-1975, and Secretary of State from 1973-1977. Didn’t really fit in with the other key advisors Key contributor to the foreign policy decisions of the Nixon Administration. Advocates a practical foreign policy based on maintaining American strength Triangular & Shuttle Diplomacy

15. Triangular Diplomacy The U.S. exploited growing Soviet-Chinese tensions. Russia hoped to protect itself from the growing Chinese threat in the East. Pit the 2 Communist superpowers against each other….if the U.S. develops better relations with China, it might loosen China’s ties to the Soviets…and vice versa Used successes in foreign policy with China and Russia to gain leverage from the other country After Nixon announced a visit to China, the Soviets expressed interest in a meeting with Nixon to ease tension as well. “Right now, we need the Chinese to correct the Russians, and to discipline the Russians.”-Kissinger

16. China admitted to U.N. in 1971 Reasons for rapprochement: Trade with China— huge market Main reason: increase Sino-Soviet tension Ping Pong Diplomacy: U.S. team invited to visit in 1971 – first Americans allowed into Communist China Huge diplomatic success! COMMUNIST CHINA • America lifted its 20-year trade embargo on mainland China.

17. Nixon first President to visit Communist China; Feb. ’72 Had been set up by Kissinger the year before US grants diplomatic recognition Nixon lifts trade and travel restrictions Removed Navy from Taiwan COMMUNIST CHINA: • For a Democrat, negotiating with Communist China could have been a fatal political mistake. But the Republican Nixon was known as a hard-liner anti-Communist, and so could get away with it.

18. SOVIET RELATIONS • Nixon and Kissinger hoped to negotiate for the mutual benefit of both the U.S.S.R. and the U.S. as opposed to demanding that the U.S.S.R. give into U.S. demands. • Détente focused on peaceful negotiations and weapon limitations between the two nations.

19. The Soviets: SALT Negotiations: • Nixon visits Moscow / meets with Brezhnev in May 1972 • Strategic Arms (nuclear weapons) Limitations Talks – some missile limitations but more important for opening up of relations • Also: trade agreements reached – US grain sales to Soviets

20. End of U.S. Involvement in Vietnam • Cease-Fire in January 1973 • Sec. Of State Kissinger gets Nobel Peace Prize

21. WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST: The Six-Day War (1967) Israel had won a crushing victory against the Arabs in the Six-Day War of 1967, which expanded the nation’s borders to include the Golan Heights, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and the Sinai Peninsula. Therefore, they assumed that the Arabs would not dare to attack them again so soon. But the Arabs were as determined as ever to reclaim their territory and eliminate the Jewish state.

22. Israeli Territorial Gains The pale blue indicates Israeli territory before the Six-Day War. The slightly darker blue indicates Israeli territorial gains. massive border expansions, especially on the Sinai Peninsula. YOM KIPPUR WAR: Oct. 1973 on Jewish Holiday Egypt & Syria launch surprise attack on Israel Goal is to recapture territory lost in 6-day War of 1967 Israel pushes troops back inside Egypt & calls on U.S. for aid

23. Nixon personally orders airlift of $2 billion in military supplies to Israel • Soviets supplied Egypt & Syria • A proxy war? • US aid to Israel causes Arab nations to place embargo on oil shipments to US & other nations supporting Israel • US & USSR trying to work through UN to arrange cease-fire; agreed to by late October • Peace-keeping force sent by UN by end of 1973

24. HENRY KISSINGER & SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY • Kissinger – a political scientist of German/Jewish heritage; came to U.S. in 1938 at age 15; naturalized U.S. citizen in 1943 • Became Sec. Of State in 1973 • Shuttle Diplomacy: • Working with Egypt & Israel to reduce Middle East tensions • Constant flying back & forth between these 2 countries • Got significantly greater peace between them by 1974/1975

25. THE OIL CRISIS: • Arab oil-producing nations (OPEC) place embargo on oil shipments in 1973 to force end to US support of Israel • The first time Arab nations would use oil as a political and economic weapon. • US had 1/16 of world population; used 1/3 of its oil • Didn’t work BUT caused oil shortage & oil prices to rise as much as 400% • Devastating effect on U.S. • Nixon wants to make US less dependent on foreign oil, more self-sufficient

29. Effects of Oil Crisis: • State governments requested citizens not put up Christmas lights • Nixon requested gasoline stations to voluntarily not sell gasoline on Saturday nights or Sundays; 90% of owners complied, which resulted in lines on weekdays. • 1974, National max speed limit of 55mph, Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act • The retail price of a gallon of gasoline rose from a national average of 38.5 cents in May 1973 to 55.1 cents in June 1974. (Average 13.5 mpg) • 1977, Dept. of Energy created • Daylight Savings Time year round • Cars lighter, more energy efficient • NASCAR cuts all distances by 10% & cancelled 24 hrs of Daytona & 12 hrs of Sebring races

30. THE ECONOMY: • MAJOR PROBLEMS: • Inherits huge budget deficit & inflation from LBJ (Great Society & Vietnam) • Japanese & German competition • America’s dependence on OPEC • Cuts $ supply to tackle inflation • Resulted in “STAGFLATION” • Economic slowdown, coupled with inflation • Then, institutes freezes on wages & prices • Also tries to stimulate economy with tax cuts and deficit spending • US loses dominance in world markets – fewer US exports being purchased since prices so high (inflation)

31. Election of 1972 • GEORGE MCGOVERN • Democrat • SD Senator • Anti-war • Troops out in 90 days • Pro Social Welfare • GEORGEWALLACE • AL, Independent • Segregationist/ Conservative • Anti-civil rights • Assassination attempt – drops out • NIXON • Republican • Landslide victory • 521 to 17 electoral votes • Over 60% of popular vote

32. WATERGATE

33. Watergate & the Election of 1972 McGovern complains about Watergate Most Americans though believe the cover-up and that Nixon was not involved 1973-VP Spiro Agnew resigns, Ford appt. under the 25th Amend. Story broke in the Washington Post -Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein Fight to keep their unofficial sources secret --- called informant “Deep Throat” -- later identified as W. Mark Felt, former Deputy Director of the FBI

34. Hotel Guard Frank Willis On his rounds noticed a taped door, removed it, came back later and it was retaped, called the police and the burglars were arrested

35. ’ChapStick’ surveillance devices

36. WatergateEvents • Operatives, the “plumbers, ” backed by CREEP are caught in a break-in at the DNC headquarters at the Watergate complex. • Nixon participates in an illegal cover-up of the break-in involving, “hush money” to the burglars. • Archibald Cox appointed as Special Prosecutor • During hearings of special Senate comm., Nixon’s White House counsel, John Dean, and other staff members disclose illegal activities…including discussing the cover-up with Nixon. • Existence of the Oval Office tapes comes out. • Pressure to release tapes; Cox fired and others resign in the “Saturday Night Massacre”

37. Nixon ordered to release tapes… but turns over edited transcripts instead. (“expletive deleted”) • Nixon finally releases tapes …. one has an 18 minute gap of silence. • Nixon charged with obstruction of justice in July 1974. • Nixon claims executive privilege to defend his actions. • House Judiciary Committee working on impeachment charges and impeachment appears imminent.

38. U.S. V Nixon 1974 • Claiming executive privilege, in regards to turning over taped White House conversations as evidence in the Watergate Case • ". . . Absent a claim of need to protect military, diplomatic, or sensitive national security secrets, we find it difficult to accept the . . . [absolute] confidentiality of presidential communications.“ • — Chief Justice Burger • 8-0 decision, limits presidential power

40. Effects of Watergate? • Drags on for 2 long years, public loses trust in the office of the President • Nixon is only P to ever resign the office • Ford becomes only unelected VP & P in U.S. history • Congress reasserts its authority after Nixon’s “imperial presidency” – passes the War Powers Act • Proof that no one is above the law. • All later Presidential scandals have “gate” added to the end • Congress can appoint independent investigations • Federal Campaign Act Amendments-limits contributions & agency established to oversee • Ethics in Government Act-Financial disclosure by high government officials in all 3 branches.

41. Articles of Impeachment • Obstruction of Justice • Cover-up, hush $, illegal use of CIA/FBI • Abuse of power • Illegal wiretaps • Contempt of Congress • Refusing to respond to congressional subpoenas

43. New President Gerald Ford, Betty Ford, Pat and Richard Nixon walk to the helicopter for Nixon's departure, August 9, 1974.

44. Nixon, the only President to ever resign, salutes and says goodbye to the White House forever as he enters Marine One on Aug. 9, 1974.

45. Nixon & Haldeman, “Jews are born spies”