The Presidency of Richard Nixon

■ Essential Question: –In what ways did President Nixon represent a change towards conservative politics & how did his foreign policy alter the U.S. relationship with USSR & China? ■ Warm-Up Question: –Why was 1968 an important year in American history? The Presidency of Richard Nixon ■ By the late 1960s, citizens had seen enough turmoil in U.S. foreign & domestic affairs: –The economic boom of the 1950s & 1960s was starting to come to an end –American prestige in the world was damaged by the failure in Vietnam –Anti-war protests, “hippie” culture, & liberal gov’t programs led many citizens to believe that America was headed for moral decay & economic collapse The Election of Richard Nixon Nixon’s victory in 1968 was due to the In 1968, Americans elected turnout of a “silent majority” who wanted conservative Republican Richard Nixon a more conservative gov’t Richard Nixon & Domestic Policy As a conservative, Nixon believed in a limited role for the national gov’t He tried to reduce or eliminate many Great Society programs He gave states more control over how money for welfare programs was spent Richard Nixon & Domestic Policy ByNixon the late 1960s, South wastobecoming seized thethe opportunity attract more conservative dueRepublican to new military Southerners to the Partybases by & corporate headquarters, thepolicies relocation opposing new civil rights & of retirees, & frustration by whites over civil rights cutting government spending Richard Nixon & Foreign Policy President Nixon successfully changed U.S. foreign policy Instead of using containment to fight Communism & increase Cold War tensions, Nixon created a policy of détente (to ease tensions) with America’s Cold War enemies The Presidency of Richard Nixon President Nixon successfully changed U.S. foreign policy President Nixon & aide Henry Kissinger used a strategy called triangular diplomacy to improve America’s role in the world Richard Nixon & Foreign Policy Nixon’s foreign policy included “peace with honor” in Vietnam Nixon discussed plans for “Vietnamization” but secretly bombed Cambodia & Laos in 1970 In 1973, Nixon negotiated a cease fire, withdrew U.S. troops, & ended the Vietnam War Richard Nixon & Foreign Policy Nixon’s foreign policy included better relations with China In 1972, Nixon became the 1st president to visit & recognize China Nixon’s China Nixon’s visit visit to allowed was meant to for thealso possibility of exploit a growing rift U.S. trade with China between USSR & China; Now the USSR had to cooperate with the U.S. Richard Nixon & Foreign Policy Nixon’s détente policy was aimed at easing Cold War tensions with the USSR In 1972, Nixon By visiting China,st became the 1 Nixon pressured president to visit Soviet leader Moscow; Brezhnev to His visit led to the negotiate with Strategic Arms the United States Limitation Talks (SALT) to limit ICBMs The Presidency of Richard Nixon ■Nixon was a popular president by the end of his 1st term –His domestic policies reduced gov’t spending & revitalized middle-class, conservative, & Southern voters –His foreign policies led to the end of an unpopular war in Vietnam & eased tensions with America’s two biggest War rivals in 1972, the But after Cold Nixon’s re-election ■InWatergate 1972, Nixon wonbroke; one of the biggest scandal President Nixon resigned in 1974 ratherinthan face impeachment landslide victories presidential history Closure Activity: Reviewing U.S. Containment Policy ■ Review the Cold War containment policies of the United States from 1945 to 1973 ■ List the Cold War events of each president –Harry Truman (1945-1953) –Dwight Eisenhower (1953-1961) –John F Kennedy (1961-1963) –Lyndon Johnson (1963-1969) –Richard Nixon (1969-1974) ■ Rank these presidents from most effective (#1) “Cold Warrior” to least effective (#5) ■Essential Question: –In what ways did Presidents Ford & Carter fail to meet the needs of America in the late 1970s? ■Warm-Up Question: –Should Nixon’s presidency be judged more in his foreign policy successes or the Watergate scandal? Why? America from 1974 to 1980 ■ In the late 70s, the U.S. was “overextended” –Americans distrusted their government as a result of Vietnam & Watergate –The economy had entered a recession with high unemployment & inflation –A decline in America’s status in the world –A series of presidents (Ford & Carter) that failed to inspire a sense of hope among the American people President Gerald Ford When Nixon resigned in 1974, VP Gerald Ford became president Ford was seen as an “honest man” & hoped to move America past the Watergate scandal But, In September Ford was unable 1974,to Ford movepardoned forward due Nixon to of constant any crimes questions related to Watergate; about a potential Ford lost criminal popular trial support of Nixon Another issue during Ford’s presidency was a growing economic recession Since the early 1970s, Inflation, interest rates, Together, a stagnant economy the economy had grown & unemployment were & high inflation are known as: Stagnant High inflation stagnant economy with few new all on the rise STAGFLATION jobs or business profits President Gerald Ford Making the economic situation worse was the oil crisis of the 1970s Since “automania” of the 1950s, U.S. use of oil was on the rise In 1960, the oil rich nations in the Middle East & Latin America formed the Org of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) President Gerald Ford Making the economic situation worse was the oil crisis of the 1970s In retaliation for American support of Israel, OPEC cut off oil to the U.S. in 1973 As a result, gas prices soared & shortages led to long lines for gasoline President Jimmy Carter Ford had no answer for stagflation or the gas crisis & was challenged by Georgia Democrat Jimmy Carter in the 1976 election Carter ran as an “outsider” who played no part in Vietnam, Watergate, or the recession President Jimmy Carter In the 1976 election, Carter beat Ford Carter & Domestic Policy NoneCarter of histried efforts worked: As president, to attack the energy Inflation hit 14%, interest&rates neared 20%, & crisis, stagflation, the recession a new oil embargo in 1979 increased gas prices Carter & Foreign Policy Carter entered office committed to making “human rights” the basis of U.S. foreign policy Carter stopped supporting foreign governments that violated human rights In 1977, Carter agreed that the U.S. would return the Panama Canal in Dec 1999 Carter hoped to gain peace in the Middle East between Israel & the Muslim nations Since By the its 1970s, creation Egypt in 1947, appeared ready Israel to recognize was attacked Israel inbyexchange its for the Muslim return of neighbors land in the in the Sinai Peninsula 1940s, 1960s, & 1970s 1973 Yom Kippur War between Egypt and Syria against Israel Carter & Foreign Policy Carter brought Egyptian leader Anwar el-Sadat & Israeli leader Menachem Begin to the U.S. for the Camp David Accords in 1977 ? Carter did the impossible ? Egypt recognized Israel’s right to exist Israel agreed to leave the Sinai Peninsula Carter & Foreign Policy But, the situation in the Middle East got worse in 1979 when fundamentalist Islamic cleric Ayatollah Khomeini led the Iranian Revolution Carter & Foreign Policy Iranians seized the U.S. embassy & captured 52 American hostages (Iranian Hostage Crisis) Carter tried negotiation, economic threats, & a rescue mission to return the hostages but all efforts failed The 52 hostages were held for 444 days Carter & Foreign Policy To make matters worse, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979 to defeat an anti-communist uprising The invasion signaled an end to Nixon’s détente with the USSR as the United States sent aid to the Afghan rebels The Election of 1980 Carter had been unable in tosearch end In By the1980, election of 1980, Americans stagflation, free the U.S.Reagan hostages Iran, of answers elected Ronald as in president or restore America’s place in the world Conclusions ■ By 1980, the USA seemed to be losing its place as the top nation in the world: –The 1970s presented failures in the Cold War & new problems in the Middle East –The social protests & counter culture seemed to divide liberals & conservatives –Stagflation & the economic recession were growing worse, not better –The failures of Johnson, Nixon, Ford, & Carter left citizens in search of optimism, strong leadership, & conservative policies