NixonI. Intro II. Nixon (1969-74)

A. “The Man”B. Domestic PolicyC. Foreign Policy

A. ChinaB. USSR

D. WatergateA. BackgroundB. Break-inC. Cover-up

III. Nixon’s Legacy

Key Terms• Silent Spring• Family Assistance Plan• Détente• Henry Kissinger• SALT• CREEP• “Dirty Tricks”• Woodward & Bernstein• Spiro Agnew• Gerald Ford

Richard Nixon(The Man/Republican)

Background • From California;

modest family• Nation’s #1 Anti-

Communist

(1913-1994)

Domestic Policy(Environment)

• Carson: Outlined dangers of chemicals & pesticides (DDT)

• Nixon was pro-environment:– Signed Clean Water & Clean

Air Acts– Environmental Protection

Agency was created(Rachel Carson, 1962)

Domestic Policy (Family Assistance Plan)

• Nixon’s proposal to overhaul welfare & LBJ’s Great Society.

1. Would guarantee a family of four an income of $1,600/year (more than most states).

2. All heads of household on welfare are required to register for job training (the cost was covered).

It failed to pass Congress, but demonstrated Nixon’s “Centrist” approach.

Foreign Policy

• Kissinger-Nixon Cabinet member

Henry Kissinger

(1923- )

• Détente- Closer and more positive relations between US & communist countries

• Seen with China & USSR

Separated At Birth…?

Henry Kissinger

(1923 - )

Ben Stein

(1944 - )

Détente With China

• Since 1949 US had not recognized China’s communist government.

• US “normalized” or recognized China’s government.

• Nixon traveled to China. Mao Zedong greets

Nixon in China (1972)

Détente With USSR

2. US sold 400 million tons of grain to USSR at bargain prices.

3. SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty)– Set limits on offensive nuclear missiles

1. Summer, 1972 Nixon traveled to USSR.

Foreign Policy

Overview/Analysis• Tremendous

success for Nixon.• Who else could

have accomplished this…?

Détente- • Closer and more

positive relations between US & communist countries.

• Seen with China & USSR

Watergate: Background

• CREEP: – Committee to Re-

Elect President– Involved with “Dirty

Tricks” to help Nixon’s re-election campaign

John Mitchell; Attorney General

Donald Segretti

Watergate: Break-In

• CREEP attempted to bug the Democratic Headquarters at the Watergate

• Nixon probably knew nothing about break-in, but later tried cover it up

Watergate Office & Hotel Complex (WA DC)

Watergate: Cover-up

• Writers for the Washington Post

• “Deep Throat” was an important source

Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein

Deep Throat(Former FBI Agent)

W. Mark Felt (1957)

Felt in 2005 at age 91

Watergate: Scandal Continues

• Agnew accepted bribes & was forced to resign.

VP Spiro Agnew & Richard Nixon

Watergate

• Sworn in as new VP.

Gerald Ford

(1913-2006)

Watergate Scandal

• A taping system was discovered in the White House

• The tapes showed the President had obstructed justice

• Nixon resigned

Nixon & Watergate (1974)

Nixon Was Forced To Resign

Newspaper Headline Nixon’s Farewell

Watergate

• Sworn in as new VP.

Gerald Ford

(1913-2006)

• Sworn in as new President.

Watergate

• Ford granted Nixon a full pardon

Richard Nixon(The Man)

Nixon’s Legacy• Tremendous foresight

in foreign affairs• Trust in politicians was

shattered• Is US a 2nd Rate World

Power...?

(1913-1994)

NixonI. Intro II. Nixon (1969-74)

A. “The Man”B. Domestic PolicyC. Foreign Policy

A. ChinaB. USSR

D. WatergateA. BackgroundB. Break-inC. Cover-up

III. Nixon’s Legacy

Key Terms• Silent Spring• Family Assistance

Plan• Détente• Henry Kissinger• SALT• CREEP• “Dirty Tricks”• Woodward &

Bernstein• Spiro Agnew• Gerald Ford