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CHAPTER 25 Nixon, Ford, Carter
CHAPTER 25 Nixon, Ford, Carter
Section 1- The Nixon Administration
President Richard M. Nixon tries to steer the country in a conservative direction and away from federal control.
Nixon’s New Conservatism
New Federalism Richard M. Nixon wants to decrease
size and influence of federal government New Federalism —give part of federal
power to state and local governments• Nixon proposes revenue sharing, which
becomes law in 1972:state, local governments now decide how to
spend federal money
Welfare Reform Nixon is not as successful in attempts to
revise welfare- he felt welfare had become inefficient
Family Assistance Plan gives family of four with no outside income a base income of $1,600/ year and earn up to $4,000 additional
Unemployed would have to accept any reasonable work offered to them
Senate liberals and conservatives defeat bill
Law and Order Politics• Nixon moves aggressively to end war,
mend divisiveness in country• Begins law and order policies to end anti-
war riots, demonstrations- appeal to “silent majority”sometimes uses illegal tactics:
○wire-taps left-wing activist○builds a personal enemies list, he is a
bit paranoid
Nixon’s Southern StrategyA New South Southern Democrats help segregationist George Wallace
win 5 states in 1968 election Nixon must win over Southern Democrats for votes and a
majority in Congress in 1972 election Southern strategy-appeal to dislike of desegregation and
a liberal Supreme CourtNixon Slows Integration To attract white voters in South, Nixon slows
desegregation Supreme Court orders Nixon to comply with Brown ruling Nixon opposes extension of Voting Rights Act but
Congress extends it
Controversy over Busing• Supreme Court rules school
districts may bus to end segregation• Students, parents in some cities
protest angrily• Nixon goes on national TV to
urge Congress to halt busing A Battle over the Supreme
Court• 1969, Nixon appoints Warren
Burger as chief justice • Also appoints 3 justices; makes
Court more conservative• Court does not always vote
conservative
Confronting a Stagnant EconomyThe Causes of Stagflation Stagflation-combination of high inflation, high
unemployment Inflation result of LBJ’s deficit spending on war, social
programs Unemployment from more international trade, new workers Rising oil prices, U.S. dependence on foreign oil add to
inflation Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
embargo in 1973 on U.S. then in 1974 prices are 4x higher (1973 oil crisis)
Nixon Battles Stagflation Nixon tries different strategies; none have much success
Nixon’s Foreign Policy TriumphsKissinger and Realpolitik Henry Kissinger—national security adviser,
later secretary of stateRealpolitik—foreign policy based on power
issues, not ideals, morals• Realpolitik calls for U.S. to confront powerful
nations, ignore weak • Nixon, Kissinger follow policy of détente—
easing Cold War tensions• Visits China and Mao Zedong
Nixon Visits China 1972, Nixon’s visit to China is a huge success U.S. and China agree to:
cooperate over disputes, have scientific, cultural exchange Nixon Takes advantage of problems between China
& Soviet UnionNixon Travels to Moscow First U.S. President to visit the USSR• 1972, Nixon visits Moscow; he and premier
Brezhnev sign SALT I Treaty:Strategic Arms Limitation Talks limit missiles to 1972 levels
• Foreign policy triumphs• Expected peace in Vietnam helps him to win
reelection in 1972
Section 2Watergate: Nixon's Downfall
President Richard Nixon’s involvement in the Watergate scandal forces him to resign from office
President Nixon and His White HouseAn Imperial Presidency Depression, WWII, Cold War make executive the
most powerful branch Nixon expands presidential powers, ignores
Congress (thinks he’s above the law) The President’s Men Nixon has small, loyal group of advisers- like him,
desire secrecyH. R. Haldeman, White House chief of staffJohn Ehrlichman, Chief domestic adviserJohn Mitchell, Nixon’s former attorney generalJohn Dean, Presidential Counsel
The Drive Toward Reelection Nixon fears losing an election His campaign team is willing to do whatever they
deem necessary to gain advantages- even breaking into the Democratic National Committee Headquarters to steal info.
A Bungled Burglary2:30 AM June 17, 1972 a guard at the Watergate
complex in Washington D.C. catches five men breaking into the campaign headquarters of the DNC
Plan to photograph documents with Democrats strategy and place wiretaps, or “bugs”, on the telephones
Press discovers that the leader was James McCord, a former CIA agent
He was also a security coordinator for a group known as the Committee to Reelect the President (CRP)
John Mitchell (former Attorney General) is the CRP’s director
Watergate scandal is administration’s attempt to cover up the break-in.They destroy all documents & try to stop
investigation- ask CIA to urge FBI to stop its investigations on the ground of national security
Buy burglars’ silence ($450,000 passed out by the CRP)
Washington Post reporters (Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein) link Nixon administration to break-in.
White House denies allegations; little public interest in charges.
Meanwhile, Nixon reelected by landslide over liberal Democrat George McGovern in 1972 election
The Cover-up UnravelsThe Trial Begins• It’s clear now that White House involved- public
interest now rises• Question: What did the president know and
when did he know it?• April 30, 1973- Nixon dismisses Presidential
counsel John Dean, while Haldeman, Ehrlichman, and new Attorney General Richard Kleindienst (replaced John Mitchell) all resign.
• Nixon goes on TV and denies any involvement• May 1973 Senate begins its investigation- the
“president’s men” testify
Startling Testimony Millions watch on TV as the
“presidents men” each testify one after another
• Dean declares Nixon is deeply involved in cover-up.
• White House strongly denies • Presidential aide Alexander
Butterfield says Nixon tapes all of his presidential conversations (for his memoirs)• tapes become key to revealing
questions
The Saturday Night Massacre• A year long battle for the tapes ensues • Special prosecutor Archibald Cox subpoenas tapes in
Oct. 1973; Nixon refuses.• Nixon orders Cox fired, but attorney general Elliot
Richardson refuses to fire him.• Saturday Night Massacre: Richardson resigns;
deputy attorney general refuses to fire Cox, he is then fired.
• Cox finally fired by Solicitor General Robert Bork• Cox’s replacement, Leon Jaworski, also calls for tapes.• Vice President Spiro Agnew resigns, revealed he was
accepted bribes while governor of Maryland• Nixon nominates Gerald Ford as VP & Congress
confirms.
The Fall of a PresidentNixon Releases the Tapes• March 1974, grand jury indicts 7 presidential aides.
charges: conspiracy, obstruction of justice, perjury.• Nixon tells TV audience he is releasing edited
transcripts of conversations• Investigators demand unedited tapes
• Goes to the Supreme Court• July, Supreme Court rules unanimously Nixon must
surrender original tapes. (8-0)• Reject Nixon’s claim that this would violate national
security• Nixon still claims he had done nothing wrong- “I am not
a crook!”
The President Resigns• House Judiciary Committee approves 3 articles of
impeachment (Formal accusation of wrongdoing while in office)• Charges: obstruction of justice, abuse of power,
contempt of Congress (refusing to obey subpoena to release the tapes.)
• Nixon finally releases tapes- there is a disturbing 18 ½ minute gap• Claims that Rose Mary Woods, Presidents secretary,
accidentally erased parts • Still they ultimately show he knew of his
administrations role and the cover up.• Before full House votes on impeachment, Nixon resigns.• Nixon still admitted no guilt
The Effects of Watergate• Gerald Ford sworn in as the
38th president • 25 members of administration
convicted, serve prison terms for crimes connected with Watergate
• Watergate along with Vietnam produce a sense of cynicism in America towards public officials that we still see today
Final Report: Watergate
1. What issues does this cartoon address?
2. What symbols or caricatures do you see?
3. Does the cartoon do a good job of relaying its message to the audience?
Nixon/Watergate Political Cartoon Activity
1. Listen to which group you are in and meet with your group
2. As a group look at each political cartoon #1-5 and then answer the accompanying questions for each
3. When you are finished wait for the other groups to finish up and keep looking for any other meanings/symbolism in the cartoons you may have missed
Section 3The Ford and Carter Years
The Ford and Carter administrations attempt to remedy the nation’s worst economic crisis in decades.
Ford Travels a Rough Road“A Ford, Not a Lincoln”• September 1974, new president Gerald R. Ford
pardons Nixon• Tries to move country past Watergate; loses much
public supportFord Tries to “Whip” Inflation• Unsuccessfully asks public to cut back use of oil, gas,
save energy• Cuts government spending; urges higher interest to
restrict credit • “Tight money” policy triggers recession• Continually battles Democratic Congress with own
economic agenda
Ford’s Foreign Policy Carrying Out Nixon’s Foreign Policies• Ford continues negotiations with China, Soviet Union• Signs Helsinki Accords—cooperation between
Eastern, Western Europe Ongoing Turmoil in Southeast Asia• Vietnam cease-fire breaks down; Ford asks
Congress for aid to South• Congress refuses; South Vietnam surrenders
in 1975• Cambodia seizes U.S. merchant ship Mayagüez • Ford uses big military response; 41 die to rescue 39,
is criticized
Carter Enters the White House Mr. Carter Goes to Washington
Jimmy Carter promises to restore integrity to presidency
defeats Ford by narrow margin• Has down-to-earth style; holds “fireside
chats” on radio, TV• Does not make deals with Congress; relies
on Georgia advisers• Both parties in Congress join to sink Carter
budgets, major reforms
Carter’s Domestic Agenda Confronting the Energy Crisis • Carter offers energy proposals; oil-, gas-producing states,
auto makers resist National Energy Act—encourages conservation, U.S.
energy sources• National Energy Act, conservation cut foreign oil
dependence The Economic Crisis Worsens• Violence in Middle East creates fuel shortage; OPEC
raises prices• Carter tries various methods, none work; gives “malaise”
speech• 1980 inflation 14%, standard of living drops; people lose
confidence
A Changing Economy• From 1950s automation, foreign competition
reduce manufacturing jobs• Service sector expands, higher paying jobs
require education, skills Carter and Civil Rights• Carter hires more African Americans, women
than previous presidents• Many civil rights groups disappointed because
few laws passed• 1978 Bakke case, Supreme Court strikes
affirmative action quotas allows race as one factor in university admissions
Human Rights Foreign Policy Advancing Human Rights• Carter’s foreign policy promotes human rights
—basic freedoms• Cuts off aid to some, not all, allies that mistreat
own citizens Yielding the Panama Canal• People in Panama resent having country split in
two by foreign power• 1977 treaty gives control of canal to Panama on
Dec. 31, 1999
The Collapse of Détente• Carter’s insistence on human rights
strains relations with U.S.S.R.• SALT II talks delayed; Carter,
Brezhnev finally sign June 1979• SALT II meets sharp opposition in
Senate• December, Soviets invade
Afghanistan; Carter lets SALT II die
Triumph and Crisis in the Middle East The Camp David Accords• 1978 Carter hosts talks between
Anwar el-Sadat, Menachem Begin Camp David Accords forge peace
between Israel, Egypt:Israel withdraws from Sinai PeninsulaEgypt recognizes Israel’s right to exist
The Iran Hostage Crisis Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini leads
overthrow of shahestablishes Islamic state
• Carter supports shah; allows him entry to U.S. for cancer treatment
• Students seize U.S. embassy, take 52 hostages; demand shah back
• Carter refuses; standoff ensues; intense secret negotiations follow
• Captives released Jan. 1981, shortly after Ronald Reagan sworn in
