The Nixon Administration The Election of 1968 Early Policies US
Relations with China, USSR Henry Kissinger
Slide 3
The Election of 1968 Nixon (Republican) v. Humphrey (Democrat)
v. Wallace (Independent) Role of Southern Voters Historically
Democratic Effect of Alabamas Wallace Nixons approach to
Southerners South Carolinas Strom Thurmond Conservatives to federal
courts, Supreme Court Southern VP Oppose court-ordered busing
Slide 4
And the winner isRichard Nixon
Slide 5
Nixons Policies New Federalism Improve Government Efficiency
Dismantled Federal Programs More Control to Local and State Govt
Results? Revenue-Sharing Plan Federal Funding to State and Local
Agencies Conditional Funding Problems Impounded Funding Refusing to
release funding appropriated by Congress Declared
Unconstitutional
Slide 6
Henry Kissinger Background German Immigrant who fled Nazi
Germany Served in US Military Intelligence during WWII Worked as a
consultant on national security for Kennedy and Johnson Took
position as National Security Advisor for Nixon
Slide 7
Kissinger and Nixon Shared Views Vietnamization (Nixon
Doctrine) Cannot abandon Vietnam (focus on gradual withdrawal) Work
with South Vietnamese to defend themselves US Allies Take care of
own defense US still provide aid and training No longer conceive
all the plans, design all the programs, execute all the decisions,
and undertake all the defense of the free nations of the world
Slide 8
Detente Definition: Relaxing of Tensions Kissinger and Nixon:
Multipolar world meant US adaptation Role of China, Japan, and
Western Europe Relations with Communist states China: 1972 Visit,
Normalize Relations, Political Tool with USSR USSR: 1972 Summit,
SALT I, Proxy Wars
Slide 9
Watergate
Slide 10
Background June 17, 1972 Nixons advisors order break-in of
Democratic HQ to steal campaign information Five men arrested for
attempt to place wiretaps on phones and steal information from
Democratic National Headquarters (located at the Watergate Hotel)
One of the five men, James McCord, was a retired CIA agent Also a
member of Committee for the Re-Election of the President Role of
Woodward and Carl Bernstein
Slide 11
Watergate continued Reports that CRP funded burglars Funds
coming from White House? Cover-up begins White House officials
destroy incriminating documents False testimony to investigators
CIA stops FBI from investigating Nixons press secretary: White
House has had no involvement Effects on the Election?
Slide 12
1972 Election Nixons Reelection Campaign Effects of 1960 loss
and 1968 Election Secretive, Defensive, Resentful of Critics
Effects of Vietnam and riots China and Russia George Wallace drops
out after attack South Dakota Sen. George McGovern Win at any
costWATERGATE Nixon wins by one of the largest margins in history
(61% of popular vote, 49 states, 520 electoral votes)
Slide 13
Watergate (post-election) 1973: Burglars go on trial McCord
testifies in front of grand jury and in front of the new Senate
Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities Testimony
leads to White House and campaign officials exposed John Dean
(counsel to the president) made allegations against Nixon
Slide 14
Testimonies John Dean: Attorney General John Mitchell ordered
break-in Nixon active in cover-up (Nixon denies role) Who told the
truth? Alexander Butterfield (White House aide): Recording system
in White House Would explain what Nixon really knew Legal Decision
(US v. Nixon, 1974)
Slide 15
The Tapes Executive privilege? Confidential for National
Security US v. Nixon Archibald Cox Special prosecutor appointed by
Nixon to handle Watergate Took Nixon to court to hand over tapes
Nixon response Att. Gen. Richardson refused to fire Cox and
resigned Richardsons deputy did same Solicitor General Robert Bork
fires Cox (Saturday Night Massacre) US v. Nixon results
Slide 16
After the tapes House Judiciary Committee votes to impeach
Nixon on charges of misconduct, obstructing justice, misusing
federal agencies, and defying authority of Congress Before House
vote on impeachment evidence of Nixons involvement surfaced CIA
order to stop FBI investigation
Slide 17
Friday, August 8, 1974 Wednesday, August 6, 1974
Slide 18
Results Gerald Ford becomes president September 8, 1974: full,
free, and absolute pardon to Nixon New Laws Federal Campaign Act
Amendments Limits campaign contributions Established agency to
administer stricter election laws Ethics in Government Act
Financial disclosure in all three branches of government FBI
Domestic Security Investigations Guideline Act Restricted political
intelligence gathering activities Created Counsel for investigating
high government officials
Slide 19
Exit Slip Watergate was probably a good thing for the country;
it was a good, sobering lesson. Accountability to the law applies
to everyone. The problem with kings and prime ministers and
presidents is that they think that they are above itthat they have
some special rights, and privileges, and status. And a process that
says: No. We have our laws and believe them, and they apply to
everyone, is a very good thing. -Bob Woodward, Nixon: An Oral
History of His Presidency Do you believe Woodward that the laws in
the US apply to everyone? Why or why not?
