From Nixon to Obama
The 70s, 80s, 90s, and Today…
Mr. PagliaroSeymour High School@PagsAPUSH
Nixon & VietnamHawks, Doves, the Silent Majority, and the End of the War
Doves demand peace Doves preferred withdrawal from
Vietnam Massive protest Immediate withdrawal
Sen. William Fulbright (Dem.- Ark.) The Arrogance of Power (1966) –
critique of war▪ Stated war wasn’t necessary for
containment▪ Promoted neutrality; isolationism
Hawks & the Silent Majority Hawks:
Supported war in Vietnam Believed withdrawal = surrender
Silent Majority: Named by Nixon America that quietly supported war
policies Justified support of So. Vietnam
Invasion of Cambodia - 1970
The Kent State (OH) Protest
The Kent State (OH) Massacre
Student Strike of 1970
Ending the Vietnam War Easter Offensive – No. Vietnam failure Operation Linebacker 1 & 2: Heavy
bombings of No. Vietnam, 1972 Paris Accords, 1973
Emerged after secret negotiations btw. Security Advisor, Henry Kissinger & No. Vietnamese
Withdrawal of troops Freeing of American 500+ P.O.W.s
Final Americans left Saigon, April 30, 1975 – Operation Frequent Wind The fall of Saigon
Consequences of Vietnam
Economic effects: US couldn’t afford Great Society & Vietnam
War War costs + Social Programs = high inflation
60s-70s▪ Nixon Shock attempted to fight inflation
Foreign Policy effects: Public skepticism of American international
involvement War Powers Act (1973) –▪ President must inform Congress within 48 hours
IF…▪ Military sent to hostile area w/o declaring war
Nixon and Détente China, the Soviet Union, SALT talks
Background of Détente Existence of the Cold War Tension among US & USSR
Berlin airlift, Cuban Missile Crisis, Berlin Wall US had no diplomatic relationship w/
China Kissinger convinced Nixon to create
flexible foreign policy Détente called for relaxed Cold War
tensions
Détente & China
1971-Nixon announced visit to China “…to normalize relations between the
countries.” Visited Beijing, Feb. 1972
Nixon in China
Formalized relations w/ PRC US maintained relationship w/ RoC
until 1979
Détente and USSR
Nixon = 1st President in Moscow Visit led to reduced tensions Agreements included SALT talks,
economic initiatives
SALT Talks
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks SALT I treaty between USSR and USA:▪ Signed by President Gerald Ford▪ Limited # of ICBMs▪ Limited # of nuclear armed subs
Nixon and the New FederalismConnecting Federal, State, & Local governments, CReeP, Watergate
Background Great Society increased federal influence
& spending Nixon wanted to REDUCE size of federal
gov’t
The New Federalism
Distribute federal power to state/local governments
Revenue sharing State/municipalities chose how to spend
federal funding Certain limitations Increased state autonomy lost in New Deal
Examples Legacy of Parks, 1971 Education $
Election of 1972
NIXON - REPUBLICANS
Good economy Foreign relations Desegregation of all
schools w/o busing
MCGOVERN - DEMOCRATS Antiwar policies Guaranteed minimum
income
Watergate Scandal Nixon kept tabs on rivals & enemies
Taped conversations Committee to Re-Elect the President (CRP or creep)
June 17, 1972 5 men arrested breaking into HQ of DNC @ Watergate Hotel▪ Phone tapping, breaking-and-entering
Convicted January 1973
Election of 1972 (Cont’d.) Nixon won 520-17 w/ 60.7% of vote
Watergate, (Cont’d.)
Watergate tapes Turned over during impeachment trials Forced resignation of Nixon-8/8/74
Sept. 8, 1974
Jimmy CarterBicentennial, Election of ‘76, Frostbelt to Sunbelt, the 70s economy, Camp David Accords, Iran, Election of 1980
The Bicentennial OpSail – Tall Ship “parades” Opening of Nat’l Air & Space Museum School House Rock – History Rock specials TV Specials –
In Celebration of US (CBS), 14 hour coverage hosted by Walter Cronkite
The Glorious Fourth (NBC), 10 hour coverage The Great American Birthday Party (ABC), hosted by Harry
Reasoner Happy Birthday, America (NBC), hosted by Paul Anka Bob Hope's Bicentennial Star-Spangled Spectacular (NBC)
Special commemorative coins
Election of 1976Gerald Ford – RepublicanElectoral Votes – 240States Carried – 27Popular Vote – 48%
Jimmy Carter - DemocratElectoral Votes – 297States Carried – 23Popular Vote – 50.1
Frostbelt to Sunbelt Mid-70s to 90s– fastest growing States = south
of 37°N Movement of jobs
Tax incentives
Latino & Asian Immigration Past 25 years – large increase in both
Latinos = 78% since 2000 Latinos=33% TX, CA, AZ, 40% NM
La Raza/Chicano Movement Latino efforts for
educational/economic access Cesar Chavez Reies Lopez Tijerina Rodolfo Gonzalez ¡Si, se puede!
Carter & the Economy
Biggest domestic concern – INFLATION US – increasing inflation over 70s▪ Slow economic growth▪ Led to unemployment
Rising inflation + Rising unemployment=STAGFLATION Caused by Nixon price/
wage controls, OPECembargo of US (due toYom Kippur war)
Major issues of Economy during Carter administration Increased inflation Increased unemployment Increased government spending Increased gas prices due to:
Arab oil embargo (1973) Iranian Revolution (1979)
Increased interest rates
Historic Oil Prices/Production 1861-2008 1973 Arab
Oil Embargo
1979 Iranian Oil
Crisis
Effects of Energy Crisis
Carter’s “Crisis of Confidence Speech” White House solar panels
Detroit improved fuel economy Smaller engines Electronic fuel injection
Causes of Inflation in the 70s Vietnam spending Rising energy costs Federal budget deficits Healthcare costs
Carter Foreign Policy
Foreign policy based on human rights Made it an international issue
Camp David Accords Leaders of Israel & Egypt met @ Camp
David, MD 12 day negotiations▪ Peace agreement over Sinai region
SALT II
Signed 1979 – Reduction in #s and use of MIRVs Never ratified Soviets invaded Afghanistan,
1979
Iran Hostages Jan. 78-Feb. 79-Shah
overthrown Religious leaders take
controlAyatollah US provided healthcare to
Shah US ally = Israel Iranian revolutionaries
overthrow US embassy Take 52 hostages▪ Nov. 4, 1979 to Jan. 20, 1981
The 1980 Election
Carter vs. Ronald Reagan Issues –▪ Iranian Hostages▪ Weak economy/high inflation (double digits)▪ Hostility towards big government▪ Call for conservative Supreme Court
NeoConservativism
Republicans successfully defeated the Democrat Coalition on… Social issues such as –▪ Affirmative action▪ Women’s rights▪ Sexual freedom▪ Blue collar workers moved towards Republicans
The New Right – religious right, military, blue collar
Reagan promised to increase military; cut taxes
The Reagan Revolution Reagan – 489
Carter – 44 Reagan –
50.7%Carter – 41%
Republicans controlled Senate after 1980
ReaganIran, Reaganomics, USSR Summits, Grenada, Iran-Contras
The end of the Iran Hostage Situation
Reaganomics
Supply-side economic policy goals Reduce tax rates for businesses/wealthy Reduce corporate tax rates Encourage private investment Limit Federal regulation of business “Trickle down” Theory
The 4 Pillars of Reaganomics
1. Reduce Government spending.2. Reduce Income Tax and Capital Gains
Tax.3. Reduce Government regulation.4. Control the money supply to reduce
inflation.
Deregulation
Airlines Railroads Trucking Telephones Natural gas Oil/Energy Banking
Reduced funding of Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA)
1981 – Reagan fires 11,500, striking FAA air
traffic controllers
Supply-Side Economics in Action 1981 – Federal Taxes cut 5%
Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 (Kemp-Roth Tax Cut)
1982 – cut 10% Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982
1983 – cut 10% Government social spending reduced:
Education aid Urban housing programs Arts
Arguments against Reaganomics
Social Spending Down – Defense Up Reagan’s defense budget increased
$13 billion 1981-83 Proposed Strategic Defense Initiative
(SDI) “Star Wars”
Grenada ‘83
Fighting communism or American Imperialism?
Arms Control Summits w/ USSRDate Site
President of the United
States
General Secretary or Premier of the Soviet
UnionNovember 19–21, 1985
Geneva, Switzerland Ronald Reagan Mikhail
Gorbachev
October 10–12, 1986 Reykjavík,Iceland Ronald Reagan Mikhail
Gorbachev
December 7–10, 1987
Washington, D.C., United States Ronald Reagan Mikhail
Gorbachev
May 29–June 1, 1988
Moscow, Soviet Union Ronald Reagan Mikhail
Gorbachev
December 7, 1988
New York City, United States Ronald Reagan Mikhail
Gorbachev
Iran-Contra Affair: August 20, 1985 – March 4, 1987
Shipment of weapons to anti-Ayatollah Iranian Group
Payments siphoned to Nicaraguan “Contras” Attempt to overthrow communist
government▪ Once public: Nicaragua sued US at “World
Court” Scapegoat: Lt. Oliver North
Acquitted because plea deal testimony wrongly used in Congressional hearings
The Teflon President
How do we deal w/ Iran?
Bush, Clinton, and the 90sEnd of the Cold War, Desert Storm, LA Riots, Free Trade, The E-Boom & Bust
Fall of the Berlin Wall- Nov. 9, 1989-Oct. 10, 1990
Dissolution of Soviet Union: Jan. 1990-Dec. 1991
Desert Storm
1990 – Iraq invaded Kuwait UN Security council voted economic
sanctions US & Coalition forces to Kuwait – Desert
Shield US Military to Saudi Arabia
1991-Jan. 15-Feb. 28-Active War Iraq = 40,000 casualties USA = 150 lives lost
Gulf War Syndrome
Images of Desert Storm
LA Riots - 1992
1991 – 4 white LAPD taped beating motorist, Rodney King
April 1992 – Acquittal of officers Riots, looting, arson Cost $1 Billion – 53 dead – 3600 fires
Social/Health Issues
War on Drugs HIV/Aids
Election of 1992 Bush –
37.5% Perot –
18.9% Clinton –
43%
Globalization NAFTA – North American Free Trade Agreement
North American economic bloc US Joined Dec. 8, 1993
Impact: Mexican Factories: increased 15.5% since
1994 US Jobs Lost: 879k by 2008 – 78% =
manufacturing No tariffs between members
World Trade Organization Provided frameworks for
international trade agreements Replaced Post-WWII General Agreement
on Tariffs and Trade US joined in 1995
InternationalMergers
The Internet
The Dot-Com Bubble
Dot-Com Trades 0n NASDAQ
More Current Issues & Trends
The W. Era
Obama Election
Nov. 2008 –Election of President Obama Largest Voter turnout ever -
>120,000,000 votes
Demographic Trends
1970s – Present –Migration to Sunbelt South & West largest growing areas of
nation▪ Growing in Latino & Asian population
regionally & nationally Social Security
Larger aging population = threat to system