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
