The 1970sNixonFord

Carter

1971 Betty Friedan March for ERA

Betty Friedan, 1970

Phyllis Schlafly: Pro - Life Anti-feminist

The Seventies

• The Rise and Fall of Richard Nixon (1968-74)• Domestic Policies: mixed• New Federalism – reduce the size and power of the

federal government – power, funds, and responsibility will flow from Washington to the people.

• Revenue sharing –federal government distributesd tax revenues to states and local govts. To spend as they see fit. Popular with conservatives

Stagflation – 1970s

• Stagnant economy + rapid inflation

• Unemployment rose as in a normal recession but prices also increased at alarming rate

• 1973 - Energy crisis – oil embargo against the U.S.

Nixon’s Foreign Policy Record• Realpolitik – Henry Kissinger top foreign policy adviser, backed

pragmatic approach

• 1969, Nixon Doctrine – countries do more to help themselves: follows the Vietnamization of war in Vietnam

• Support for Israel – oil embargo following Yom Kippur War

• Détente with Soviet Union and China• Opens diplomatic relations with China• 1972 – historic visit to China

• SALT – Arms Limitation Treaty, 1971 Salt I

Nixon andKissingerOpen upChina

Watergate’s Legacy1972 break-in – resignation in 1974

• 1. Showed that no one is above the law

• 2. Damaged confidence in the presidency

• 3. Scandals lost their power to shock us

• 4. Increased the power of the press – no holds barred as before

Gerald Ford (1974-76)

• 1974 - Gerald Ford president• OPEC raises oil prices• Ford –WIN, Whip Inflation Now, ineffective• High unemployment rate• 1976 – Jimmy Carter (Washington outsider)• Emphasized human rights – foreign policy

priority in in contrast to realpolitik of Nixon

Jimmy Carter 1976 -1980

• 1976 – Jimmy Carter (Washington outsider)• Emphasized human rights – foreign policy priority in

in contrast to realpolitik of Nixon• 1978 – Treaty, returns control of Panama Canal to

Panama in 1999• 1978 – Camp David Accords, Jimmy Carter – a peace

agreement between Egypt and Israel• Death of détente between U.S. and U.S.S.R.; 1979

Soviets march on Afghanistan• 1979 – 1981, Hostage crisis in Iran

US SUPREME COURT• WARREN COURT (CIVIL / PRIVATE LIBERTIES)• 1962 - 63, School District of Abington Township v. Schempp• 1963, Gideon v. Wainright• 1964 Escobedo and Miranda• 1964, New York Times v. Sullivan• 1965, Griswold v. Connecticut• 1969, WARREN BURGER COURT• (By 1971- Nixon appointed four conservatives to the court)• 1973, Roe v. Wade• 1973, Allan Bakke v. University of California• 1989, Webster decision

1970 Milestones - Environmentalism• 1970 – First Earth Day celebration – a new environmental

movement: awareness / legislation• 1972 – Clean Water Act; 1974 – Safe Drinking Water Act• EPA: acid rain source water pollution; cars have to reduce

pollution• 1978 Three Mile island accident - nuclear generating station • 1987 Love Canal water – New York state, a chemical waste

dump – high cancer death rate

• ZPG – Zero Population Growth founded in 1968 – two children• Population ages and moves south from Rustbelt to Sunbelt –

baby bust / retirement boom• Growing gender equality in workplace & politics

1970s• “Vietnamization” policy• 1970, invasion of Cambodia; Kent State + Jackson

State• 1970, EPA created, Clean Air Act• 1973, Endangered Species Act• 1971, Pentagon Papers – Daniel Ellsworth• 1973-1974, Watergate Scandals and Nixon’s

resignation• 1974, Ford assumes the presidency• 1976-1980 Jimmy Carter defeats Ford– 1978, Camp David agreement– 1979, Iranian Revolution; 1979-81 Iranian hostage crisis

• 1980, Ronald Reagan elected president