110 likes | 240 Views
The Nixon Administration. Ch. 32, Sec. 1 . Key Idea. Pres. Nixon sought to restore law and order and traditional values at home ease Cold War tensions abroad. . Appealing to Middle America. Many Americans supported govt. & wanted end to violence of 1960s
E N D
The Nixon Administration Ch. 32, Sec. 1
Key Idea • Pres. Nixon sought to • restore law and order and traditional values at home • ease Cold War tensions abroad.
Appealing to Middle America • Many Americans supported govt. & wanted end to violence of 1960s • 1968 Rep. pres. candidate Nixon appealed to “Middle America” • He promised • peace in Vietnam • law and order • streamlined govt. • return to conservative values
Appealing to Middle America • Nixon’s success in election came from South and he promised to • appoint conservatives to Federal courts • name Southerner to Supreme Court • oppose court-ordered busing • choose VP acceptable to South • Many white Southerners left Dem. Party to vote for Nixon
Appealing to Middle America • After election Nixon began the “Southern strategy” to win more Southerners for Rep. Party • took steps to slow desegregation • set out to battle crime • criticized Supreme Court regarding expanded rights for accused criminals. • appointed several conservative judges to Supreme Court – 1 from South
Appealing to Middle America • Nixon’s dismantled many Federal programs • Control to state & local govts. • Under Nixon’s New Federalism program Congress passed revenue-sharing bills • provided fed. funds to state & local agencies • led to a greater dependency on fed. funds
Appealing to Middle America • 1969 - Nixon proposed replacing existing Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) welfare program with Family Assistance Plan • give needy families guaranteed yearly grant of $1,600 • won House approval but later defeated in Senate
Nixon’s Foreign Policy • Nixon’s administration focused mainly on foreign affairs • chose former Harvard professor Henry Kissinger as national security adviser • attempted friendlier relations w/ Soviet Union & China
Nixon’s Foreign Policy • Nixon was anti-Communist but came to reject idea of bipolar world w/ US & USSR confronting each other • created the approach of détente- relaxation of tensions between US and 2 major Communist rivals–the USSR & China
Nixon’s Foreign Policy • Nixon argued US had to build better relationship w/ rivals to ensure world peace • lifted trade and travel restrictions w/ China & withdrew Seventh Fleet from defending Taiwan • February 1972 - Nixon took historic trip to China, where both leaders agreed to better relations between the nations.
Nixon’s Foreign Policy • May 1972 - Soviets suggested American-Soviet summit • Nixon became 1st pres. to visit USSR • 1stStrategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I) signed to limit nuclear arms • agreed to increase trade & exchange scientific information