Nixon. He’s the One.

1. Nixon. He’s the One. Election Vietnam Economy Polarization Civil Rights Watergate

2. Election 68 • June 5, 1968 Robert Kennedy was shot • Dem Ticket went to Hubert Humphrey, LBJ’s heir • Repubs put up Richard Nixon with Spiro T Agnew • Made name for himself after shooting of MLK during riots April 68: martial law in MD • 3rd party: George C. Wallace, former Gov AL • Racist, wanted to bomb Vietnamese to death

3. Election 68 (2) • Victory for Nixon: Law & Order candidate • Promised most open white house in history • Also promised no one sided victory in Vietnam • Slogan: “Nixon, He’s the One” coopted by Dems. • Victory largely a reflection of US discontent with upheavals of 60s • War protests • Escalating crime • Riots • Basic desire to stop Civil Rights

4. LBJ RIP • LBJ returned to ranch in TX • Died in 1973 • Tragedy that Vietnam, a war he committed to with noble intent, killed his other programs: Great Society and Civil Rights

5. Economy Stagnates • Not one year of the 70s had a growth rate that matched any one year of the 50s or 60s • More women and teens in the work force • Less skill = less pay than males • Deteriorating machinery & US regulations ltd growth • Spending on Vietnam & Gt Society depleted US Treasury • Inflation became a constant problem • Competition from production in Japan & Germany eroded US domination of industries like Steel & Automobiles & consumer electronics

6. 69 Moon Shot • Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin • Apollo 11 • 2.5 orbits around earth … to moon (sling shot style) • Eagle- small ship… lands on Moon • Left plaque: We Came in Peace for All Mankind • Radioed back to earth: “One small step for man, one giant step for mankind.”

7. Nixon 4n Pol • Inaugural Address • Promises: bring Americans together after turmoil of 60s • Most open white house in history • Suspicious and secretive by nature • Isolated in White House to create “Imperial Presidency” • His first interest is foreign policy, not domestic • National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger, later Sec of State fashioned policy to reduce Cold War tensions

8. Vietnamization • By 69 over 500,000 troops were in Vietnam • Objective: to reduce US involvement in war w/o conceding defeat. • Seeking Peace With Honor • Begins Vietnamization immediately • Gradual w/d of troops while giving more $$, weapons & training to S. Vietnamese troops to take over full conduct of the war. • Reduced # of troops from 540,000 1969 to 30,000 by 72

9. Nixon Doctrine • Disengagement in Asia • That future allies in Asia would receive US support without extensive use of ground troops

10. Reaction to Nixon Policies • At first gradual w/d reduced protests • April 1970 Nixon widened the war • Used US forces to invade Cambodia • To destroy VC bases there • Began Operation Rolling Thunder: Bombing North Vietnam heavily • Nationwide protests Kent State & other campuses • National guard shot and killed 4 • Jackson State, MS National Guard shot and killed 2 black students

11. Reaction (2) • Senate reaction to escalation of war: • Repeal of Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • US learned about My Lai massacre of 300+ villagers in 68 by Lt. Calley • NY Times published Pentagon Papers • Installments • Secret study of US role in Vietnam by Rob. McNamara in 67 • Documents mistakes & deceptions of Gov Policy makers • Had led to McNamara’s resignation in 67 • Replaced by Clark Clifford (Hawk) • P.Papers had been leaked to press by former Defense Dept analyst Daniel Ellsberg • In public eye: dirt of P. Papers sticks to Nixon too.. Esp with secret bombing of Cambodia, Laos and N.V.

12. Peace Talks • Nixon sent Kissinger to run secret meetings w NV’s foreign minister: Le Duc Tho • Fall 72: Kissinger, “Peace is at hand” • Premature • NV wouldn’t compromise • Nixon orders massive bombing of NV • Heaviest air attacks of war • To force settlement • Several weeks of B52 attacks- NV agreed to armistice • US w/d troops & get back 500+ POWs • A one sided w/d

13. Paris Accords • Jan 73 • Also promised cease fire & free elections • At end of war (for us): tens of thousands of enemy troops still in S.V. • War continues on w/o us • Cost: 58,000 lives • $118 Billion • Inflationary cycle in US through 60s-70s & 2 recessions.

14. Détente With China & USSR • Taking advantage of rivalry between China & USSR • Playing off of fears of each • Nixon goes to visit China Feb 72 • Outspoken critic of Communism • Goes to Beijing to meet w/ Mao • Visits initiated diplomatic exchanges • Ultimately led to US recognition of Communist China by 1979 (ping pong diplomacy)

15. Arms control w/ USSR • Using new relations w/ China to put pressure on USSR • To get them to agree to limit anti ballistic missiles ABMs • New technology that wd have expanded arms race • SALT talks (strategic arms limitations talks) • End of first round of SALT I • Got consent of Soviets to freeze # of ballistic missiles carying nuclear warheads • A 1st step toward reducing Cold War tensions

16. Domestic Policy • Dem majority in both houses continued • Nixon lays foundation for shift in public opinion toward conservatives & future gains of Republicans of 80s & 90s

17. New Federalism • Trying to slow growth of Gt Society programs • proposed Family Assistance Plan- welfare reform • Dem majority in congress defeats initiative • Nixon shifts responsibility for many social programs from Fed Gov to States • Revenue Sharing • Congress approves giving local govs $30 billion in block grants over 5 yrs to address local needs as they saw fit • w/o fed gov controlling spending in programs • Purpose: stop growth of Fed Gov & return responsibility 2 states as before New Deal

18. Impounding Funds • Nixon tried to bypass Congress by impounding (not spending) funds appropriated by social programs • Dems protest: Abuse of Powers • Court agrees w/ Congress

19. Economic Policies • Recession in 70s triggers Stagflation • Combined econ slow down and high inflation • To slow inflation Nixon tries to cut Fed Spending • Caused further recession & higher unemployment • Adopts Supply Side Economics

20. Nixon Shock • Nixon Shock: • August 1971: announced 90 day Wage & Price Freeze • Also 10% import surcharge • Closed the Gold Window • Ending convertibility between US dollars and gold • Forced all world’s major currencies off Gold Standard • Impact: Fed Res not obliged to tie Dollar to anything. • It can print as much $$ as it wants- can pump in $$ to avoid recessions • AKA: Free floating national money supply • Positive: Stock Market Crash of 87 did not lead to depression • Negative: increases risk to international investors who hedge risk in buying up mortgages & other dangerous games

21. Southern Strategy • 1972 • Nixon, minority prez w/ 43% of vote • Appeals to millions of voters who hated anti war protests, black militants, integration, busing to achieve racial balance & youthful counter culture • Silent Majority: Southern Whites, Catholics, Blue Collar workers & recent suburbanites who resent liberal shifts in Dem policies • To win over South: Nixon asks Cts to delay integration plans, nominates 2 Southern Conservatives to Supreme Court • Court rejects, but it played well in South • Also authorized VP Agnew to verbally assault war protestors & liberal press

22. Burger Court • 4 older justices retired • Replaced by conservative strict constructionist judges • Warren E Burger- MN, Chief Justice after Earl Warren • One moderate: Harry Blackmun, who wrote pro choice ruling of Roe v Wade, 73 • Next 2: Lewis Powell & William Rehnquist both approved • Ironically, Nixon’s court will turn on him by denying claims to exec privilege and order him to turn over the tapes 74

23. Election 72 • Southern strategy is successful- • Nixon wins every Southern state • Reelection practically assured by • Foreign policy success- China, USSR • Removal of George Wallace by assassination attempt • Paralyzed • Nominated by Dems of very liberal anti war; anti establishment Senator George McGovern of SD • Very quickly off track • Dropped VP Sen Thomas Eagleton, MD • Bcm known he had been treated for depression w/ electroshock • Nixon landslide: 60.8% of pop vote.. • Every state but MA • Dems still control both houses • Voting patterns indicate major political realignment of sunbelt and suburban voters forming New Republican majority

24. Watergate • Humiliation of Nixon, jailing of 26 White House officials, paralyzing effect on political system of mid 70s • Affected US prestige abroad • Weakened the presidency for the rest of the decade • Together w/ Johnson’s credibility problem • Created lack of trust in nation’s highest office and all who hold it

25. White House Abuses • June 72: continuation of policy by Nixon • Had ordered wire taps on Gov employees & reporters • To stop news leaks like the one that exposed secret bombings of Cambodia • President’s aides created group: ‘plumbers’ to stop leaks • And to discredit opponents • After Daniel Ellsberg had leaked the Pentagon Papers to the NY Times • Plumbers broke into his psych’s office to find info to discredit • ‘Enemies List’ had prominent Americans who opposed Nixon, Vietnam War or both • Investigated by gov agencies, IRS

26. Watergate break in • 72- plumbers caught breaking in to the offices of the Democratic National Headquarters in the Watergate complex in DC • This and the attempted bugging of the offices • Part of ‘dirty tricks’ & illegal activities carried on by Nixon Admin • The Committee To Reelect the President (CREEP) • Attitude of Nixon Admin: any means could & should be used to promote National Security • Objective often confused w/ protecting the Nixon Admin from critics

27. Watergate investigation • No solid proof that Nixon ordered any of these illegal activities • After months of investigations • Clear he did engage in an illegal cover up to avoid scandal • Fed Judge John Sirica sentenced the W. Burglars • 411 about use of $$ & promises of pardon by the White House staff to keep the burglars quiet • Senate investigating committee head: Sam Ervin NC televised • Highlight: testimony of John Dean, WH lawyer, who linked pres to cover up! • HR Haldeman & John Erlichman resigned to protect him (top aides), later indicted with many others for obstructing justice • Discovery of taping system in oval office • Year long struggle w/ Nixon to turn over tapes • He says no on basis of executive privilege • Fall 73: VP Agnew forced to resign for having taken bribes while gov MD

28. War Powers Act • News that he’d authorized 3,500+ secret bombing raids in Cambodia (Neutral country) shocked nation • Caused uproar • Congress tried to limit his powers over the military • Nov 73, passed over N’s veto: War Powers Act req’d any future pres to report to congress w/n 48 hours after taking military action • Congress must approve any military action lasting longer than 60 days

29. October War • Oct 73: Yom Kippur, Jewish holiday. • Syrians & Egyptians launched surprise attack on Israel to recover lands lost in 1967 (6 day war) • Nixon ordered nuclear forces on alert • Airlifted almost 2 billion$$ in arms • To Israel to stop retreat • Tide shifted to Israel • War soon over • Price for supporting Israel: Arab members of OPEC placed oil embargo on oil sold to all Israel’s supporters

30. Oil Embargo • World wide shortage triggered • Long lines at gas stations • Rationing • Run away inflation • Loss of manufacturing jobs • Lower standard of living for blue collar workers • Big Recession • Consumers switch from Big American gas guzzlers to small efficient Japanese made cars • Cost ¼ mill auto worker jobs • Congress’ response: 55 mph speed limit • To save gas • Also approved oil pipeline in AK

31. Resignation of a President • 1974 • Triumphant visits to Moscow, Cairo.. But at home Nixon’s reputation is sliding • Oct 73 Pres fired Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox, assigned to Watergate investigation • US Atty Gen Eliot Richardson resigned in protest • Impeachment hearings start • 74: Nixon reveals some transcripts • July Sup Ct decision: necessary to force him to turn over tapes to courts, Congress

32. Resignation • House Judiciary Committee voted 3 articles of impeachment: • Obstruction of Justice • Abuse of Power • Contempt of Congress • Taped convos shocking • Replete w/ foul language • One tape clearly implicated Nixon in the cover up only days after break in • Smoking gun • Nixon chose to resign Aug 9, 74 • Appointed VP Gerald Ford took oath of office as first unelected pres in history • Significance: to some, resignation proves checks & balances worked as intended • For others: scandal under lined dangerous shift in power to the presidency that started with FDR & expanded during cold war • Certainly contributed to growing loss of faith in fed gov.

33. Not a Lincoln but a Ford • Before becoming VP in 73, served in Congress as Rep from MI and Republican Minority leader of House • Pardon Me?! • 1st month in office, lost Good Will of people by granting Nixon a Full and Unconditional Pardon for ANY crime he might have committed • Extended b4 any indictment or formal charges were filed by a court of law. • Accused of making a corrupt bargain w/ RMN • Explained purpose: to end the ‘National Nightmare’ • Instead of prolonging it for months or years • Same time all those who fled the draft to CA or MX were pardoned if they served 2 yrs of community service. • For national healing • Critics angry that RMN henchmen serve time in jail but he gets off free • The public never gets the full truth of what he did

34. Investigating the CIA • Democratic congress continued to search for abuses in executive branch • Esp the CIA • Accused of engineering the assassination of foreign leaders • Including Chile’s Allende • Ford appoints former TX Congressman George Bush to reform the agency as new Director • Had previously worked in Nixon Administration • Now blocked release of documents from CIA to congress • Bush- Ford pushed for bill to give jail terms to all who leak CIA secrets to press

35. Failure of US policy in South East Asia • Unable to get additional funds from Congress for S Vietnamese • Who in ‘74 faced strong attack from Communist forces • April 75 US supported gov in Saigon fell to the enemy • Vietnam became one country under the rule of the Communists in Hanoi • Just before the collapse, the US evacuated about 150,000 S. Vietnamese who’d supported the US • Faced certain persecution as collaborators • Low point for American prestige at home and abroad

36. Cambodian Killing Fields • 1975- US supported Gov in nearby Cambodia fell to Khmer Rouge (radical Communist faction) • Conducted genocide against over a million of its own people • Attempt to compensate for failure of SE Asian Policy- Ford ordered attack on Cambodian Naval Base • Had captured US Merchant ship: Mayaguez • 39 crewmen freed; 38 Marines died in assault • Future of SE Asia: • Rest of area did NOT fall as predicted • Singapore • Thailand • Malaysia emerge as little Tigers of new Pacific Rim economy

37. Economic & Domestic Ford Policies • Chief concern: Inflation • WIN: (button) Whip Inflation Now • Voluntary measures on part of business & consumers • Inflation & recession continued • Unemployment exceeds 9% • Finally Ford agrees to Dem package to stimulate economy

38. Ford Domestic • 1976 Bicentennial 200th Birthday bash • Election: Ford challenged for Republican nomination by Reagan (more conservative) • Ford won close battle but conflict hurt him in polls • Several Dems, including former GA gov Jimmy Carter who ran as Washington outsider • Against corruption in Gov • Carried most of South, 97% African American vote • Close election • Dems win strong majority in both houses

39. Carter Presidency • Tried to end the ‘Imperial Presidency’ • Walked down Penna Ave instead of riding in Limo • Carried his own luggage • Congress will feel that Carter depends too much on outsiders • Politically inexperienced advisors from GA • Keen intelligence, attention to detail bogged him down • Critics, “In telling the forest from the trees, he’s a leaf man.”

40. Foreign Policy • Hallmark: Human Rights • Preached w/ Wilsonian fervor to dictators • Appointed Andrew Young (Af Am) US Ambassador to UN • Young denounced oppression of black majority in S Africa & Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) • Latin American Human Rts violations by govs of Argentina, Chile caused Carter to cut off aid to both

41. The Big Give Away • Panama Canal- to correct inequities of 1903 treaty- new treaty ratified to transfer operation and control of canal to P • Process completed by year 2000 • Will help cost Carter election of 1980

42. Camp David Accords • 1978- • Single Greatest Achievement as prez • Peace between Egypt & Israel • 1977 first step: Egyptian pres Anwar Sadat visited Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin in Jerusalem • Carter next invited Sadat and Begin to Camp David, MD • Carter= mediator • Negotiated Camp David Accords Sept 78: Framework for Peace • Later: Treaty 79 • Egypt bcm first Arab nation to recognize right of Israel to exist • In return, Israel w/d troops from Sinai territory, won in 6 day war of 1967 • Treaty opposed by PLO & most of Arab world, but was 1st step in long road to negotiated Peace in Middle East • Egyptian Islamic Jihad behind assassination 1981

43. Iran & Hostages • Carter’s Greatest Frustration & Defeat • 1979: Islamic fundamentalists led by Ayatollah Khomeini overthrew Shaw’s dictatorial pro west gov • Shah had kept oil flowing to west in 70s • Autocratic rule & westernization alienated mostly Shia Muslim pop • w/ Ayatollah & fundamentalists in power, oil was cut off • 2nd world wide oil shortage of 70s & another round of price increases • Nov 79 Iranian militants (many students) seized US Embassy in Tehran & held 50+ as hostages • Shah had gotten special permission to come to US for medical treatment • Iranians want him home for trial • Hostage crisis dragged on through failed rescue mission • helicopters broke down over desert, 8 lives lost • Became symbol of failed presidency

44. Cold War • Détente w/ China & USSR continued • US ended official recognition of Nationalist Gov at Taiwan and exchanged ambassadors w/ People’s Republic of China • Signing of SALT II, 79 • Further ltd size of nuclear arsenals (USSR & US) • USSR, bogged down in Afghanistan- • Senate never ratified • Soviet invasion of Afghanistan ended decade of improving relations • US feared eventual control over region of Persian Gulf (Oil) • Carter’s response: Grain embargo, no exports of grain, technology • & boycott of Olympics 78 in Moscow • Now also favors arms build up

45. Domestic policy • Inflation still growing 1979-80: 13% • Econ growth slowed • Interest rates & prices up • Chair of Fed Res B: Paul Volcker, hoped to stop inflation by pushing interest rates up to 20% (1980) • Mostly hurt auto & building industries • Tens of thousands laid off • Middle class tax payers pushed into higher tax bracket by inflation • Tax payers revolt results • Gov Social Programs indexed to inflation rate pushed federal deficit to $60 Billion in 1980 • Standard of living declined- first time since WWII

46. Loss of Popularity • Intelligence, effort & integrity not enough • Iranian hostage crisis & econ probs continue • 1979 Malaise Speech: US problems the fault of moral & spiritual crisis of American people • Critics say: weak, indecisive leadership at fault • Approval rating 1980: 23%

47. American Society • Social changes by end of 70s • Half US lived in fastest growing parts areas: S & W • Fastest growing group: seniors • By 1990: minority groups= 25% pop • By 2050, nearly 50% will be Hispanic, African-American and Asian • Cultural pluralism replaced melting pot • Ethnic minorities treasure, celebrate differences, unique values, traditions

48. Growth of immigration • Before 60s mostly from Europe, Canada • 1980s: 47% from Latin America • 37% Asia • Less than 13% Europe, Canada • Partly due to shift from Vietnam, Haiti, Cuba • Immigration Act 65- ended pro Euro ethnic quotas of 20s • Illegal immigrants • By mid 70s about 12 million • Mostly from Latin America, Asia • Immigration Reform & Control Act 1986 • Penalized employers for hiring illegals • Granted amnesty for illegals arriving before 1982

49. Demands for Minority Rights • 1 aspect of 60s that survived • Effort of minorities to get relief from discrimination • Mexican Americans: deported 30s, encouraged to come in 50s-60s for low paying agri jobs • Exploited before Cesar Chavez boycotts, United Farm Workers Org got collective bargaining 75 • Chicano activists won fed mandate for bilingual ed • 80s-90s more Mexican Americans elected to public office

50. Native Americans • 50s assimilation off reservations under Ike • AIM founded 68: goal is self determ & revival of tribal trads • Militant acts include taking Alcatraz 69, Wounded Knee, SD 73 • Successes: Indian Self Determination Act 75- res & tribal lands get control over internal programs, edu, law enforcement • Property compensation for treaty violations taken to court successfully • Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act 78 • To improve edu, fight poverty • Industries, casinos built on reservations under Self Det. Legislation • Growing support in public opinion • Growing pop- by 1990: 1.5 mill, half on res