T HE F ORD AND C ARTER Y EARS 22.2

T HE Administration

G ERALD F ORD – THE M AN Star football player at U of M Fought w/ the Navy in WWII Won House seat and served 25 years. Was Minority Leader Seen as hard working, full of integrity and was dependable. Vice President Gerald Ford assumes office Coming after huge scandal + in economic troubles VP = Nelson Rockefeller Promised to follow Nixon’s foreign policy

D ÉTENTE, P ART II The Helsinki Accords Ford & Brezhnev sign document agreeing to basic human rights Criticized for not pushing political rights SALT II – limits production of new arms

F ORD P ARDONS N IXON Lost support when Ford pardons Nixon of wrong-doing “to end long, national nightmare.” Officially forgiven for any crimes committed while President Secret deal Nixon made w/ him when Ford was nominated VP? Republicans lost 48 seats in 1974 midterm elections

S TAGFLATION P LAGUES THE N ATION Whip Inflation Now (WIN) Ford’s plan to combat skyrocketing prices Was an epic failure Economy got worse Factories + business closed, jobs when overseas 

W ASHINGTON “O UTSIDER ” B ECOMES P RESIDENT Jimmy Carter beat Ford in Election of 1976 : Political outsider and relative rookie (2 x’s Georgia state house, 1x Gov.) appealed to nation suspicious of politicians Born Again Christian (appealed to mistrustful nation) Navy veteran (post WWII) Peanut Farmer

C ARTER I N O FFICE Wins close election Backlash against Watergate Determined to be “citizens president” Walks inaugural route, dresses in common clothing, carries own things

C ARTER P AYS A P RICE FOR I NDEPENDENCE BUT the same political inexperience that got him elected also hurt him… Didn’t have close ties w/ Democrats in Congress ∴ most bills he sent didn’t get passed Gave amnesty (political pardon) to all those who evaded the Vietnam draft Many criticized, especially the silent majority

P OOR E CONOMY P LAGUES C ARTER ’ S P RESIDENCY American auto industry = image of the nation’s strength and success… or was it?! Japanese car companies vastly expanded their sales in the U.S. in 70s Gas in 1973 = $.40/gallon, 1979 = $1.20/gallon Carter gives Chrysler federal bailout to survive oil crisis Shortages in fuel & heating oil cause factory & business closings Americans freeze in homes during brutal winters of

W EAK AND D ISASTROUS R ESPONSE Asked Congress to raise taxes on crude oil Thought it would encourage conservation But when bill passed thru Senate it was completely different that what he put in = poor leadership Inflation on the Rise, Carter raises interest rates US businesses hurt = more unemployment A “Nice guy outsider”, he’s largely ineffective

T HE M E D ECADE : T HE 1970 S Sunbelt Movement Immigration changes voting demographics Divorce rate up/children out of wedlock Eastern Religions Health craze Fundamental Christianity

T HE “M E ” G ENERATION C OMES OF A GE People appeared to be very self-involved Transcendental Meditation 30 mins 2x/day of self-meditation, living w/ a personal mantra Inspired by Eastern Religions Personal Fitness craze Inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger

C ONSERVATIVES R EASSERT T RADITIONAL V ALUES Rise in fundamental Christianity Opposed to social changes of 1960’s-70’s Huge increase in # of members for the evangelical church 1/5 Americans considered themselves to be a fundamental Christian by 1980 Rise in televangelism Beginning of The Moral Majority : Angry at Federal stance on social issues. (Pro-life, pro-religion in school, anti-ERA, anti-gay) Jerry Falwell – founder of the Moral Majority.