NIXON’S FOREIGN & DOMESTIC POLICIES

FOREIGN POLICY TRIUMPHS “I’ve always thought this county could run itself domestically without a president” – Nixon Top goal was to gain an honorable peace in Vietnam He also made advances in relationships with China and Soviet Union

HENRY KISSINGER Chief architect of Nixon’s Foreign Policy Advisor for national security affairs Secretary of State Promoted philosophy of Realpolitik

REALPOLITIK German term meaning “political realism” Based solely on consideration of power, not ideals or moral principles If a country was weak, it was practical to ignore them, even if it was Communist Departure from the policy of Containment

DETENTE Nixon and Kissinger adopt a more flexible approach in dealing with Communism Détente – a policy aimed at easing cold war tensions Nixon visits communist China

NIXON VISITS CHINA Since the communist take over of China in 1949, the US had not recognized the Chinese Communist Government Nixon announces he will visit China He was trying to take advantage of rift between China and the Soviet Union

CHINA CONTINUED Symbolic Value as well as success with the American public Resulted in important agreements between the two nations Neither would try to “dominate” the Pacific Both would cooperate and settle disputes peacefully Scientific and cultural exchanges Eventually reunite Taiwan with mainland

NIXON TRAVELS TO MOSCOW 3 months after visiting Beijing, Nixon heads to Moscow First US president to visit the Soviet Union Meets called the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) Nixon and Brezhnev sign the SALT Treaty I

SALT TREAT I 5 year agreement, limited number of intercontinental ballistic misses (ICBMs) and submarine launce missiles to 1972 First treaty that limited nuclear proliferation between the US and Soviet Union

FOREIGN POLICY SUCCESS LEADS TO RE-ELECTION 1972 Nixon runs for re-election Peace “is at hand” in Vietnam and triumphs with China and Soviet Union help lead to his victory March 1973, the last combat troops leave Vietnam

NIXON’S DOMESTIC POLICY Main Idea President Richard M. Nixon tried to steer the country in a conservative direction and away from federal control. Why it Matters Today American leaders of the early 1970s laid the foundations for the broad conservative base today.

NIXON’S LONG POLITICAL CAREER Served in the Navy during WWII Elected to the House of Representatives in 1946 Elected to the Senate in 1950 Served two terms as Vice President to Eisenhower ( ) Unsuccessfully ran for president against Kennedy in 1960.

NEW FEDERALISM During the 68’ campaign, he said he was the spokesperson for middle America or the Silent Majority Transfer power and resources from the Federal Government to State Governments Proposed revenue sharing with the States – Fed Gov’t gives money to states to support social programs

INCREASED SIZE AND ROLE OF GOVERNMENT Created a number of new federal agencies and laws DEA – Drug Enforcement Administration EPA – Environmental Protection Agency Clean Air Act Clean Water Act Proposed FAP – Family Assistance Plan Expanded Social Security and Medicare

THE STRUGGLING ECONOMY Between , the U.S. faced high inflation and high unemployment-a situation economists called stagflation. Causes of Stagflation High Inflation Competition in international trade Dependency on foreign oil

DEPENDENCY ON FOREIGN OIL OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) A multinational organization that sells oil to other nations They cooperate to regulate the price and supply of oil Raised oil prices by 70% Placed an embargo (cut off supplies) on oil to the U.S. for our support of Israel during Yom Kippur War US dependent on imports for 1/3 of their energy

SOUTHERN STRATEGY Nixon narrowly won the presidency in 1968 He set out to expand his base of support He targeted blue-collar workers and southern whites, both who traditionally voted for Democrats

SCHOOL BUSING CONTROVERSY Many school districts in the South and the North resisted segregation 1971 Federal courts ordered school districts to bus students to achieve greater racial balance Nixon called for a freeze on court-ordered busing Won the support of many busing opponents

NEW CIVIL RIGHTS INITIATIVES The Philadelphia Plan – a program that required labor unions and federal contractors to submit goals and timetables for the hiring of minorities Affirmative Action

NIXON’S STRATEGY SUCCEEDS By 1972, Nixon had high approval ratings Nixon positioned himself as a moderate, with his opponents McGovern and Wallace as extremists Nixon won 61% of popular vote, 97% electoral vote