The 70’s-Today

Richard Nixon Détente: easing up of the Cold War, the U.S. and U.S.S.R. got along better SALT-Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty

Nixon + China Nixon is the first to recognize China following the Communist Revolution

Watergate

Watergate Nixon was running for reelection in 1972 His aides illegally break into the Watergate Complex to get info on Nixon’s opponent, George McGovern Nixon didn’t know about the initial break-in Nixon did try to cover up the break-in This is where he gets in trouble

Watergate Tapes Nixon kept tapes of all White House conversations He was paranoid The Senate demands the tapes Nixon reluctantly hands the tapes over but there are 18 minutes missing Nixon resigns on August 9, 1974

Gerald Ford Replaces Nixon Pardons Nixon WIN Whip inflation now

Jimmy Carter Replaces Ford in 1976 Was a southern peanut farmer from Georgia Inherits a poor economy Energy Crisis

Camp David Accords Carter’s big achievement Peace treaty between Egypt and Israel Egypt becomes the first Arab nation to recognize Israel

1980: Iranian Hostage Crisis American are taken hostage in Iran Carter takes a lot of heat for not getting them back He loses the 1980 election to Ronald Reagan Carter negotiates for their freedom but Reagan is Pres when they are freed Reagan gets the credit

Ronald Reagan 1980-1988 The 80’s a time of selfishness Reaganomics: Supply Side Economics, Trickle Down Economics; tax breaks for the rich…will provide more jobs and opportunity for everyone else Reagan is the anti-Roosevelt; he hates government programs and handouts, thinks that they destroy individual iniative

Reagan & Star Wars Missile Defense System

Regan was Pro-Cold War The Cold war was extremely intense during his early Presidency Eventually the Soviet Union broke down Reagan gets a lot of credit for this

Reagan and Latin America Reagan often interfered in Latin America El Salvador-arms and advisors to overthrow communism Nicaragua-supported the anti-Communist Contra movement Granada-US invaded in 1983 to stop a Communist takeover

Iran Contra Affair Regan's govt secretly and illegally sold weapons to Iran and then secretly sent the $ to finance the Contras This scandal like many others shows a lack of faith in gov’t

1989 Cold War Ends Fall of the Soviet Union Fall of the Communist Bloc

George Bush

Bush First Gulf War S&L Scandal

Bill Clinton

Clinton Monica Lewinski Scandal NAFTA: North American Free Trade Agreement, eliminated tariffs and trade restrictions between the U.S., Canada and Mexico

2000 Election Bush defeats Gore