The 1970s Nixon, Ford & Carter

Emergence of Conservatism Period of small gov’t and reduction in gov’t spending Causes – Economic downturn American prestige damaged by failures in Vietnam Anti-war protests, hippie culture, liberal gov’t programs = moral decay Election of 1968 Silent majority– Americans who wanted a more conservative gov’t and turned out at the polls to support Nixon

Nixon’s Domestic Policies Reduced spending on welfare programs (LBJ’s the Great Society) Supported states taking a bigger role in politics Formed EPA – Environmental Protection Agency to manage air and water pollution

Nixon’s Foreign Policies Cold War still a threat Nixon’s policies included better relationships with communist nations “détente” First president to visit China – Pressured USSR to re duce tension Met with Brezhnev – 1972 – SALT – Strategic arms limitation treaty Signed cease-fire with Vietnam in 1973 - Vietnamization

Watergate – June 1972 5 men arrested inside the Democratic National Committee’s office in the Watergate complex in Washington DC Attempted to wiretap phones and steal secret documents to win reelection Evidence collected by journalists from the Washington Post made scandal public - Possible “hush money” given to burglars Aid to Nixon revealed he recorded conversations in the oval office Initially, Nixon refused to give up tapes – Article II Executive Privilege -Supreme Court said he is not above the law. Tapes proved his involvement in the scandal Nixon resigned on August 9 1974

The Mid 70s High unemployment and inflation = economic recession American distrusted the gov’t High unemployment and inflation = economic recession Gerald Ford became President in 1974 after Nixon’s resignation Pardoned Nixon in Sept 1974 loosing popular support Criticized as lack of policies failed to help economy

Economic Crises under Nixon and Ford Stagflation Stagnant economy + inflation Oil 1950s = auto mania 1960-s OPEC – Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries formed between Middle Eastern and Latin American countries Cut off oil to the US after America backed Israel in Israeli, Syrian, Egyptian conflict 1973 and again in 1979 Gas prices soared and shortages led to long lines “Energy Crisis”

James “Jimmy” Carter – 1977-1981 Defeated Ford in the election of 1976 Wanted to re-instill confidence in the American people “I’ll never tell a lie” Inherited financial problems from the Nixon and Ford administrations Inflation, high unemployment, high interest rates Nominated a record number of women, Hispanics, and African Americans to his cabinet Initially popular, but problems of the 70s plagued his presidency

International Crises Suspended aid to countries in protest of human rights abuses Iran Hostage Crisis *Biggest Failure* Ayatollah Khomeini led successful revolution in Iran from 1978-79 Overthrew pro-western monarchy and replaced gov’t with anti-western theocracy Nov 1979 – radical Iranian students seized US embassy taking 52 Americans hostage Hostages held for 444 days – released day after Carter left office IHC led to another oil crisis, as Middle Eastern nations put an embargo on the sale of oil to the US

Crises Continued States of Israel and Palestine formed in 1948 Camp David Accords - **Biggest success** Mediation between Egypt and Israel Both nations argued over Sinai Peninsula Carter and leaders negotiated deal to have Israel evacuate region Created lasting peace between the 2 nations USSR invaded Afghanistan in 1970 Stopped potential end of cold war tensions US sent aid to Afghan rebels International problems tarnished Carters legacy

Election of 1980 -Americans desperate to see their nation return to the world’s stage -Failures in the Middle East -Stagflation, economic recession -Failure of Nixon, Ford, and Carter led people to question gov’t Americans in search of a strong, conservative leader New Right Ronald Reagan, former Hollywood actor, won the election Republican Defeated Carter in a landslide