History Through Literature: Unit 4 Chapter 13: Writing About Nixon History Through Literature: Unit 4

Nixon From California House member in 1946 Senate in 1950 VP in 1952 to Eisenhower Lost in 1960 to Kennedy Lost in 1962 for Governor of California Won Presidency in 1968 and 1972

Alger Hiss Worked for the US state Department Accused of being a USSR spy in 1948 Convicted of perjury, not spying in 1950 Served 44 months in jail Still unclear if he was a spy or not Nixon was a member of HUAC and rode popularity of trial to gain his Senate seat in 1950.

Détente/China/USSR February 1972 – Visits China to “normalize” relations, US gives up on promoting an independent Taiwan and gives China there seat on the UN Security Council May 1972 – travels to USSR, US agrees to sell food to USSR and pass SALT SALT – Strategic Arms Limitation Talks – talks to reduce nuclear weapons

Henry Kissinger German born Jew whose parents escaped Nazi Germany to come to the US. At first Nixon’s National Security Advisor then Secretary of State Instrumental in helping Nixon with Detente, (China and USSR), and Paris Peace Accords. Won Nobel Peace Prize for Paris Peace Accords

H.R. Halderman From California Nixon’s friend and Chief of Staff Involved in the Watergate cover up which he resigned and later served 18 months in prison for his role in the cover up. Kept a daily journal of all of his White House dealings (750,000 pages). Book was released in 1994 – Stephen Ambrose did the introduction and afterword.

Watergate Five men were arrested trying to wiretap the Democratic National headquarters located in the Watergate hotel. FBI found out that “hush” money was being paid to the 5 men from (CREEP), the Committee to Re-elect the President. Justice department had an independent investigator (Archibald Cox) start an investigation. Cox found out there was a tape recording system in the entire White House – wanted the tapes – Nixon refused Saturday Night Massacre – Nixon asked Attorney General Richardson to fire Cox, he refused, Nixon fired him, assistant Ruckelshaus also refused, he was fired. Next guy fired Cox. Cox’s replacement, Jaworski promptly asked for the tapes Supreme Court said had to give them up Nixon released them with and 18 min gap – pressure is bad Republican Senators told Nixon enough votes were there to impeach them, he resigned and Gerald Ford became President.

Legacy Awesome foreign policy – Kissinger? Pulled us out of Vietnam Détente with China and Russia SALT Kept US from chaos Lied to his cabinet, Congress, and to the American People His pardon doomed Ford (The Un-elected president)