Chapter 24 Section 3 Notes The Presidencies of Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter

Gerald Ford becomes President (Aug. 1974) From Michigan Played football at U of M Takes over for Nixon 1st and only “appointed” President Not real confident in his ability “I’m a Ford, not a Lincoln”

Ford’s 1st decision at President What to do about Nixon? If prosecuted and found guilty, how would it look for a president to go to jail? If prosecuted and found not guilty, it would look like the gov was covering it up If not prosecuted, should politicians be allowed to get away with crimes? The decision: Ford Pardons Nixon

Consequences of the Pardon Public distrusts Ford immediately Believes he hooked Nixon up Becomes unpopular 2 assassination attempts (2 different women) It is the main thing he’s remembered for

The Economy under Ford When he enters office, it stinks (around 10% inflation) Major problem = rising fuel costs How to solve it? Cut back on using fuel Less govt. spending Make it difficult to get credit Did it work? A little… but only for awhile

Foreign Policy under Ford Very similar to Nixon (realpolitik and détente) Helsinki Accords involved 35 countries U.S. and Soviet Union main ones More cooperation and trade between Eastern and Western Europe

Peace treaty broken in Vietnam N. begins fighting again with S. Ford asks Congress for $ to help S. Vietnam Congress says NO MORE! Impact = S. Vietnam loses to N. Vietnam Becomes 1 Communist country

Mayaguez captured U.S. supply ship boarded by Khmer Rouge off coast of Cambodia Negotiations for hostages fails U.S. rescue attempt occurs 18 die, 41 wounded on the ship About same # for Khmer Rouge 1 of 3 U.S. helicopters crashes 23 more soldiers die Viewed as big failure More died than rescued

1976 Election Republican candidate = Ford (barely) Big split in party a lot wanted Reagan (explain) Democrat candidate = Jimmy Carter Former governor of Georgia Peanut farmer hard worker, nice guy religious, family man Carter wins close election Bottom line People want a change

1976 Election Results

Carter’s Style Promised to talk with the public regularly like FDR Didn’t have a good relationship with Congress Made it hard to get his goals accomplished

Carter’s Energy Policy Most important issue facing the nation Carter’s solution = use less foreign oil How to do that? National Energy Act Tax gas guzzling cars Lower speed limit Encourage oil production in the U.S. A lot of oilfields popped up Off coast, Texas Encourage development of alternative energy Provide tax incentives and grants Carter installed Solar Panels At the White House

Energy Policy Impact Didn’t work well U.S. too dependent on oil OPEC raised oil prices due to Instability in Middle East Lower supply of oil in U.S. oil workers strike Lines at Gas stations to fill up Shortages Rationing explain the waste Big reason for high inflation rate of 14% Standard of living for U.S. citizens drops from 1st place to 5th place globally

The Economy Under Carter Cuts in U.S. manufacturing jobs due to More automation assembly lines & computers Foreigners work for less $ globalization Rising energy costs less $ available for workers Increase in U.S. Service jobs Communications Transportation Good jobs require good education Some people struggle with this

Civil Rights Under Carter More minorities and women appointed to high positions Compared to any previous president Supreme Court begins to limit affirmative action programs U. of California v. Bakke (pp. 818 – 819)

Foreign Policy Under Carter different than Nixon and Ford no realpolitik or détente Focused on Human Rights if govt. in a country treated its people good, Carter believed in having relations with and helping them Influenced by his strong religious upbringing

U.S. Relations around the world under Carter Agreed to give up control of Panama Canal by the year 2000. Controversial at the time improved relations between the U.S. and Latin Am. Less Diplomacy with Soviet Union, China, Brazil, Argentina These countries treated many of their people poorly

The Soviet – Afghanistan War (1979 – 1989) Countries had a good long term relationship Afghan rebels (mujahedin) threaten to take over in Afghanistan Soviets don’t like this send in troops to help existing Afghan govt. U.S. eventually supports mujahedin Provide weapons and training (No US troops) Want less Soviet influence in Middle East War becomes Soviet version of Vietnam Afghan rebels win (Civil War begins) Who eventually runs it? THE TALIBAN They use weapons we provided them against us when we invade after 9/11/2001

Camp David Accords (Sept. 1978) Jimmy Carter organizes this meeting in U.S. at Presidential retreat Anwar Sadat – Egypt’s President Menachem Begin – Israel’s Prime Minister The Deal Egypt gets some land back from Israel (Sinai) Egypt recognizes Israel’s right to exist 1st Middle Eastern country to ever do so Both leaders win Nobel Peace Prize Reaction PR success for U.S. Most of Middle East hates it Sadat looks like a sell out Assassinated in 1981 Palestinian Leader

Origin of the Iran Hostage Crisis the Shah of Iran had a long positive relationship with the U.S. in power from 1941 – 1979 didn’t treat most people well contradicts Carter’s Human Rights foreign policy almost lost power once in the early 1950s Remember Chapter 19? (pp. 623 – 624)

Iranian Revolution (1979) Forces Shah to leave Ends up in U.S. Has cancer Gets treatment Ayatollah Khomeni New Iranian leader Muslim, Traditional Opposite of Shah Wants Shah to “stand trial” For crimes against Iranians Carter refuses to send him back

Iran Hostage Crisis (late 1979 – early 1981) Revolutionaries storm U.S. embassy Take 52 Americans hostage A few escape (Argo movie) Held for over a yr. Carter unable to negotiate their release during his Presidency Biggest Reason Reagan (Republicans) win Economy still sucks too