Nixon: Conservative Opposed rapid change Dislike gov’t involvement in economy Wanted to give more power to states

Economy: Stagflation Inflation was going up Unemployment was going up

Oil Issues US sent military aid to its ally, Israel, during a war with Egypt and Syria OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) responded by cutting off all oil sales to the US

Oil Issues Americans faced severe oil shortages Prices went up Long lines Factories and schools closed which caused more unemployment

Nixon and Foreign Policy Détente: a policy of easing Cold War tensions

Nixon and Foreign Policy Nixon visits China Both sides agreed to work together peacefully

Nixon and Foreign Policy 1st president to ever visit USSR Signed SALT I Treaty Limit the number of ICBMs for 5 years

Election of ‘72 Nixon wins, partly because of détente, partly because of his promise that peace was just around the corner in Vietnam

During the campaign… 5 men are caught breaking into the Democratic Party campaign headquarters Leader of this group was also the leader of Nixon’s reelection campaign

The cover up… Workers began destroying documents and paying off those involved Nixon denied having any involvement with the situation Nixon’s campaign handed over $500,000 to those involved to keep them quiet

Election ‘72 Nixon is reelected in Nov 1972 The public is unaware of his involvement in the Watergate break-in

Watergate Trial Begins In January 1973 Before sentencing, one of the burglars admits he lied under oath and that the White House may have been involved

Watergate Trial Begins Nixon publicly denies any involvement The Senate begins an investigation

Senate Hearings 30 hours of testimony Witnesses reveal that Nixon was involved State that Nixon had taped the conservations

Around the same time… VP Spiro Agnew resigns after the public discovers that he had accepted bribes during the time he was VP Gerald Ford replaces him

Saturday Night Massacre October 20, 1973 Nixon fired Special Archibald Cox and the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General Attempt to prevent Cox from getting audio tapes

THE TAPES! Nixon eventually agrees to release edited tapes… Congress and America are ANGRY

Impeachment Nixon responds by finally releasing the tapes They prove that he DID know about the break in and had agreed to obstruct the FBI’s investigation

Nixon Resigns August 8, 1974 Didn’t admit guilt, just said he made “wrong” judgments