Part 1: The Nixon Administration Politics in the 1970s Part 1: The Nixon Administration

President Richard M. Nixon wanted to turn the U. S President Richard M. Nixon wanted to turn the U.S. in a more conservative direction. He tried to decrease the power of the federal government and give more power to the states.

Nixon’s plan was called…. New Federalism. REVENUE SHARING: allowed state and local governments to choose they would spend their federal dollars WELFARE REFORM: Family Assistance Plan (federal payments and supplemental income) – reduce the role of the federal government and make welfare recipients responsible for their own lives (Did not pass; both liberals and conservatives rejected it)

New Federalism, Cont’d COMPROMISE: Hostility from both Houses of a Democrat-dominated Congress forced Nixon to attempt compromise; he increased funding for Medicare, Medicaid and Food Stamps IMPOUNDMENT: When Congress vetoed Nixon’s attempt to dismantle the Job Corps and Housing & Urban Development programs, Nixon simply held the funding hostage. Finally, the federal courts rules impoundment unconstitutional Nixon finally abolished the Office of Economic Opportunity (cornerstone of Johnson’s anti-poverty program) by executive order

Law and Order Policy Nixon deescalated America’s involvement in Vietnam and oversaw peace negotiations with North Vietnam. Promised his ‘silent majority’- those middle class Americans who wanted order restored to a country beset by urban riots and antiwar demonstrations- that law and order would be restored He used the CIA & the IRS to harass people. He created an “enemies list” & had the CIA & IRS target people on this list. The list included liberals & other opponents of his policies.

Richard Nixon’s “Enemies” List (20-300+) Senators Members of the House Black congressmen and women Various politicos Organizations Labor Media Celebrities Businessmen and women http://www.colorado.edu/AmStudies/lewis/film/enemies. htm

 “The press is the enemy; the establishment is the enemy; the professors are the enemy.“ -Richard M. Nixon

Nixon wanted to make sure he would get reelected in 1972. To help achieve this, he used what he called a Southern Strategy to win the support of Southerners.

Southern Strategy In an effort to win the 1972 election Nixon tried to gain votes in the south by attempting to slow civil rights legislation passed by the Johnson administration (did not succeed, S.C. upheld Brown v Board of Ed. II) By winning over discontented Democrats from the south Nixon hoped to win the White House and the Congress

Nixon also opposed the extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Congress extended the act; reinforcing federal supervision of voter registration in the South and in some Northern states as well, and in response to appeals from young people who’d had to serve in Vietnam, lowering the voting age to 18.

Nixon believed that the Supreme Court under Chief Justice Earl Warren was too liberal. During his presidency, 4 justices, including Warren, left the Court. This gave Nixon an opportunity to appoint more conservative justices

Nixon’s main foreign policy adviser was Henry Kissinger Nixon’s main foreign policy adviser was Henry Kissinger. Kissinger based his foreign policy views on a philosophy known as realpolitik. realpolitik. ‘Political Realism’- Foreign policy should be based solely on consideration of power and global influence, not ideals or moral principles. If a country is weak, it was often more practical to ignore that country, even if it’s communist.

Realpolitik was a big change from the policy of containment Realpolitik was a big change from the policy of containment. Nixon & Kissinger changed U.S. relations with Communist countries including China and the Soviet Union. They called their policy détente. This policy was aimed at easing Cold War tensions.

In addition to attaining “Peace With Honor” in Vietnam, at the same time, Nixon began turning his attention to communist China. Before Nixon’s visit to Beijing, the U.S. had refused to recognize the Communist government. Nixon now courted the Chinese, hoping to take advantage of the rift between China and the Soviets. During Nixon’s visit, the U.S. and China agree that: They will settle disputes peacefully They will participate in scientific and cultural exchange They will commit to reuniting Taiwan with Mainland China Neither would attempt to dominate the Pacific

From “The Memoirs of Richard Nixon” “ I knew that Zhou had been deeply insulted by John Foster Dulles’s refusal to shake hands with him at the Geneva Conference in 1954. When I reached the bottom step, therefore, I made a point of extending my hand as I walked toward him. When our hands met, one era ended and another began.”

3 months later, Nixon went to the Soviet Union 3 months later, Nixon went to the Soviet Union. Nixon & Brezhnev signed the SALT 1 Treaty (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty) This 5 year agreement limited nuclear weapons (ICBMs and submarine- launched missiles) to 1972 levels

“Détente” Tips the 1972 Election Balance The foreign policy triumphs with China and the Soviet Union and the administration’s announcement that peace ‘is at hand’ in Vietnam helped reelect Nixon as president in 1972 defeating both McGovern and Wallace in a close election Nixon seems to set the seal on his legacy as one of the greatest political and presidential success stories of all time And then…..Watergate…..