Rise and Fall of Richard Nixon

Nixon Graphic Organizer As we take notes, you will: Place the events on the graph in correct chronological order. Determine to what degree each event represents a high or low point in the Nixon presidency.

Example: Nixon Inauguration Oil crisis Family Assistance Plan Refused to release White House Tapes

1969 January – Nixon is inaugurated after a close election. He won just 40% of the popular vote July – Nixon Doctrine: the U.S. would still protect countries against communist aggression, but would require those countries to contribute more help (détente). Vietnamization

1970 June – Nixon signs an extension of the Voting Rights Act July – Nixon proposes the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA_

1972 February – President Nixon visits China (détente) Restored diplomatic relations with China Was a turning point May – Nixon signs the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (détente) Peace did not last long November – Nixon is re-elected for a second term

Watergate http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=C2B66BBC-2ED4-471A-BDF0-38E460B1CBFC&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US Sections 2-6

1973 March – all US troop withdrawn from Vietnam July – Nixon invokes executive privilege and refused to release the White House Tapes October – Middle Eastern countries place an oil embargo on the U.S., which leads to an energy crises

1974 July – United States v. Nixon, the Supreme Court ruled that Nixon must release the tapes. In this decision the Supreme Court overruled government statutes on confidentiality. August – Nixon resigns the presidency in order to avoid facing a trial and almost certain impeachment

An approval rating is an opinion poll in which a group of people are asked whether they approve or disapprove of something. It is measured by percentage over a certain period of time. The presidential approval rating has been used since the late 1930s to measure public support for the president.

Date Event Approval Rating January 1969 Nixon inaugurated as president 59% July 1969 Nixon introduces the Nixon Doctrine 63% June 1970 Nixon signs the extension of the Voting Rights Act 54% July 1970 Nixon proposes the Environmental Protection Agency 61% February 1972 Nixon visits China 56% May 1972 Nixon signs the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty 62% November 1972 Nixon Wins a second term February 1973 U.S. troops begin to withdraw from Vietnam 65% July 1973 Nixon refuses to release the White House Tapes 39% October 1973 Middle Eastern Countries stop shipping oil to the U.S. 27% August 1974 Nixon resigns as President 24%

Design an epitaph for Richard M Design an epitaph for Richard M. Nixon commenting on both his rise to and his fall from power An epitaph is something engraved on the tombstone of an individual. Your epitaph should include the following elements: • his name • a descriptive phrase or title that highlights both his accomplishments and his controversies (such as Skillful Diplomat or Disgraced President) • a short poem that alludes or refers to two events that led to Nixon’s rise to power and two events that led to his fall from power Must Use the Supreme Court decision as one of your events for Nixon’s fall from power Must use détente as one of your events for Nixon’s rise to power • other clever or creative touches to make the epitaph more interesting (images/symbols)