The Ford and Carter Years How does the country heal & suffer during the late 70s?

Ford Pardons Nixon After being sworn in President Gerald Ford tells America “our long national nightmare is over” To move the country beyond Watergate, Ford pardons Nixon of any crimes he may have committed while President Ford loses much public support – but some say it allowed the country to heal quicker from wounds of Vietnam & Watergate

Ford and the Economy Mid 70s experiencing an energy crisis due to high oil & electric prices - Ford urged energy conservation Recession is getting worse, Inflation at 10%, Ford starts WIN – Whip Inflation Now WIN=Cut spending & raise interest rates, RESULT: made recession even worse Constant battles w/ Congress – Ford vetoes 50 bills in 2 yrs

Ford’s Foreign Policy N. Vietnam invades S. Vietnam, Ford can’t help due to lack of Congressional approval & War Powers Act However, Ford keeps Kissinger who continues Nixon’s détente, including negotiation w/ Brezhnev over SALT II Ford participates in the Helsinki Accords 35 nations signed the Accords, which mend relationships between Eastern and Western Europe

Ford challenged in his own party by CA Gov Ronald Reagan 1976 Election http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlz0he9rtKw&safe=active https://screen.yahoo.com/chevy-chase-snl-skits/message-president-ford-000000872.html Ford challenged in his own party by CA Gov Ronald Reagan Ford beats Reagan for Republican nomination, faces Georgia Gov Jimmy Carter in November, Carter seen as an “outsider” http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1976 Carter beats Ford in very close election

Energy Crisis & Economy Worsens Carter goes to Congress with 100 proposals on Energy Crisis, is met with resistance by Senators who states depend cars/gas 1978: Carter & Congress agree pass National Energy Act: tax “gas guzzlers” & give tax credits for alternative energy Result: Americans begin to use less foreign oil In response, OPEC slows production causing oil prices to rise & gas shortages Economy worsening, inflation climbs to 14%, unemployment rate was still high - Carter gives infamous “malaise speech”

Environmental Issues of 1970s 1970s sees more environmental awareness, incl. first “Earth Day”, Clean Air Act and conservation laws in Alaska Mid 70s: Hooker Chemical sells “Love Canal” site to developers and school district In NY 1978: Press reveals Hooker Chemical used the site to dump toxic waste, which was contaminating the entire area Due to energy crisis, many feel nuclear power is the answer but citizens question if it is safe 1979: series of human errors leads to a partial meltdown of a nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island in PA

Clip #1: 1) What did safety officials say at first Clip #1: 1) What did safety officials say at first? 2) Was there a real danger? 3) What do all plants now have as a result? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-i3vgspJK0&safe=active 1979: US Space Station Skylab is about to fall out of space, people begin to panic, will Skylab fall on me? Clip #2: 1) How long was Skylab manned? 2) Where did Skylab eventually hit? Skylab http://videos.huffingtonpost.com/may-14th-the-life-and-times-of-skylab-517353976

Carter’s Foreign Policy Carter & Sec’y of State Cyrus Vance reject realpolitik policy of Kissinger, want to focus on human rights Cut off relations with Latin American dictatorships Agreed to return the Panama Canal on 12/31/99 Signs SALT II but when Soviet Union invades Afghanistan, Congress refuses to ratify SALT II Carter boycotts 1980 Olympics in Moscow over Afghanistan

Camp David Accords Carter gets leaders of Egypt & Israel to meet at Camp David to mediate a peace agreement between two nations Israel returns the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, Egypt recognizes Israel’s right to exist

Iran Hostage Crisis 1979: Ayatollah Khomeini tells people of Iran to revolt against the rule of Shah Mohammad Pahlavi, who is backed by US Shah flees Iran, Khomeini takes control Carter allows Shah into US for medical treatment Iranian students storm US embassy keeping 52 workers hostage, students demand return of the Shah for US hostages

Carter refuses to give up Shah, tries rescue attempt but it fails 444 Days Carter refuses to give up Shah, tries rescue attempt but it fails Shah dies in hospital – hostages still held for 444 days Economy & hostage crisis make Carter look weak Clips : 1) Describe the Shah’s lifestyle. 2) What does Carter do to Iranian money? 3) When are hostages released?