Richard Nixon

Political Background Review: ▫How did Nixon get his political start? ▫Why was his first attempt to become president (1960) unsuccessful? ▫Why was his second attempt to become president (1968) so successful?

Environmental Issues 1962 Silent Spring – Book by Rachel Carson; warned of harmful effects of chemicals 1970 – Earth Day demonstrations – Nixon responded with Clean Air Act which regulated pollution Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Repaired damage already done to environment – Established new criteria to make a cleaner environment

Foreign Policies Realpolitik: ▫realistic approach to politics based on what’s best for the nation Détente: ▫reduced or lessened Cold War tensions SALT: Strategic Arms Limitation Talks ▫Reduce weapons & decrease build up of new weapons over next 5 years (with U.S.S.R.)

China ▫Nixon became the 1 st president to visit Communist China ▫“Ping Pong” diplomacy  Why is Nixon the man to do this? ▫Success in improving relations with China ▫

Middle East 1967 Six-Day War (June) ▫Israel launched a preventative military effort to counter what they saw as an impending attack by Arab nations (Jordan, Syria & Egypt) that surrounded Israel ▫Military disaster for Arabs & weakened morale ▫ tch?v=awnB45csHwkhttp:// tch?v=awnB45csHwk Yom Kippur War ▫Egypt & Syria launched a surprise attack on this holiest day of prayer & fasting ▫Although initially overwhelmed, after 2 days Israelis pushed back until the U.N. declared a cease-fire ▫ ves/video/oct yom- kippur-war http://abcnews.go.com/Archi ves/video/oct yom- kippur-war

Developments at Home Oil embargo ▫Because of weaknesses in Arabic countries, many nations imposed an oil embargo which led to an energy crisis in the U.S. ▫Led to increasing costs for nearly everything Apollo 11 ▫1969, Neil Armstrong, “Buzz” Aldrin & Michael Collins landed on the moon ▫Major NASA success ▫ tch?v=xLu0Ak9Bloghttp:// tch?v=xLu0Ak9Blog

Election of 1972 Nixon (R) vs. George McGovern (D) ▫Eventful 1 st term for Nixon ▫“Plumbers” – respond to “leaks” of secrets & investigate political enemies ▫(e.g. Pentagon Papers & Daniel Ellsberg’s psychiatrist) ▫Hatched a plan to break into offices of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate Hotel ▫Woodward & Bernstein investigate the story ▫Read pg. 675

Scandal Unfolds Nixon was re-elected despite continued investigation into the “Watergate scandal” ▫April 1973, Haldeman & Erlichman (advisers); John Dean (lawyer); & attorney general all resigned but Democrats continued investigation

Butterfield’s Bombshell Senate began its own investigation with televised hearings ▫Former presidential Aide Alexander Butterfield revealed that since 1971 Nixon had tape-recorded all conversations in his office ▫Nixon argued “executive privilege” for privacy ▫Despite subpoenas, Nixon ordered attorney general Elliot Richardson to fire Special Prosecutor Cox  He was fired when he refused (as was his assistant)  Saturday Night Massacre

Watergate Ends Public confidence in Nixon was low despite his continued denial ▫1974 Nixon released a transcript of taped conversations but not enough ▫Supreme Court finally ruled Nixon had to submit tapes ▫Without waiting for him to comply, the House Judiciary Committee voted to recommend impeachment of the Pres. for obstruction of justice & failure to obey subpoenas > Nixon’s resignation ▫ /watergate-scandal-brings-down-richar-nixonhttp:// /watergate-scandal-brings-down-richar-nixon

Gerald Ford’s Presidency Nixon’s V.P. Spiro Agnew had resigned due to tax issues so without a VP, Nixon chose the Republican leader in the House of Reps – Gerald Ford ▫*He was the 1 st president without having been elected Pres. or VP ▫Ford pardoned Nixon for any crime(s) he may have committed ▫He lost the election in 1976 to Jimmy Carter