Chapter 22 Section 1 fineartamerica.com
Nixon was: ◦ From a modest family ◦ Worked his way through school ◦ A Navy veteran ◦ Former US Representative ◦ Former US Senator ◦ Eisenhower’s Vice President fineartamerica.com
Believed he represented the “silent majority” Disliked “big government” of the Great Society Felt responsible for public safety and the environment “New Federalism” reversed the flow of tax $$$ from the States to Washington with revenue sharing States were then responsible for controlling the spending of federal dollars
Even though he sent $$ and power back to the states, he still pushed for many new federal programs and laws ◦ OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Administration ◦ DEA – Drug Enforcement Administration ◦ EPA - Environmental Protection Agency ◦ Clean Air Act ◦ Increased spending on Medicare and public housing
Stagflation – simultaneous recession and inflation Economists had not seen this before Rising foreign competition in the global market cause US companies to lose business US budget deficit (Vietnam War spending) caused inflation Oil prices skyrocketed also increasing inflation of prices on consumer goods
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries OPEC placed an oil embargo on Israel and her allies (including the US) (Embargo – banning the sale of a product) US was dependant on OPEC for 1/3 of our energy needs Oil prices rose 400% in one year Gas stations had shortages and people waited in line for blocks at stations that had gas
In order to win re-election, Nixon wanted to increase the number of blue collar workers and whites in the south who would support him
Nixon appointed multiple conservative southerners as judges on federal courts Nixon spoke out against forced busing that was designed to desegregate southern schools He won support from many whites who opposed busing topics.time.com
Philadelphia Plan – initiates affirmative action by requiring labor unions and federal contractors to hire minorities e_detail.php?titleid=2397
Nixon’s approval rating was high by 1972 Positioned himself as a moderate Won 61% of the popular vote and a great majority of the electoral votes First Republican candidate to “sweep the South” hermelink-nixon.blogspot.com
June 1972 – Nixon aides hire thugs to bug the Democratic National Committee’s headquarters at the Watergate Hotel = epic fail During the trial of the burglars in 1973, it came out that Nixon administration officials had been involved The Senate investigated and witnesses said there was a cover up that included the President articles.businessinsider.com
Washington Post reporters uncovered the story Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein Source “Deep Throat”- secret government informant (30 years later revealed to be W. Mark Felt the #2 guy in charge of the FBI) Nixon denied the allegations saying, “I am not a crook.”
Summer of 1973 it is discovered that Nixon has been secretly taping conversations in the Oval office for years Many people think the tapes could reveal Watergate plotting Fall of 1973 Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned due to an unrelated corruption scandal Nixon nominates Gerald Ford as VP bildungblog.blogspot.com
Nixon refuses to give the tapes to the special prosecutor Claims executive privilege July 24, 1974 – Supreme Court orders Nixon to cough up the tapes Investigators discovered that many important parts of the tapes were not there Nixon said his secretary must have erased them by mistake
The tapes had enough info to make Nixon look really, really bad The Judiciary Committee of the US House voted to impeach (they make the recommendation to the House) They charged that Nixon had obstructed justice Before the whole House of Representatives could hold a vote for impeachment Nixon resigned technorati.com
Used “dirty tricks” to get elected ◦ Spying, sabotage, lying to the press, forging document, etc Had an “enemies” list Used federal agencies to go after those on the list Had the FBI tap phones of people he didn’t trust including government employees and reporters Gets the nickname “Tricky Dick”
Damaged the honor of the office of the Presidency People less trusting of the government Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974 created to limit private political donations Demonstrated the solidity of our system of checks and balances Proved no US citizen is above the law fineartamerica.com