2. 1970s General Characterization Domestic Issues: Encompassed by massive Economic Issues Overturn of the concepts of Keynesian economics Inflation + Unemployment Distrust in the government grows Tet offensive, My Lai, Cambodian Bombing, Pentagon Papers Foreign Issues: Relaxing of tensions with China & the Soviet Union Vietnam War = Peace with Honor = US Disengages Ending the War while also Escalating the War

3. Richard Nixon January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974

4. Nixon and the South (1968 & 1972) Southern Strategy: Campaign strategy designed to appeal to conservative whites in the historically Democratic south. The President stressed law and order issues and remained noncommittal on civil rights. This strategy typified the regional split between the two parties as white Southerners became increasingly attracted to the Republican party in the aftermath of the Civil Rights Movement. New Federalism: President Nixon's program to return power and tax dollars to the states and cities; the key aspect was revenue sharing, which distributed $30 billion in revenues to the states. Political philosophy of devolution, or of transfer of certain powers from the United States federal government to the states: states were asked to assume greater responsibility for the well-being of their citizens, taking some of this responsibility away from the federal government.

5. Nixon & Vietnam 1.Vietnamization: Military strategy (1969). The plan reduced the number of American combat troops in Vietnam and left more of the fighting to the South Vietnamese, who were supplied with American armor, tanks, and weaponry. 2.Widening the War: Secret bombings of Cambodia 3.Detent: Secret Negotiations between National Security Advisor Henry Kessinger & North Vietnamese Representative Le Duc Tho U.S. signed a peace treaty with North Vietnam and began withdrawing troops. On April 25, 1975, South Vietnam was taken over by North Vietnam, in violation of the treaty.

6. Nixon Domestic Policy Limit the size and roll of government During Nixon’s first few years in office, the United States went through economic troubles Unemployment and inflation rose, and federal spending proved difficult to control. Stagflation: High inflation combined with high unemployment and a declining gross national product; used to describe economic condition of the country in the mid-1970s. In response, Nixon turned to the practice of deficit spending, or spending more money in a year than the government receives in revenues.

7. Domestic Policy—Oil and Inflation Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) imposed an embargo, or ban, on shipping oil to the United States. The resulting shortage resulted in high oil prices, which in turn drove inflation even higher. New Federalism, states were asked to assume greater responsibility for the well-being of their citizens, taking some of this responsibility away from the federal government.

8. Nixon and Foreign Policy Vietnam: Vietnamization (Peace with Honor) Pentagon Papers: showed US leaders had lied to the American people about not wanting to expand the Vietnam War but did. (Daniel Ellsburg) China: After its Communist takeover in 1949, the United States refused to recognize the People’s Republic of China, viewing the government of Taiwan as the legitimate Chinese rulers. In February 1972, Nixon became the first American President to visit China. Touring Chinese sites in front of television cameras, Nixon established the basis for future diplomatic ties during his visit. USSR: Nixon uses new relations with China to get USSR to talk about limiting the nuclear arms race. SALT I (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty) ABM Limitations

9. Nixon and Watergate CREEP: Committee to RE-Elect the President Nixon was suspicious and secretive by nature and in 1972 he wanted to guarantee his reelection against McGovern Plumbers: June of 1972 a group of men working for Nixon’s reelection were caught breaking into the Democratic HQ in the Watergate Hotel (Their job was to stop info leaks) Wire-taps: on government employees that were happening (like the Pentagon Papers) The Supreme Courts tell the President that he has to turn over the tapes from the Oval Office Nixon tries to claim executive privilege Supreme Court tells him that he has to turn them over and when he does there is a 20 min. gaps in one recording and that becomes the “Smoking Gun”

10. Impeachment Impeachment charges: 1.Obstruction of Justice (Tampering with the tapes impede investigation) 2.Abuse of Power (using the IRS to discredit or harass of opponents) 3.Contempt of Congress Does not always result in removal from office Nixon Resigns on August 1974 Gerald Ford becomes the 1 st unelected President in U.S. History

11. Gerald Ford August 9, 1974 – January 20, 1977

12. Ford Ford and the Pardon: One of the most significant and vary unpopular of the decisions that Ford makes. Really hurts the Democrats Ford and Vietnam: In 1974 months after Nixon took office the North Vietnamese invade South Vietnam and take control Ford give aid and helps evacuate Americans and South Vietnamese from Siagon many were allowed to enter the US Election of 1976: Ford runs, and is defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter

13. Jimmy Carter January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981

14. Carter and Domestic Policy Much more liberal Presidency 1979: Title IX (end of sex discrimination in Schools) Schools must provide girls with equal athletic opportunities Roe V. Wade (1973): struck down laws prohibiting abortion on the grounds that they were a violation of a women’s right to privacy. (Legalized abortion) Equal Rights Amendment was passed by Congress, but fell short of ratification by 3 states (Phillis Schlafy led the opposition) California v. Bakke (1978): upheld affirmative action. Race could be one of several factors in admission, you could not have quotas but you could consider a person’s race

15. Foreign Policy Carter wanted to implement a much more humanitarian foreign policy Wants to smooth over relation between the US and the rest of the world Combats 3 rd world poverty Yom Kippur War happens in 1973 Egypt and Syria attack Israel Oil Embargo is imposed on United States by OPEC Camp David Accords: Peace talks between Egypt and Israel mediated by President Carter. Iranian Revolution

16. Election of 1980 Carter gives his Economic Malaise Speech or Crisis of Confidence Speech Carter looses to Ronald Regan