1. Unit 12 1970’s Conflict and Change
Nixon, Ford and Carter

2. Nixon Presidency

3. Nixon Presidency ( )
Richard Nixon began what is known as the Imperial Presidency
--Presidential power and influence reaches its peak
Radio & TV allow direct access to voters
President uses more advisers (instead of cabinet members that need Congressional approval)
move the country in a more conservative direction.

4. Nixon Presidency (1969-1974) Nixon began US withdrawal from Vietnam
In 1972 Equal Rights Amendment (cannot deny equal rights on account of sex) approved by Congress, but never ratified by the states

5. Nixon: Constitutional Issues
During Nixon’s term in office you had several Supreme Court decisions that protected the constitutional rights of Americans
-White v. Regester: Supreme Court ruling that ruled that lines drawn for voting districts in Texas discriminated against racial/ethnic groups. States must create voting districts that do not intentionally dilute the voting power of minorities
-Wisconsin v. Yoder: US Supreme Court struck down a Wisconsin state law that required Amish students to attend school beyond 8th grade because it violated Amish parent’s religious beliefs under the 1st amendment and conflicted with Amish values and ways of life.
Roe v. Wade: Supreme Court strikes down state laws outlawing abortion, legalizing abortion in the United States

6. Nixon: Deals with Inflation
To deal with Inflation(rising prices) Nixon did 3 things:
1) Nixon imposed temporary price and wage controls
2) He took the US off gold standard with a shift toward fiat money
Fiat money is currency that a government has declared to be legal tender, but is not backed by a physical commodity. The value of fiat money is derived from the relationship between supply and demand rather than the value of the material that the money is made of.
3) Nixon cut federal spending and eliminated several Great Society programs and gave the money to state and local governments.

7. Nixon: Domestic Policy
Nixon ended the draft, increased anti-crime laws, and broadened environmental laws and agencies.
Environmental Protection Agency-a government agency that protects Americans’ health and the natural environment by setting and enforcing pollution standards
Endangered Species Act--requires the Fish and Wildlife Service to list plants and animals that are threatened with extinction and then take steps to protect them

8. Nixon: Foreign Policy
Nixon believed that the President’s most important role was directing foreign policy.
He was greatly assisted by his closest advisor Henry Kissinger in deciding US foreign policy during the 1970’s.

9. Nixon: Foreign Policy USSR
Nixon wanted to pursue a policy of détente (relaxing tensions) with the Soviet Union (USSR).
Nixon signs SALT I, an agreement to limit the development of missile systems.
He also sold American grain to the Soviet Union to ease food shortages.
Also when war breaks out in the Middle East, the U.S. and USSR both help to arrange a ceasefire.

10. Nixon: Foreign Policy OPEC
Supported Israel in the Yom Kippur War (1973) where Israel was attacked by Egypt and Syria
This support of Israel led to the 1973 oil crisis where OPEC countries did not trade oil with the U.S. as a result
Nixon lowered the maximum U.S speed limit to 55 miles per hour to conserve gasoline during the crisis

11. Nixon: Foreign Policy (CHINA)
Since China became Communist in 1949 the US had refused to have any diplomatic ties with them
In 1972, Nixon became the first U.S. president to visit the Chinese mainland
The opening of relations with China was Nixon’s greatest foreign policy achievement.

13. Accomplishments U.S astronauts landed on the moon—1969
Nixon approved the development of NASA’s Space Shuttle program

14. The Fall of Nixon

15. Nixon: Appointment of Ford
In 1973 Nixon’s Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned when it was discovered that he took bribes as governor.
Using the 25th amendment Nixon appointed Gerald Ford as his new Vice President

16. Nixon: Watergate Scandal
in 1972 a group of former CIA agents working for Nixon’s re-election for President were caught breaking into Democratic Party headquarters in the Watergate Complex in Washington DC.
Members of the Committee to Re-elect the President CRP, aka CREEP
-This incident is going to cause the greatest scandal of Nixon’s presidency.

17. WATERGATE
Two Washington Post reporters, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, investigated the story
Woodward and Bernstein relied on an FBI informant known as “DEEP THROAT” to link the men to Nixon and the White House—”Follow the money”

18. Nixon: Watergate Scandal
Nixon immediately begins to cover up the investigation of Watergate by saying that it involved National Security.
The links between the White House and the break-in are reported by the two reporters.
This causes both the Senate and attorney general to launch investigations.

19. Nixon: Watergate Scandal
During the investigation aides to the President testified that Nixon had secretly recorded all of his White House conversations.
The Senate asks for the tapes and Nixon refuses claiming executive privilege. (Congress has no right to question the executive branch without presidential approval)
It goes to court and in US v. Nixon (1974) the Supreme Court said that Nixon must turn over the tapes, reaffirming the principle that no one is above the law.

21. Nixon resigns
When the tapes become public, they reveal that Nixon had lied about his role and involvement in the cover-up.
The House of Reps moves to impeach
Fearing removal from office Nixon becomes the first President to resign.

22. Impact of Watergate… Lowered public confidence in government
too much power for president leads to abuse (congress passes laws to restore balance between executive and legislative)
shows US gov’t is based on laws and checks and balances
two party system works, can watch each other
reaffirms role of press in uncovering govt misconduct
Supreme Court preserves its independence

24. Ford Presidency

25. Ford’s Presidency

26. Ford Presidency ( )
Gerald Ford becomes President of the United States in 1974 when Nixon resigns
only President who was appointed and not elected
One of his first acts as president was to pardon Richard Nixon, this greatly angered many Americans

27. Ford: deals with stagflation
Ford faces the problem of Stagflation
Partially created by the rise of oil prices
Stagflation is when inflation (rising prices) meets stagnation (sluggish economy)

28. Ford: Oil Crisis
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was formed in 1960
In 1973 OPEC imposes an oil embargo on U.S. and Western Europe for supporting Israel in 1973 war
Price of Oil in US skyrockets, and has a significant impact on US economy
Prices on food, gasoline, electricity, and heat increase across the nation

29. Ford: Foreign Policy
Ford continued Nixon’s détente policy with Soviet Union
Leads to Helsinki Accords
where US, Canada, and most of Europe recognize post WWII borders and respect for human rights

30. Carter Presidency

31. Peanuts for Jimmy

32. Carter: election of 1976
Jimmy Carter campaigned and was elected on a promise to clean up Washington D.C.
He also wanted US to set a moral example to other nations

33. Carter: Domestic Policy
Created the Department of Energy to deal with energy crisis
US began to create a strategic oil reserve in case of national emergency, tax on large cars
Dealt with stagflation by cutting federal spending

34. Carter: Domestic Policy
Community Reinvestment Act—required banks to make credit available in poor communities
Wanted to prevent the decay of low-income neighborhoods

35. Carter: Foreign Policy
Carter signs the Panama Canal Treaty
which returned the canal zone, except for the canal, over to Panama
By the end of the century (12 AM December ) Panama had total control over the canal and canal zone

36. Carter: Foreign Policy (ISRAEL)
After the holocaust, Israel had been the homeland of the Jews since 1948
-U.S. policy had traditionally been very supportive of Israel in the form of economic & military aid

37. Carter: Foreign Policy (ISRAEL)
In 1977 Carter invited Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Menachem Begin of Israel to Camp David for peace talks
Created the Camp David Accords which states that Israel returns the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, and Egypt offers a peace treaty and normal diplomatic relations with Israel

38. Carter: Foreign Policy USSR
Carter initially continues Nixon’s policy of détente
After the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, U.S.-Soviet Relations deteriorated
U.S. halted grain sales to USSR, boycotted 1980 Olympics, and postponed SALT II

39. Carter: Iran Hostage Crisis
Iran Hostage Crisis begins with the overthrow of the Shah of Iran and his relocation to the US
Iranian students following Ayatollah Khomeini seized the U.S. Embassy and held the staff hostage for 444 days

40. Carter: Iran Hostage Crisis
U.S. imposed sanctions
Launched a failed rescue attempt
but the inability to free the hostages damages the U.S.’s image and credibility across the world
The hostages are finally released on Jimmy Carter’s last day in office.

42. Presidents Videos Jimmy Carter Gerald Ford Video Richard Nixon
Carter Video
Gerald Ford Video
Ford Video
Richard Nixon
Nixon Video