1. The Ford Administration
Lecture 2

2. Standard
Discuss the significant domestic policy speeches of Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton (e.g., education, civil rights, economic policy, environmental policy)
Essential Question: How did Ford’s administration differ from Nixon’s?

3. Ford’s Domestic Policy
Gerald Ford (1974 – 1977)
played football for the University of Michigan
2 national championships in 1932 & 1933
offered contracts by Packers and Lions
25-year career in the House
known for integrity
Ford appointed Nelson Rockefeller as his VP

4. Pardon Me Sir Pardoning Power Whip Inflation Now (WIN)
Ford’s pardon covered any crimes Nixon may have committed while President
critics accused Ford of having a secret deal with Nixon
Whip Inflation Now (WIN)
this voluntary campaign to end stagflation failed

5. Bicentennial Check Up
“The symptoms of this crisis of the American spirit are all around us. For the first time in the history of our country a majority of our people believe that the next five years will be worse than the past five years. Two thirds of the people do not even vote. The productivity of workers is actually dropping. There is a growing disrespect for government and for churches and for schools This is not a message of happiness or reassurance, but it is the truth and it is a warning.”
—Jimmy Carter, 1979
How was America doing on its 200th birthday in 1976?
pop. 250,000,000
fought 8 major wars
superpower
threat of global nuclear war
stagflation

6. Helsinki Accords Helsinki Accords, 1974
USSR agreed to a more open exchange of people and knowledge
some human rights
US agreed to recognize borders of Poland and other eastern bloc nations

7. Trouble in the Suez Mayaguez, 1975
Khmer Rouge seized a US merchant ship in Cambodia
Ford sent marines to get it back

8. Refugees Vietnamese Refugees
over a million refugees left Vietnam in the 20 years after the war
came to the US and Canada
Rustbelt to Sunbelt

10. 1970s Culture The “Me Generation” the divorce rate doubled
children born out of wedlock doubled
physical fitness craze
meditation

11. 1970s Culture Little House on the Prairie The Mary Tyler Moore Show
All in the Family
M*A*S*H*
Sanford and Son
Little House on the Prairie
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Wonderful World of Disney
The Six Million Dollar Man
Happy Days

12. 1970s Culture Jaws Star Wars Godfather Taxi Driver Exorcist Grease
Rocky
Deer Hunter
Clockwork Orange
Halloween
Saturday Night Fever
Apocalypse Now
Superman
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
Alien
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Chinatown
Dog Day Afternoon
Annie Hall
Young Frankenstein
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind