1. UNIT 11 Chapter 32 – Nixon, Ford, Carter Chapter 33 – The Conservative Revolution
THE 1970’s & 80’s

2. America: Pathways to the Present
Chapter 32: Nixon, Ford, Carter
Section 1: Nixon’s Domestic Policy
Section 2: Nixon’s Foreign Policy
Section 3: The Watergate Scandal
Section 4: The Ford Administration
Section 5: The Carter Administration

3. Presidents of the United States
#21 - …
Chester A. Arthur; Republican (1881)
Grover Cleveland; Democrat (1884)
Benjamin Harrison; Republican (1888)
Grover Cleveland; Democrat (1892)
William McKinley; Republican (1896)
Theodore Roosevelt; Republican (1901)
William Howard Taft; Republican (1908)
Woodrow Wilson; Democrat (1912)
Warren G. Harding; Republican (1920)
Calvin Coolidge; Republican (1923)
Herbert Hoover; Republican (1928)
Franklin D. Roosevelt; Democrat (1932)
Harry S. Truman; Democrat (1945)
Dwight D. Eisenhower; Republican (1952)
John F. Kennedy; Democrat (1960)
Lyndon B. Johnson; Democrat (1963)
Richard Nixon; Republican (1968)
George Washington; Federalist (1788)
John Adams; Federalist (1796)
Thomas Jefferson (1800)
James Madison (1808)
James Monroe (1816)
John Quincy Adams (1824)
Andrew Jackson; Democrat (1828)
Martin Van Buren; Democrat (1836)
William Henry Harrison; Whig (1840)
John Tyler; Whig (1841)
James K. Polk; Democrat (1844)
Zachary Taylor; Whig (1848)
Millard Fillmore; Whig (1850)
Franklin Pierce; Democrat (1852)
James Buchanan; Democrat (1856)
Abraham Lincoln; Republican (1860)
Andrew Johnson; Democrat (1865)
Ulysses S. Grant; Republican (1868)
Rutherford B. Hayes; Republican (1876)
James Garfield; Republican (1880)

4. OBJECTIVES
CORE OBJECTIVE: Examine the causes, effects, and impact of the Vietnam War
Objective 11.1: How did Nixon’s domestic and foreign policies differ from those of his predecessors?

5. Chapter 32 SECTION 1 NIXON’S DOMESTIC POLICY
President Richard Nixon relied on several close advisors to help him move the country in a new direction.

6. WRITE THIS DOWN!
NIXON IN PERSON
Although he had a reserved and remote personality, many Americans respected Nixon for his experience and service.
Nixon grew up in a low-income family in California; drove him to achieve
Campaigned against Communism in the 40’s and 50’s as a member of Congress
Became Vice President under Dwight Eisenhower in 1952
Nixon was willing to say or do anything to defeat his enemies, who included political opponents, the government bureaucracy, the press corps, and leaders of the antiwar movement.
Largely ignored his cabinet in favor of loyal advisors

7. WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHY?

8. OIL & INFLATION
WRITE THIS DOWN!
During Nixon’s first few years in office, unemployment and inflation rose, and federal spending proved difficult to control.
This was mostly due to increased Vietnam spending
In response, Nixon turned to the practice of deficit spending, or spending more money in a year than the government receives in revenues.
He also imposed two price freezes lasting several months each.
When the U.S. supported Israel in a war against Syria in 1973, OPEC imposed an embargo, or ban, on shipping oil to the U.S.
The OPEC embargo resulted in high oil prices, which drove inflation higher.
Gas went from 25 cents a gallon to 65 cents

9. SOCIAL PROGRAMS Southern Strategy
WRITE THIS DOWN!
SOCIAL PROGRAMS
Southern Strategy
Nixon did not support advances in civil rights, believing it would cost him the support of white southern voters.
Hoping to win over white southern Democrats, Nixon sought a “southern strategy” which would keep his supporters happy.
Nixon’s views resulted in a slowdown of desegregation.
Although Nixon tried to prevent the extension of certain provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Congress went ahead with the extension.
Busing to end segregation in schools was slowed, but not halted entirely, by Nixon’s opposition to it.

10. The First Moon Landing
During Nixon’s presidency, the United States achieved its goal of a successful moon landing.
On July 20, 1969, Neil A. Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. He was joined by Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr., a fellow crewman on the Apollo 11 spacecraft.
Television viewers around the world watched the moon landing, and Apollo 11’s crew were treated as heroes when they returned.

11. Nixon’s Domestic Policy ASSESSMENT
Which of these was an effect of the 1973 OPEC oil embargo?
(A) Rising oil prices drove inflation higher.
(B) Many social programs became the responsibility of the states.
(C) Busing to desegregate schools became more widespread.
(D) Nixon was able to name four new Supreme Court justices.
What was Nixon’s “southern strategy”?
(A) a way to balance the federal budget
(B) an attempt to win the support of white southern Democrats
(C) the name of the first moon mission
(D) an effort to end segregation

12. Nixon’s Domestic Policy ASSESSMENT
Which of these was an effect of the 1973 OPEC oil embargo?
(A) Rising oil prices drove inflation higher.
(B) Many social programs became the responsibility of the states.
(C) Busing to desegregate schools became more widespread.
(D) Nixon was able to name four new Supreme Court justices.
What was Nixon’s “southern strategy”?
(A) a way to balance the federal budget
(B) an attempt to win the support of white southern Democrats
(C) the name of the first moon mission
(D) an effort to end segregation

13. Chapter 32 SECTION 2 NIXON’S FOREIGN POLICY
President Nixon’s foreign policy led to more positive relationships with China and the Soviet Union.

14. Henry Kissinger – Secretary of State
WRITE THIS DOWN!
Henry Kissinger – Secretary of State
Practical Politics
Although he had no previous ties to Nixon, Harvard government professor Henry Kissinger first became Nixon’s national security advisor and later his Secretary of State.
Kissinger used the European philosophy of realpolitik, or practical politics: making decisions based on maintaining strength rather than on moral principles.
Public Opinion
Kissinger applied a realpolitik approach to his dealings with China and the Soviet Union, which led to better diplomatic relations with both nations.
Kissinger’s efforts in ending the Vietnam War and easing Cold War tensions made him a celebrity.
He topped a list of most-admired Americans, was often featured on the cover of Time magazine, and in 1973 shared the Nobel peace prize.

15. WRITE THIS DOWN!
RELAXING TENSIONS
Although Nixon had built a reputation as anti-Communist, he and Kissinger reversed the direction of postwar American foreign policy by holding talks with China and the Soviet Union.
Nixon’s greatest accomplishment was a détente: relaxation in tensions, between the U.S. and Communist nations.

16. WRITE THIS DOWN!
CHINESE DETENTE
Historical Background — After its Communist takeover in 1949, the U.S. refused to recognize the People’s Republic of China
Steps to Ease Relations — During the 1970s, relations eased between the U.S. and China through “ping-pong” diplomacy.
Nixon referred to the nation by name, travel and trade restrictions were lifted, and American table-tennis players visited China.
Ping Pong Diplomacy:
Nixon’s Visit to China — In February 1972, Nixon became the first American President to visit China.
Touring Chinese sites in front of cameras, Nixon established the basis for future diplomatic ties
The United States decided to join other nations in recognizing the Chinese government.
In October 1971, Taiwan lost its seat in the UN to the People’s Republic of China.

17. WRITE THIS DOWN!
LIMITING WEAPONS
Nixon viewed arms control as a vital part of his foreign policy.
Although he had taken office planning to build more nuclear weapons, Nixon came to believe that achieving balance between the superpowers was a better strategy than an increasing nuclear arms race.
In 1972, the U.S. and the USSR signed the first Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, known as SALT I: agreed to freeze the number of missiles at 1972 levels.
SALT I demonstrated that arms control agreements between the superpowers were possible.
However, it did not reduce the number of weapons that either nation possessed, nor did it halt the development of conventional weapon technologies.

18. Nixon’s Foreign Policy ASSESSMENT
Which of these definitions best describes realpolitik?
(A) An understanding of the power of the media to shape public opinion
(B) A push to end the arms race
(C) A relaxation in international tensions
(D) A political policy that advocates national strength above moral issues
What effect did Nixon’s 1972 visit to China have on American foreign policy?
(A) It began the practice of “Ping-Pong diplomacy.”
(B) It established the basis for diplomatic ties with China.
(C) It eased relations with the Soviet Union.
(D) It resulted in a freeze on certain types of nuclear weapons.

19. Nixon’s Foreign Policy ASSESSMENT
Which of these definitions best describes realpolitik?
(A) An understanding of the power of the media to shape public opinion
(B) A push to end the arms race
(C) A relaxation in international tensions
(D) A political policy that advocates national strength above moral issues
What effect did Nixon’s 1972 visit to China have on American foreign policy?
(A) It began the practice of “Ping-Pong diplomacy.”
(B) It established the basis for diplomatic ties with China.
(C) It eased relations with the Soviet Union.
(D) It resulted in a freeze on certain types of nuclear weapons.