1. Outcomes: Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, & George Bush Sr.
The Last 35 Years
Outcomes: Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, & George Bush Sr.

2. Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, & George Bush Sr.
Setting the Stage: Bad Presidential Decisions
Lyndon Johnson’s actions around the Vietnam Conflict changed the view of the Presidency
Richard Nixon’s action with Watergate scandal widened the credibility gap
Gerald Ford’s pardon of Richard Nixon was political suicide

3. Jimmy Carter

4. Jimmy Carter
1976 Election
Gerald Ford (R) ran against Jimmy Carter (D)
Carter won narrow victory; won the popular vote by less than 2 million votes
Carter became first president elected from the deep south in 128 years
Carter was a peanut farmer, Senator, and Governor from Georgia

5. Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter Pros
Carter successfully mediated peace talks between Israel and Egypt
Carter strongly emphasized human rights
Won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002; the only president to win after office
Key figure in Habitat for Humanity since leaving office

7. Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter Cons (Bad Timing?)
Energy crisis in the late 1970s was sign of a failing economy
Auto industry nearly collapsed
Environmental problems: Love Canal
Neighborhood in Niagara Falls, NY was built on toxic waste dump
500 homes had to be demolished and citizens moved

8. Iran-Hostage Crisis

9. Jimmy Carter Iran Hostage Crisis
52 Americans were held hostage in the American Embassy in Iran
Took place during an Iranian Revolution
Operation Eagle Claw: failed rescue attempt – 2 aircraft and 8 servicemen were killed
Carter was unable to negotiate the hostages release
Hostages were released after 444 days in captivity; release was negotiated by Ronald Reagan shortly after he was sworn in

10. Jimmy Carter Soviets invade Afghanistan in 1979
Carter decides to boycott Moscow Summer Olympics in 1980
Was seen as a weak response to Communist threat

11. Jimmy Carter & Ronald Reagan
1980 Election
Jimmy Carter (D) ran against Ronald Reagan (R)
Reagan was a former actor
Carter’s weaknesses prompted Americans to vote for Ronald Reagan

12. Ronald Reagan

13. Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Pros
Iran hostages were set free while he gave his inaugural address
Contemplated SDI or Star Wars; missile defense system – scared S.U.; escalated the Cold War once more
Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in the Soviet Union; worked with Reagan and helped bring democratic and social reforms to S.U.
Was re-elected to second term in 1984 with defeat of Walter Mondale
Budgeted $1.7B for the war on drugs
Cold War was nearly won by the time he left office

14. Reaganomics

15. Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Cons Reaganomics was controversial (Pro?)
Use the trickle down theory of economics
Large tax cuts
Inflation slowed while unemployment was reduced
Largely increased defense spending
Federal budget deficits and the national debt increased
Iran-Contra scandal uncovered; secret U.S. arms sales to Iran were used to fund Contras rebels in Nicaragua
Challenger Space Shuttle exploded in mid air January 28, 1986

16. Challenger Explosion

17. George Bush Sr. 1988 Election
Reagan’s VP George H.W. Bush (R) ran against Michael Dukakis (D)
Bush became first serving VP to be elected Pres. Since Martin Van Buren in 1836
Bush would only last one term