1. Essential Question:
In what ways did President Nixon represent a change towards conservative politics & how did his foreign policy alter the U.S. relationship with USSR & China?

2. The Presidency of Richard Nixon
By the late 1960s, citizens had seen enough turmoil in U.S. foreign & domestic affairs:
The economic boom of the 1950s & 1960s was starting to come to an end
American prestige in the world was damaged by the failure in Vietnam
Anti-war protests, “hippie” culture, & liberal gov’t programs led many citizens to believe that America was headed for moral decay & economic collapse

3. The Election of Richard Nixon
Nixon’s victory in 1968 was due to the turnout of a “silent majority” who wanted a more conservative gov’t
In 1968, Americans elected conservative Republican Richard Nixon

4. Richard Nixon & Domestic Policy
As a conservative, Nixon believed in a limited role for the national gov’t
He tried to reduce or eliminate many Great Society programs
He gave states more control over how money for welfare programs was spent

5. Richard Nixon & Domestic Policy
By the late 1960s, the South was becoming more conservative due to new military bases & corporate headquarters, the relocation of retirees, & frustration by whites over civil rights
Nixon seized the opportunity to attract Southerners to the Republican Party by opposing new civil rights policies & cutting government spending

6. Richard Nixon & Foreign Policy
President Nixon successfully changed U.S. foreign policy
Instead of using containment to fight Communism & increase Cold War tensions, Nixon created a policy of détente (to ease tensions) with America’s Cold War enemies

7. The Presidency of Richard Nixon
President Nixon successfully changed U.S. foreign policy
President Nixon & aide Henry Kissinger used a strategy called triangular diplomacy to improve America’s role in the world

8. Richard Nixon & Foreign Policy
Nixon’s foreign policy included “peace with honor” in Vietnam
Nixon discussed plans for “Vietnamization” but secretly bombed Cambodia & Laos in 1970
In 1973, Nixon negotiated a cease fire, withdrew U.S. troops, & ended the Vietnam War

9. Richard Nixon & Foreign Policy
Nixon’s foreign policy included better relations with China
In 1972, Nixon became the 1st president to visit & recognize China
Nixon’s visit to China was also meant to exploit a growing rift between USSR & China; Now the USSR had to cooperate with the U.S.
Nixon’s visit allowed for the possibility of U.S. trade with China

10. Richard Nixon & Foreign Policy
Nixon’s détente policy was aimed at easing Cold War tensions with the USSR
In 1972, Nixon became the 1st president to visit Moscow; His visit led to the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) to limit ICBMs
By visiting China, Nixon pressured Soviet leader Brezhnev to negotiate with the United States

11. The Presidency of Richard Nixon
Nixon was a popular president by the end of his 1st term
His domestic policies reduced gov’t spending & revitalized middle-class, conservative, & Southern voters
His foreign policies led to the end of an unpopular war in Vietnam & eased tensions with America’s two biggest Cold War rivals
In 1972, Nixon won one of the biggest landslide victories in presidential history
But after Nixon’s re-election in 1972, the Watergate scandal broke; President Nixon resigned in 1974 rather than face impeachment

12. Essential Question:
What was the Watergate scandal & how did it change American politics in the 1970s?

13. Conservative domestic policy:
Lowered gov’t spending
Reduced social programs
Active foreign policy:
Ended the war in Vietnam
“Opened” China
Détente with the USSR
Quick Review: Why was Nixon overwhelmingly re-elected as president in 1972? Why was Nixon so popular?

14. Nixon was insecure & paranoid about power:
What do you see in this image?
Nixon was insecure & paranoid about power:
He kept an “enemies list” of people he suspected were out to undermine his policies
“Tricky Dick” used his position as president to spy on, infiltrate, & sabotage his “enemies”
These tactics & fears were the reasons for the Watergate scandal that ended his presidency
In what ways might Nixon have been “his own worst enemy”?

15. Watergate Inquiry Activity
Stage 1:THE BREAK-IN
Read the background information and documents
With your partners, discuss the following questions:
Do you believe that Nixon was aware of the break-in and bugging? Why or why not?
If you believe he knew, to what extent did he know?

17. The Watergate Scandal: A Visual Review
Gordon Liddy & the “Plumbers”

18. Watergate Inquiry Activity
Stage 2:Investigations Begin
Read the background information and documents
With your partners, discuss the following questions:
Was this a witch hunt? Do Woodward and Bernstein create more issues than were solved by the investigation?
Is this what the country needs right at that moment?

20. The Watergate Scandal: A Visual Review

21. Watergate Inquiry Activity
Stage 3: Congressional Hearings
Read the background information and documents
With your partners, discuss the following questions:
What did Nixon’s refusal to hand over the tapes tell you about him? Was it just that he was trying to hide things or was there more to it?

23. The Watergate Scandal: A Visual Review

24. Watergate Inquiry Activity
Stage 4: The Secret Tapes
Read the background information and documents
With your partners, discuss the following questions:
Why did the Nixon administration make Rose Mary Woods the scapegoat? What does this say about society at the time?
What is Nixon doing to his reputation throughout this time period?

26. The Watergate Scandal: A Visual Review

27. Watergate Inquiry Activity
Stage 5: Nixon Resigns
Read the background information and documents
With your partners, discuss the following questions:
Do you think that the Nixon resignation was an admission of guilt? Why or why not?
What impact do you believe this event has on the American people/government?

29. The Watergate Scandal: A Visual Review

30. Why is Watergate such an important event in U.S. history?
How did Watergate change the way Americans perceive their political leaders?
Why is Watergate such an important event in U.S. history?
Should Nixon’s presidency be judged more in his foreign policy successes or the Watergate scandal? Why?
Do you think Nixon’s actions were different from most politicians?

31. Effects of Watergate The Watergate scandal changed America:
The scandal eroded public trust in their political leaders; Added to the distrust created by the Vietnam War
Revealed the importance of the media in serving as a “watchdog” of the gov’t
Congress assumed more leadership
Uncertainty whether prosecutors would charge Nixon with crimes

32. Closure Discussion Question:
Should Nixon’s presidency be judged more in his foreign policy successes or the Watergate scandal? Why?