1. Nixon’s Presidency

2. 1968 Election Results Johnson decided against running for reelection
Richard Nixon won a narrow victory over Hubert Humphrey
A third candidate, George Wallace - a pro-segregation governor of Alabama took many votes in the South

3. The “Silent Majority”
Nixon appealed to what he believed was the majority of Americans:
“Non-shouters, non-demonstrator…”
His campaign focused on:
Crime and punishment
The “welfare mess”
This spoke to a rising conservative backlash against the counterculture

4. Nixon’s Foreign Policy
In 1969 President Nixon announced a new direction for American Foreign Policy
Détente  relaxation of tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union and China
Realpolitik: realistic approach to politics based on what’s best for the nation

5. Nixon Visits China
February, 1972  Nixon announced that he would visit China to work towards more normal relations
Nixon hoped that dealing with China could:
Help in Vietnam
Divide the two communist powers further
Pressure the Soviets into an arms treaty

7. United States-Soviet Tensions Ease
May, 1972  American- Soviet summit held to discuss the tensions between the nations
Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I)  plan to limit nuclear arms in both nations

8. Latin American Politics
Nixon and the CIA supported Augusto Pinochet in a military coup (takeover) of the communist Chilean government
Pinochet would control Chile until
He was then tried for Crimes Against Humanity for numerous atrocities

9. Nixon Domestic Policy
New Federalism  reduce the size of the federal government by dismantling several federal programs and giving more control to state and local governments
Nixon tried to undo a number of Great Society programs, but he ended up expanding some like the Food Stamp program

10. Watergate Scandal
Nixon greatly desired reelection, so his advisors ordered men to break into the Democratic Party’s headquarters at Watergate complex and steal any sensitive campaign information
A security guard making a routine round spotted a piece of tape holding a door lock and ripped it off
When he came back around, the tape was there again and he called the police and the men were arrested

11. The InvestigATION
It was also revealed that the President had a recording device put in the Oval Office
The Senate and a special prosecutor demanded Nixon’s tapes
He refused and fired his Attorney General who refused to fire the special prosecutor

12. Nixon Resigns
The court ordered Nixon to turn over the tapes and he complied
Several days later, the House Judiciary Committee voted to impeach Nixon
August 9, 1974  Nixon resigned to avoid impeachment and Gerald Ford took the oath of office

13. Gerald Ford’s Presidency
Nixon’s V.P. Spiro Agnew had resigned so without a VP, Nixon chose Gerald Ford
Ford pardoned Nixon for any crime(s) he may have committed
He lost the election in 1976 to Jimmy Carter

14. Berlin Wall Falls, 1989
A wave of rebellion against Soviet influence occurs throughout its European allies.
Eventually East and West Germany are reunited in
December 21, 1991, USSR dissolved and Boris Yeltsin becomes the president of Russia.