1. Important Notes
Text a friend or family member- Outside of school Ask them “what is one thing you know about President Nixon?”

2. President Richard Nixon Plagued by his greatest weakness
Political Party- Republican Party
Years in Office
Why did he leave office?
Resigned due to the Watergate Scandal

3. Nixon’s Domestic Policies
New Federalism
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): ensure safe and healthful working conditions for all working Americans
Drug Enforcement Act (DEA): enforce federal drug laws and conduct investigations
Tried to slow inflation: Nixon promised to end inflation caused by the Vietnam War. 90 wage price freeze
26th Amendment: Right to vote from 21 to 18 in 1971

5. Nixon’s Domestic Policies
Clean Air Act: (1970) one of a number of pieces of legislation relating to the reduction of smog and air pollution in general. The use by governments to enforce clean air standards has contributed to an improvement in human health and longer life spans.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): combat pollution and protect the environment and clean air act

6. Grade President Nixon
Assign him a grade based on his performance
Write why he deserves that grade.
Discuss

7. Vietnam and the Paris Peace Accords (1973)
Intended to establish peace in Vietnam and an end to the Vietnam Conflict, ended direct U.S. military involvement and temporarily stopped the fighting between north and south.
Goal: Reunification of Vietnam was to be "carried out step by step through peaceful means.”

9. Détente
A term used to describe the relaxing or easing of tensions during the Cold War
Designed to prevent open conflict through peaceful measures

10. Nixon policy toward the Soviet Union
Visited the Soviet Union in 1972 (first president since WWII)
SALT I: Strategic Arms Limitations Talks
Led to a SALT agreement, which set limits on the number of defensive missile sites and strategic offensive missiles each nation would keep

11. New Polices Toward China-
Nixon visited China in 1972 (no diplomatic relations since 1949)
Opening the Door: Nixon and Mao Zedong agreed to have an open door with diplomatic relations
Increased cultural and economic exchanges (markets and sports)

12. Even though Forest Gump Never played Table Tennis during this time- the idea is true full diplomacy with China even in sports

13. Grade President Nixon
Assign him a grade based on his performance
Write why he deserves that grade.
Discuss

14. What sparked the Watergate Scandal?
What happened? An illegal break in to wiretap phones in the Democratic Party Headquarters with electronic surveillance equipment
Where and when? Watergate Towers, an apartment complex in Washington D.C on June 17, 1972
Who? The Committee to Reelect the President, acting with the knowledge of several high level Nixon advisors

15. Why? To secure information to undermine the Democratic campaign against Nixon
The Cover Up: Police captured the “burglars” who had evidence connecting them to the White House. Nixon did not know about the plan until after, but he ordered the cover up of the plan (crime under a federal offense)

16. The Investigation called the Watergate Scandal: Reporters from the Washington Post probed into the case. Nixon was reelected. In 1973 the Senate established a committee to look into “illegal, improper, and unethical activities.”
The Tapes: Taped conversations between Nixon and his top aides. Nixon refused to turn over the tapes. Committee hearings were on TV (millions tuned in)

17. Nixon, in an attempt to keep his tapes private, released typed transcripts of his “secret tapes”

18. Cartoons like this villified Nixon in the public’s eyes and brought enormous pressure on him to turn over the White House tapes

19. United States vs. Richard Nixon
Nixon’s resignation: The Supreme Court ordered Nixon to turn over the tapes in the US vs. Nixon case. Based on the evidence, the House committee began voting on articles to impeach the president. To avoid impeachment, Nixon resigned August 9, 1974 (first pres to do so). Gerald Ford (his VP) took office
Impact of Watergate: Nixon’s advisors were sentenced to prison.
The incident showed, according to Ford, how the “constitution works.” The system of checks and balances stopped Nixon from putting the presidency about the law.
Watergate started a decline in public’s mistrust in Government

21. Overall Grade
Why did President Nixon receive this grade for his presidency?
Discuss why with the class