1. Rise and Fall of Richard Nixon

2. Nixon Graphic Organizer
As we take notes, you will:
Place the events on the graph in correct chronological order.
Determine to what degree each event represents a high or low point in the Nixon presidency.

3. Example: Nixon Inauguration Oil crisis Family Assistance Plan
Refused to release White House Tapes

4. 1969
January – Nixon is inaugurated after a close election. He won just 40% of the popular vote
July – Nixon Doctrine: the U.S. would still protect
countries against
communist aggression,
but would require
those countries to
contribute more help
(détente).
Vietnamization

5. 1970 June – Nixon signs an extension of the Voting Rights Act
July – Nixon proposes the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA_

6. 1972 February – President Nixon visits China (détente)
Restored diplomatic relations with China
Was a turning point
May – Nixon signs the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (détente)
Peace did not last long
November – Nixon is re-elected for a second term

7. Watergate
Sections 2-6

8. 1973 March – all US troop withdrawn from Vietnam
July – Nixon invokes executive privilege and refused to release the White House Tapes
October – Middle Eastern countries place an oil embargo on the U.S., which leads to an energy crises

9. 1974
July – United States v. Nixon, the Supreme Court ruled that Nixon must release the tapes. In this decision the Supreme Court overruled government statutes on confidentiality.
August – Nixon resigns the presidency in order to avoid facing a trial and almost certain impeachment

10. An approval rating is an opinion poll in which a group of people are asked whether they approve or disapprove of something. It is measured by percentage over a certain period of time. The presidential approval rating has been used since the late 1930s to measure public support for the president.

12. Date Event Approval Rating
January 1969
Nixon inaugurated as president
59%
July 1969
Nixon introduces the Nixon Doctrine
63%
June 1970
Nixon signs the extension of the Voting Rights Act
54%
July 1970
Nixon proposes the Environmental Protection Agency
61%
February 1972
Nixon visits China
56%
May 1972
Nixon signs the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty
62%
November 1972
Nixon Wins a second term
February 1973
U.S. troops begin to withdraw from Vietnam
65%
July 1973
Nixon refuses to release the White House Tapes
39%
October 1973
Middle Eastern Countries stop shipping oil to the U.S.
27%
August 1974
Nixon resigns as President
24%

13. Design an epitaph for Richard M
Design an epitaph for Richard M. Nixon commenting on both his rise to and his fall from power
An epitaph is something engraved on the tombstone of an individual.
Your epitaph should include the following elements:
• his name
• a descriptive phrase or title that highlights both his
accomplishments and his controversies (such as
Skillful Diplomat or Disgraced President)
• a short poem that alludes or refers to two events
that led to Nixon’s rise to power and two events that
led to his fall from power
Must Use the Supreme Court decision as one of your events for Nixon’s fall from power
Must use détente as one of your events for Nixon’s rise to power
• other clever or creative touches to make the epitaph
more interesting (images/symbols)