1. Richard Nixon (1969-1974)  New Federalism: plan to reduce the size of federal government -would give more money to states & cities -made state/local gov’ts dependant on aid  Nixon shut down many programs of Johnson’s Great Society -funding for Dept. Housing/Urban Dev. (veto) -eliminated Office of Economic Opportunity -tried to shut down the Job Corps

2. Environmentalism  Rachel Carson – “Silent Spring” -criticized use of pesticides (DDT) -killed birds, fish, animals  Public believed Carson -rivers no longer safe for swimming/fishing  Smog, oil spill in CA, dike in FL killed birds, Lake Erie  American response – 1 st Earth Day (1970) -environ. org. grow rapidly like Sierra Club, Wilderness Society

3. Nixon’s Foreign Policies  Henry Kissinger – NSA (negotiate the end of the Vietnam War)  Realpolitik – basing policies on realistic views of national interest.  What is best for America

4. Détente – “relaxation of tensions”  Took steps to ease tensions with Cold War enemies.  Détente – build a stable world in which U.S. and other countries accepted one another’s place.  Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) -(1972) Soviets and US limit missile systems -also increase trade & share science

5. Nixon in China  Wanted to become friends with China to make Soviets more cooperative.  Many meetings held in secret  1972 – Nixon visits China  This led to the Soviets signing the SALT agreements.

6. Trouble in the Middle East  United Nations made Israel give back the land, but Arab nations had to recognize Israel as a nation.  1973 – war broke out in the Middle East.  Israel backed by U.S.  Egypt was backed by Soviets

7. Oil Embargo  Arab countries would not ship any oil to U.S.  These countries formed OPEC – Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries  This would lead to an energy crisis in the U.S.

9. Major Events at Home  July 1969 – Apollo 11 – Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins landed on the moon.  Inflation  Unemployment was high.