the nixon administration president richard m. nixon tried to steer the country in a conservative...

The Nixon The Nixon AdministrationAdministration

President Richard M. Nixon tried to President Richard M. Nixon tried to steer the country in a conservative steer the country in a conservative

direction and away from federal direction and away from federal control.control.

DOMESTIC POLICYDOMESTIC POLICY Believed Federal Government Believed Federal Government

was too largewas too large Increased Social Security Increased Social Security

paymentspayments Evironmental issuesEvironmental issues Against school busingAgainst school busing Took stand against drug crimeTook stand against drug crime New Federalism: Local govts New Federalism: Local govts

could regulate spendingcould regulate spending

Domestic PoliciesDomestic Policies

Sought to put conservative judges on Sought to put conservative judges on courtcourt

Pushed forward Affirmative ActionPushed forward Affirmative Action

Commitment to EnvironmentCommitment to Environment All federal programs condensed into All federal programs condensed into

E.P.A.E.P.A. Clean Air ActClean Air Act Water Quality Improvement Act (oil Water Quality Improvement Act (oil

spills)spills) OSHA- safe employmentOSHA- safe employment

2626thth amendment- lowered voting age amendment- lowered voting age Apollo 10- moon Landing- ArmstrongApollo 10- moon Landing- Armstrong

Nixon’s agenda was to decrease Nixon’s agenda was to decrease the size and influence of the the size and influence of the

federal government..federal government..

New Federalism:New Federalism: distribute a distribute a portion of federal power to state portion of federal power to state

and local governments. and local governments. Revenue sharing: state and local Revenue sharing: state and local

governments could spend their governments could spend their federal dollars however they saw federal dollars however they saw

fit within certain limitations.fit within certain limitations.

At first Nixon cooperated with At first Nixon cooperated with Congress, which Democrats Congress, which Democrats

controlled. Soon he refused to spend controlled. Soon he refused to spend money voted by Congress on money voted by Congress on

programs that he did not like. The programs that he did not like. The Supreme Court ruled this action Supreme Court ruled this action

unconstitutional.unconstitutional.

Beginning a policy of law and Beginning a policy of law and order, Nixon enlisted the CIA and order, Nixon enlisted the CIA and

IRS to harass his political IRS to harass his political “enemies” – liberals and “enemies” – liberals and

dissidents.dissidents.

Nixon hoped to bolster his political Nixon hoped to bolster his political support, especially in the South, to support, especially in the South, to ensure his re-election. He tried to ensure his re-election. He tried to slow school integration, but the slow school integration, but the

Supreme Court ordered the Supreme Court ordered the administration to move more administration to move more

quickly. He also named quickly. He also named conservatives to fill vacancies in conservatives to fill vacancies in

the Supreme Court.the Supreme Court.

Nixon attempted to stop the Nixon attempted to stop the integration of schools through integration of schools through

busingbusing. In 1971, the Supreme Court . In 1971, the Supreme Court ruled in ruled in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Educationof Education that school districts may that school districts may bus students to other schools to end bus students to other schools to end the pattern of all-black and all-white the pattern of all-black and all-white

schools.schools.

StagnationStagnation A stagnant economy trouble the A stagnant economy trouble the country. By 1973, the inflation rate country. By 1973, the inflation rate

had doubledhad doubled unemployment rate was up 50%.unemployment rate was up 50%.

The causes: The causes: Vietnam War,Vietnam War, growing foreign competition, growing foreign competition, the difficulty of finding jobs for the difficulty of finding jobs for

millions of new workersmillions of new workers..

Another problem was Another problem was reduced supply of and higher reduced supply of and higher

prices for oil and gasoline. prices for oil and gasoline. Nixon’s efforts to lower Nixon’s efforts to lower

prices did not work.prices did not work.

During the 60s, America received During the 60s, America received much of its petroleum from the much of its petroleum from the oil-producing Middle East. Many oil-producing Middle East. Many of these countries belonged to a of these countries belonged to a cartel called cartel called OPECOPEC. During the . During the 60s, OPEC gradually raised oil 60s, OPEC gradually raised oil

prices.prices.

In 1973, the In 1973, the Yom Kippur WarYom Kippur War broke out, with Israel against broke out, with Israel against

Egypt and Syria. When the Egypt and Syria. When the United States sent massive United States sent massive

military aid to Israel, its military aid to Israel, its longtime ally, the Arab OPEC longtime ally, the Arab OPEC

nations responded by cutting off nations responded by cutting off all oil sales to the United States.all oil sales to the United States.

When OPEC resumed selling its When OPEC resumed selling its oil to the United States in 1974, oil to the United States in 1974, the price had quadrupled. This the price had quadrupled. This

sharp rise in oil prices only sharp rise in oil prices only worsened the problem of worsened the problem of

inflation.inflation.

Henry KissingerHenry Kissinger Henry KissingerHenry Kissinger. Kissinger introduced . Kissinger introduced

realpolitikrealpolitik: stating that foreign policy : stating that foreign policy should be based on consideration of a should be based on consideration of a nation’s power, not its philosophy or nation’s power, not its philosophy or

beliefs.beliefs.

DetenteDetente Nixon and Kissinger introduced Nixon and Kissinger introduced détentedétente, a policy aimed at easing , a policy aimed at easing

Cold War tensions.Cold War tensions.

In 1972, he visited In 1972, he visited Communist Communist ChinaChina. This reversed past U.S. . This reversed past U.S. policy, which had refused to policy, which had refused to

formally recognize the formally recognize the Communist rulers there.Communist rulers there.

SALTSALT Three months later, Nixon went to Three months later, Nixon went to

the Soviet Union. These moves the Soviet Union. These moves were widely popular. With the were widely popular. With the

Soviets, he signed the Strategic Soviets, he signed the Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty (Arms Limitations Treaty (SALTSALT), ), which limited nuclear weapons. which limited nuclear weapons.

Nixon Re-electedNixon Re-elected

Foreign policy triumphs helped Foreign policy triumphs helped Nixon easily win re-election.Nixon easily win re-election.

Nixon and WatergateNixon and Watergate

The Election of 1968The Election of 1968

Richard Nixon only narrowly won the 1968 election, but the Richard Nixon only narrowly won the 1968 election, but the combined total of popular votes for Nixon and Wallace indicated a combined total of popular votes for Nixon and Wallace indicated a shift to the right in American politics. shift to the right in American politics.

The 1960's began as an era of optimism and possibility and ended The 1960's began as an era of optimism and possibility and ended in disunity and distrust. in disunity and distrust.

The Vietnam war and a series of assassinations and crises eroded The Vietnam war and a series of assassinations and crises eroded public trust in government and produced a backlash against public trust in government and produced a backlash against liberal movements and the Democratic party. liberal movements and the Democratic party.

The Election of 1968The Election of 1968

Nixon campaigned as a Nixon campaigned as a champion of the "silent champion of the "silent majority," the hardworking majority," the hardworking Americans who paid taxes, Americans who paid taxes, did not demonstrate, and did not demonstrate, and desired a restoration of desired a restoration of "law and order.”"law and order.”

He vowed to restore He vowed to restore respect for the rule of law, respect for the rule of law, reconstitute the stature of reconstitute the stature of America, dispose of America, dispose of ineffectual social programs, ineffectual social programs, and provide strong and provide strong leadership to end the leadership to end the turmoil of the 1960's. turmoil of the 1960's.

Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers Papers

Daniel Ellsberg was Daniel Ellsberg was an employee of the an employee of the Defense Defense Department who Department who leaked a classified leaked a classified assessment of the assessment of the Vietnam War in Vietnam War in 1971.1971.

The 7,000 page The 7,000 page document came to document came to be known as the be known as the Pentagon Papers.Pentagon Papers.

Pentagon PapersPentagon Papers

They cast doubt on the justification They cast doubt on the justification for entry into the war and revealed for entry into the war and revealed that senior government officials had that senior government officials had serious misgivings about the war. serious misgivings about the war.

When the When the New York Times New York Times and and Washington PostWashington Post began to publish began to publish the Pentagon Papers, the Nixon the Pentagon Papers, the Nixon Administration sued them.Administration sued them.

The White House PlumbersThe White House Plumbers

After the release After the release of the Pentagon of the Pentagon Papers, the White Papers, the White House created a House created a unit to ensure unit to ensure internal security. internal security.

This unit was This unit was called the called the Plumbers because Plumbers because they stopped they stopped leaks.leaks.

Howard Hunt G. Gordon Liddy

James McCord Chuck Colson

White House PlumbersWhite House Plumbers

In 1971 they burglarized the office of In 1971 they burglarized the office of Daniel Ellsberg’s psychiatrist, Daniel Ellsberg’s psychiatrist, seeking material to discredit himseeking material to discredit him. .

It was later revealed that Nixon’s It was later revealed that Nixon’s domestic advisor John Ehrlichman domestic advisor John Ehrlichman knew of and approved the plan.knew of and approved the plan.

The Watergate Break-inThe Watergate Break-in When initial polls When initial polls

showed Nixon in the showed Nixon in the Election of 1972, the Election of 1972, the Plumbers turned their Plumbers turned their activities to political activities to political espionage.espionage.

On 17 June 1972, 5 On 17 June 1972, 5 men were arrested men were arrested while attempting to while attempting to bug the headquarters bug the headquarters of the Democratic of the Democratic Party inside the Party inside the Watergate building in Watergate building in Washington D.C. Washington D.C.

One of the men arrested, James One of the men arrested, James McCord, was the head of security for McCord, was the head of security for the Republican Party. the Republican Party.

The Nixon campaign denied any The Nixon campaign denied any involvement.involvement.

Woodward, Bernstein and the Woodward, Bernstein and the Washington PostWashington Post

Watergate came to public attention Watergate came to public attention largely through the work of Bob largely through the work of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, Woodward and Carl Bernstein, investigative reporters from the investigative reporters from the Washington PostWashington Post. .

Despite enormous political pressure, Despite enormous political pressure, PostPost editor Ben Bradlee, publisher editor Ben Bradlee, publisher Katherine Graham, Woodward and Katherine Graham, Woodward and Bernstein, aided by an enigmatic Bernstein, aided by an enigmatic source nicknamed “Deepthroat” kept source nicknamed “Deepthroat” kept the story in the public consciousness the story in the public consciousness until Nixon’s resignation.until Nixon’s resignation.

Watergate Enters the Nixon Watergate Enters the Nixon CampaignCampaign

The break-in was The break-in was eventually tied to eventually tied to the Nixon reelection the Nixon reelection campaign through a campaign through a $25,000 check from $25,000 check from a Republican donor a Republican donor that was laundered that was laundered through a Mexican through a Mexican bank and deposited bank and deposited in the account of in the account of Watergate burglar Watergate burglar Bernard Barker. Bernard Barker.

Later it was discovered that Former Later it was discovered that Former Attorney General John Mitchell, head Attorney General John Mitchell, head of Nixon’s “Committee to Re-Elect of Nixon’s “Committee to Re-Elect the President,” (CREEP) controlled a the President,” (CREEP) controlled a secret fund for political espionage. secret fund for political espionage.

Mitchell would later go to prison for Mitchell would later go to prison for his role in the scandal his role in the scandal

The Election of 1972The Election of 1972

Despite the growing stain of Watergate, which had not yet Despite the growing stain of Watergate, which had not yet reached the President, Nixon won by the largest margin in reached the President, Nixon won by the largest margin in history to that point.history to that point.

The Watergate Investigations: The Watergate Investigations: Judge John SiricaJudge John Sirica

Watergate came to Watergate came to be investigated by be investigated by a Special a Special Prosecutor, a Prosecutor, a Senate committee, Senate committee, and by the judge in and by the judge in the original break-in the original break-in case.case.

Judge Sirica refused Judge Sirica refused to believe that the to believe that the burglars had acted burglars had acted alonealone. .

In March 1973, defendant James W. In March 1973, defendant James W. McCord sent a letter to Sirica McCord sent a letter to Sirica confirming that it was a conspiracy. confirming that it was a conspiracy.

Sirica’s investigation transformed Sirica’s investigation transformed Watergate from the story of a “third-Watergate from the story of a “third-rate burglary” to a scandal reaching rate burglary” to a scandal reaching the highest points in government.the highest points in government.

Senate Investigation and the Oval Senate Investigation and the Oval Office TapesOffice Tapes

The Senate The Senate began hearings began hearings into Watergate into Watergate in May 1973. in May 1973.

The hearings The hearings were televised in were televised in their entirety. their entirety.

They focused on when the President They focused on when the President knew of the break-in. knew of the break-in.

In June 1973, former White House In June 1973, former White House legal counsel John Dean delivered legal counsel John Dean delivered devastating testimony that devastating testimony that implicated Nixon from the earliest implicated Nixon from the earliest days of Watergate. days of Watergate.

Senate Investigation and the Oval Senate Investigation and the Oval Office TapesOffice Tapes

The Administration was eager to discredit The Administration was eager to discredit Dean and his testimony so it began to Dean and his testimony so it began to release factual challenges to his account. release factual challenges to his account.

When former White House aide When former White House aide Alexander Butterfield was asked Alexander Butterfield was asked about the source of the White House about the source of the White House information, he revealed the information, he revealed the existence of an automatic taping existence of an automatic taping system that Nixon had secretly system that Nixon had secretly installed in the Oval Office. installed in the Oval Office.

These tapes would become the focus These tapes would become the focus of the investigation.of the investigation.

The Smoking Gun TapesThe Smoking Gun Tapes When the Supreme When the Supreme

Court forced Nixon to Court forced Nixon to surrender the tapes.surrender the tapes.

Nixon was implicated Nixon was implicated from the earliest from the earliest days of the cover-up:days of the cover-up: authorizing the authorizing the

payment of hush payment of hush moneymoney

attempting to use attempting to use the CIA to interfere the CIA to interfere with the FBI with the FBI investigation. investigation.

One tape has an 18 ½ minute gap. One tape has an 18 ½ minute gap. Nixon’s secretary Rosemary Woods Nixon’s secretary Rosemary Woods

demonstrated how she could have demonstrated how she could have inadvertently erased the tape, but no inadvertently erased the tape, but no one bought it. one bought it.

““The smoking gun tapes,” were The smoking gun tapes,” were released in August 1974, just after released in August 1974, just after the House Judiciary Committee the House Judiciary Committee approved Articles of Impeachment approved Articles of Impeachment against Nixon. against Nixon.

The Saturday Night Massacre The Saturday Night Massacre The Administration The Administration

reached an reached an agreement with agreement with the Senate the Senate Watergate Watergate Committee that its Committee that its Chairman would be Chairman would be allowed to listen to allowed to listen to tapes and provide tapes and provide a transcript to the a transcript to the Committee and to Committee and to Special Prosecutor Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox. Archibald Cox.

Archibald Cox

The deal broke down when Cox The deal broke down when Cox refused to accept the transcripts in refused to accept the transcripts in place of the tapes. place of the tapes.

Since the Special Prosecutor is an Since the Special Prosecutor is an employee of the Justice Department, employee of the Justice Department, Nixon ordered Attorney General Elliot Nixon ordered Attorney General Elliot Richardson to fire Cox. Richardson to fire Cox.

The Saturday Night MassacreThe Saturday Night Massacre When Richardson When Richardson

refused, he was refused, he was fired. fired.

Nixon ordered Nixon ordered Deputy Attorney Deputy Attorney General William General William D. Ruckelshaus D. Ruckelshaus to fire Cox .to fire Cox .

When he refused, When he refused, he was fired. he was fired.

.”.”Robert Bork

Nixon then ordered Solicitor General Nixon then ordered Solicitor General Robert Bork (who was later Robert Bork (who was later nominated for the Supreme Court by nominated for the Supreme Court by Reagan) to fire Cox and he complied.Reagan) to fire Cox and he complied.

The The Washington PostWashington Post reported on the reported on the “Saturday Night Massacre.”“Saturday Night Massacre.”

Nixon ResignsNixon Resigns On 27 July 1974, the On 27 July 1974, the

House Judiciary House Judiciary Committee approved Committee approved Articles of Articles of Impeachment against Impeachment against Nixon. Nixon.

The House was to vote The House was to vote on the matter soon. on the matter soon.

Nixon conceded that Nixon conceded that impeachment in the impeachment in the House was likely, but House was likely, but he believed that the he believed that the Senate vote to remove Senate vote to remove him would failhim would fail. .

On 5 August 1974, when the On 5 August 1974, when the “smoking gun tape” became public, “smoking gun tape” became public, a delegation from the Republican a delegation from the Republican National Committee told Nixon that National Committee told Nixon that he would not survive the vote in the he would not survive the vote in the Senate. Senate.

On 9 August 1974, Richard Nixon On 9 August 1974, Richard Nixon became the first American president became the first American president to resign. to resign.

AftermathAftermath

More than 30 government officials went More than 30 government officials went to prison for their role in Watergate. to prison for their role in Watergate.

Richard Nixon was not one of them. Richard Nixon was not one of them. In September 1974, President Gerald In September 1974, President Gerald

Ford gave Nixon a full pardon. Ford gave Nixon a full pardon.

Ford announcing the pardon

AftermathAftermath

Woodward and Bernstein won the Woodward and Bernstein won the Pulitzer Prize. Pulitzer Prize.

They collaborated on 2 books, They collaborated on 2 books, All the All the President’s MenPresident’s Men and and The Final DaysThe Final Days. .

In 1976 In 1976 All the President’s MenAll the President’s Men was was adapted into an Oscar winning film.adapted into an Oscar winning film.

The identity of Deepthroat was kept The identity of Deepthroat was kept secret until W. Mark Felt unmasked secret until W. Mark Felt unmasked himself in 2005.himself in 2005.

Nixon ResignsNixon Resigns When the tapes were finally released, When the tapes were finally released,

it was clear that Nixon had known of it was clear that Nixon had known of the cover-up. On August 8, 1974, he the cover-up. On August 8, 1974, he

resigned but defiantly refused to resigned but defiantly refused to admit guilt.admit guilt.

Accidental PresidentAccidental President

Gerald FordGerald Ford Vice President Gerald Ford, a career Vice President Gerald Ford, a career

Congressional leader from Michigan Congressional leader from Michigan ascends to the position of President ascends to the position of President

of the United States, after never have of the United States, after never have been elected to national office.been elected to national office.

WATERGATE SCANDALWATERGATE SCANDAL

Deep Throat: Wm Mark FeltDeep Throat: Wm Mark Felt22ndnd in command for the FBI in command for the FBI Important source for Important source for Washington PostWashington Post

Revealed in 2005Revealed in 2005

BurglarsBurglars

Bernard Barker: died in 2009 never Bernard Barker: died in 2009 never apologizedapologized

Gonzalez: locksmith,lives in MiamaGonzalez: locksmith,lives in Miama McCord: Wrote “McCord: Wrote “A Piece of Tape: The

Watergate Story -- Fact and Fiction." McCord now resides in Rockville, Md.

Gordon LiddyGordon Liddy

orchestrated the Watergate break-in with E. Howard Hunt

He spent four-and-a-half years in prison "Will." He currently hosts a popular syndicated

conservative radio program, "The G. Gordon Liddy Show,"

acted in movies and television programs.

Howard HuntHoward Hunt

Hunt eventually spent 33 months in Hunt eventually spent 33 months in prison at the low-security Federal prison at the low-security Federal Prison Camp Prison Camp