Challenges at Home and Abroad (1969-1976)

Nixon* Long political career based on conservative Republican politics and anti-communism

* As president, he worked to improve relations with USSR and China

* Also worked to disengage in Vietnam

~ Career

> US House 1946-1950

> US Senate 1950-1953

> VP 1953-1961> Elec. Pres. 1968, 1972

> Def. for Pres. 1960

> Def. for Gov. of CA ‘62> Resigned from Pres. 1974

* Negative legacy of Watergate predominates, with foreign policy successes less remembered

Kissinger

* National Security Advisor, later Sec. of State under Nixon (and then Ford)

* German-born, fled Nazis in 1938, fought for US in WWII, Harvard professor

* Saw foreign affairs not just as East v. West, but as several centers of power (Europe, Japan, China, US, USSR, etc.)

Vietnam 1969-1973

* 540,000 US troops in Nam when Nixon takes office

* War costing US billions of dollar, public opinion turns increasingly against war

* Vietnamization - policy of removing US troops and having South Vietnam take increased responsibility for its own defense

> By 1972 only 60,000 US troops there

* Cambodia - when Nixon orders bombing of and troops into neighboring Cambodia opposition to the war increases

* Kent State Univ.- Ohio National Guard kills 4 and wounds 9 anti-war protestors, shocking the nation

* Jackson State College - similar incident kills 3 and wounds 12

* Dec. 1972 - Congress repeals Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (the legal basis for the war) but Nixon (as Commander in Chief) claims authority to keeps troops in

•1973 War Powers Act - troubled by a President Sending troops into battle without a formal declaration of war from Congress, this law passes declaring a President could not send US military into action for more than 60 days unless authorized by Congress

> Passed by Congress over Nixon’s veto

* Jan. 1973 – a cease fire is signed

* Casualties - approximately 58,000 Americans dead, and more than 300,000 wounded

Detente • A relaxation of tension between (capitalist) West and (communist) East.

• China Feb. 1972 – Nixon visits China/Mao, tours Great Wall, etc. › Leads to scientific,

cultural, and journalistic exchanges, and diplomatic offices in each country.

• USSR May 1972 – Nixon became first Pres. to visit USSR since WWII. Signed SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) which restricted types and numbers of nuclear warheads and missiles that each country could deploy. Also improved trade and scientific

cooperation.

Lunar Triumph*And tragedy…

*Apollo I – 3 astronauts killed on practice launch pad

· Gus Grissom· Ed White· Roger Chafee*Apollo II – July 1969, Neil

Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin first to walk on the moon.

› “The eagle has landed”› “One small step for man,

one giant leap for mankind”

•Michael Collins – astronaut who stayed in the main Apollo spacecraft

*Side effects of space program:Improved satellite communication, weather forecasting,

navigation.Microelectronics, solar energy, freeze dried foods,

insulation.

Supreme Court and CrimeA. 1960’s Earl Warren Court – many rulings protected

rights of accused criminals.Examples: ◦ Mapp vs. Ohio (1961) – illegally seized evidence can’t be used

against accused.◦ Gideon vs. Wainwright (1963) – state has to provide legal defense

for these who can’t afford it.◦ Miranda vs. Arizona (1966) – police must inform accused of rights

before questioning them.

B. 1970’s Warren Burger Court – Nixon nominates more conservative justices including (Chief Justice) William H. Rehnquist

o Now John Roberts – also conservative as he was appointed by G. Bush

Domestic Policies

*3 Generalizations concerning the conservative Nixon:

1) To deal with concern of Americans about rise of crime, urban violence, and campus disorder Nixon increased power of law enforcement officials.

2) Nixon was less supportive of social programs than his Democratic predecessors.

3) Nixon was seen by many as less interested in rights of minorities than Democratic Predecessors.

Democrats – bitter primary campaign won by Sen. George McGovern of South Dakota, reporters discover VP candidate Thomas Eagleton was once mentally ill and was replaced by Sargent Shiver (a Kennedy brother-in-law).

Election of 1972

Republicans – had an incumbent President, seen as a decisive and competent, able statesman, an apparently stable economy, and news of a break through in the Paris Peace Talks.

*Mysterious news of burglars at Democratic National Committee Headquarters allegedly linked to White House doesn’t become a big issue

*Election results – Nixon wins in huge landslide, winning every state except Massachusetts. In Electoral College it was 521 to 17.

Oil Embargo*Egypt and Syria attack Israel in Oct. of 1973 on

Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.

*In response to longtime U.S. support of Israel and aid to Israel in “October War” oil-producing Arab countries place embargo on oil shipments to U.S.

▫ Created long lines for gas (or closed stations)

▫ Contributed to inflation Ex. Plastics,

fertilizer, medicines

▫ 55mph. Speed limit enacted

▫ Nixon signs Alaskan Pipeline Act

▫ Caused America to reevaluate use of energy and move toward conservation measures Ex. Compact cars

Watergate*1972 – Dem. National Committee Headquarters

located in the Watergate apartment complex is burglarized by 5 men (the “plumbers”) during Pres. campaign.

*Burglars are convicted and sentenced to prison.

*Info eventually comes out (much due to investigative reporters Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward of Washington Post) linking burglars to CREEP or Committee to Reelect the President

*Further info suggests a possible White House cover up so a Senate Select Committee on Presidential Activities is set up and hearing are held.

*It is disclosed that the White House had a secret taping system and Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox subpoenas the tape.

*Nixon cites National security and “executive privilege”, appeals the subpoena, and refuses to give up tapes.

When appeal is denied Nixon fires Cox, causing bills calling for Nixon’s impeachment to be introduced into the House.

*Saturday Night Massacre

*In response Nixon finally gives up tapes, but some are missing and one has an 18 ½ minute erasure on it.

* Written transcripts also provided by Nixon (in lieu of tapes) confirm Nixon had knowledge of the break in and the cover up.

*With impeachment almost certain Nixon becomes first and only President to resign the office (Aug. 8, 1974)

*Gerald Ford, who Nixon had named V.P. after his V.P. Spiro Agnew resigned in 1973 when faced with charges of accepting bribes and income tax evasion, becomes President.

*Watergate demonstrated that no one, not even the President ,was above the law, and that our system of checks and balances did work.

Pardons and Problems Under Ford

*Nixon – pardoned by Ford for “any crimes he may have committed.” Ford sought to move the nation past the scandal.

*Vietnam War draft dodgers – controversially offers conditional pardon that included required national service rather than military service.** Jimmy Carter will offer a

full pardon

*CIA/FBI – it’s revealed that both agencies were controversially keeping secret files on American citizens contributing to the atmosphere of distrust toward government.

*Inflation – from the 1973 Oil Embargo through the rest of the 1970’s the country is largely mixed in a pattern of recession – closing factories and high unemployment – and inflation – rising prices

Fall of South Vietnam*1973 - cease fire brought U.S. troops home, but fighting between North and South soon resumes.

*April 1975 – South Vietnam surrenders, Vietnam now reunited, Saigon becomes Ho Chi Minh City.

*Boat people – over 100,000 South Vietnamese fled the newly communist country, with many settling here in the U.S.

1976 Presidential Election

*Republicans – Nominate Gerald Ford/Rockefeller over the conservative Ronald Regan’s bid.

*Democrats – Nominate Jimmy Carter & Walter Mondale, who win in fairly close election.