chapter 30 power and politics since 1974 web. caretaker presidency of gerald ford domestic policy...
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 30Chapter 30
Power and Politics Since 1974
Web
Caretaker Presidency of Gerald FordCaretaker Presidency of Gerald Ford Domestic Policy
Appointed Nelson Rockefeller as his vice president Pardoned Richard Nixon Whip Inflation Now (WIN) campaign Battled with Congress over economic program
Foreign Policy South Vietnam collapsed, April 1975 Khmer Rouge took control of Cambodia, April 1975 Mayaguez incident, May 1975
Election of 1976 Ford challenged for Republican nomination by Ronald
Reagan Democrats nominated Jimmy Carter
Promised to give government back to the people Won a narrow victory
Jimmy Carter’s One-Term PresidencyJimmy Carter’s One-Term Presidency Welfare initiatives
Requested additional cash assistance and more jobs for the needy
Failed to win congressional approval
Energy initiatives Ambitious energy program, pursued unilaterally
Decrease reliance on foreign oil and natural gas Expand domestic energy production Discourage gasoline use through new taxes Encourage energy-saving measures to foster
conservatism Promote non-Petroleum energy sources
Congress rejected
Carter’s One-Term Presidency Carter’s One-Term Presidency (cont)
Economic initiatives Ambitious economic agenda
Lower unemployment and inflation Stimulate greater economic growth Balance federal budget
Failed to accomplish any of his goals Economic crisis affected cities and urban areas as well
Carter’s One-Term Presidency Carter’s One-Term Presidency (cont)
Amnesty for Vietnam War draft-resisters Panama Canal treaties Camp David peace accords Concern for human rights
Best known feature of Carter’s foreign policy Helped trigger trend of democratization in 1980s and 1990s Immediate impact was ambiguous
Crisis in Iran, November 1979 Hostage situation at U.S. embassy in Tehran Despite constant attention, Carter unable to resolve the
situation
Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, December 1979 Series of ineffectual, non-military responses
Carter’s One-Term Presidency Carter’s One-Term Presidency (cont)
Election of 1980 Edward Kennedy tried to challenge Carter for Democratic
nomination
Republicans ran Ronald Reagan Opposition to domestic programs Stronger national defense Seized on economy, traditionally a Democratic issue Won with just over 50 percent of vote
The New RightThe New Right Neo-Conservatives and new conservative
institutions American Enterprise Institute Heritage Foundation Committee on the Present Danger
The New Religious Right Fundamentalist and evangelical support
The Conservative political agenda National Conservative Political Action Committee (NCPAC) Conservative caucus Committee for the Survival of a Free Congress Moral Majority
The New Religious Right and the media Cable television reached huge, receptive audiences
©20
04 W
adsw
orth
, a d
ivis
ion
of T
hom
son
Lea
rnin
g, I
nc.
Tho
mso
n L
earn
ing ™
is a
trad
emar
k us
ed h
erei
n un
der
lice
nse.
Presidential Election, 1980
A “New Morning in America”A “New Morning in America”
Pursuing supply-side economics Tax reduction plan, 1981 Period of non-inflationary growth, 1982–1986 Unemployment remained high
High government spending resulted in huge federal deficits
Reaganomics 30% tax cut Economy entered period of growth Brought prosperity to many, growing distress to others
A “New Morning in America” A “New Morning in America” (cont)
General anti-union policy Air traffic controllers, 1981
Appointment of conservatives at all levels Judges and justices Non-judicial appointments
Eliminated and reduced some social welfare programs Comprehensive Employment and Training Act Food Stamps
Environmental issues James Watt
Reagan wildly popular Democrats ran Walter Mondale
Geraldine Ferraro Expansion of social welfare programs Higher taxes to pay for expanded programs
Reagan won landslide victory in 1984
A “New Morning in America” A “New Morning in America” (cont)
A “New Morning in America” A “New Morning in America” (cont)
Reagan’s Second Term Supreme Court
Appointments of William Rehnquist and Antonin Scalia Defeat of Robert Bork
Charges of corruption and mismanagement Savings and loan crisis
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act of 1985 Mandated balanced federal budget by 1991 Family Support Act of 1988
Mandated training programs for welfare recipients and eventual purging of welfare rolls
Renewing the Cold WarRenewing the Cold War
Defensive Buildup Dramatic increase in defense spending Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) or Star Wars
International offensive Funded various conservative groups abroad Radio Marti to Cuba
CIA activities Aid to anti-Communist forces in Afghanistan Funding for contras in Nicaragua
General funding for opposition movements in countries aligned with the Soviet Union
Willingness to use U.S. Military power Lebanon, 1982 Grenada, 1983
Renewing the Cold WarRenewing the Cold War (cont)
Iran–Contra Affair U.S. aid for contras blocked by Democratic-controlled
Congress in 1984 Circumvent by having wealthy conservatives and other
countries provide aid Against backdrop of violence and kidnappings of
Americans and other Westerners in Middle East Administration sold arms to Iran in exchange for
help in winning release of captives Flew in face of stated policy of not rewarding captors Funneled profits to contras as way of getting around
congressional ban Caused public outcry Investigators unable to paint as serious crisis
Renewing the Cold WarRenewing the Cold War (cont)
Thaw in U.S.–Soviet relations after 1985 Role of Mikhail Gorbachev
“Glasnost” and “perestroika” Loosened Moscow’s grip on Soviet Empire
Reykjavik Summit, October 1986 Reagan plan for wholesale ban on nuclear weapons
©20
04 W
adsw
orth
, a d
ivis
ion
of T
hom
son
Lea
rnin
g, I
nc.
Tho
mso
n L
earn
ing ™
is a
trad
emar
k us
ed h
erei
n un
der
lice
nse.
Collapse of the Soviet Bloc
First Bush Presidency (1989–1993)First Bush Presidency (1989–1993)
Election of 1988 Republicans nominated Bush, Reagan’s vice-president Democrats nominated Michael Dukakis
Pledged to bring competence and honesty to the White House
Avoided talk of taxes and new domestic programs Featured much negative campaigning Bush won, but margin of victory not as large as originally
believed
First Bush Presidency First Bush Presidency (cont)
End of Cold War Began in Poland in 1989 One by one, nations of Eastern Europe overthrew their
Communist governments Provinces that comprised the Soviet Union also
declared independence Global economy
Administration pushed for economic liberalization Redefinition of “national security”
Help to bring democracy to Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala
Overthrow of Manuel Noriega in Panama, December 1989
First Bush Presidency First Bush Presidency (cont)
Persian Gulf War Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, August 1990 Operation “Desert Shield” UN action against Iraq Launched military offensive in January 1991
Stopped short of removing Saddam Hussein, something the UN had not authorized
Temporarily boosted Bush’s popularity North American Free Trade Association Administration not very successful in setting post-Cold
War diplomatic goals Mixed foreign policy legacy
First Bush PresidencyFirst Bush Presidency (cont)
Election of 1992 Bush lacked vision of either domestic or foreign policy Conservative activists dominated 1992 Republican
Convention Didn’t appeal to democrats who had supported Reagan
H. Ross Perot Funded a third-party candidacy Hurt Bush re-election
Democrats ran Bill Clinton Focused on economic issues Won by comfortable margin
Movement ActivismMovement Activism Old ideas of domesticity clashed with realities
women found themselves in Backyard revolution
Gender issues Came to pervade civil rights and antiwar movements
National Organization of Women Women often found traditional sexism among male leaders
“Consciousness raising” sessions during 1970s Intertwining of political and personal power issues
Women’s movement became highly diverse Pursued variety of goals Utilized variety of strategies
Movement ActivismMovement Activism (cont)
Sexual harassment Tailhook
Clarence Thomas nominated to Supreme Court Flash point for concerns about sexism in African-
American community and about general racism in American society
Gender/sexuality debates divided over issues involving gays and lesbians
Stonewall Inn, 1969 Turning point for gay rights movement
AIDS crisis Medical and political issue Early research was insignificant
Race, Ethnicity, and Social ActivismRace, Ethnicity, and Social Activism
Civil rights and black power struggles had fostered strong sense of cultural identity Stressed pride in African-American heritage
Henry Lewis Gates
Racial profiling in legal system Retention of Confederate flag by some Southern
states and institutions Congressional Black Caucus established 1970
Race, Ethnicity, and Social Activism Race, Ethnicity, and Social Activism (cont)
American Indian Movement Occupation of Alcatraz, 1969 Pine Ridge confrontation, 1973
Indian Bill of Rights, 1968 Native American Rights Fund
Pushed claims stemming from old treaties Fishing and agricultural rights Protection for religious ceremonies Return of skeletal remains held/displayed by museums
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 1990 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, 1988
Race, Ethnicity, and Social Activism Race, Ethnicity, and Social Activism (cont)
Spanish speakers are nation’s fast-growing ethnic group
Different opinions over labels “Hispanic” / “Latino” / “Chicano”
Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund
Communities Organized for Public Service (COPS) United Neighborhood Organization in Los Angeles National Network of Hispanic Women Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund
Race, Ethnicity, and Social Activism Race, Ethnicity, and Social Activism (cont)
Pan-Asian movement of immigrants of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Filipino backgrounds Asian Pacific Planning Council Asian Law Caucus Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence National Asian Pacific American Network Council
Broad approach did raise some questions of inclusion and exclusion Filipino and Hmong immigrants especially independent
about pursuing their own agenda
Race, Ethnicity, and Social Activism Race, Ethnicity, and Social Activism (cont)
Idea of “affirmative action” So that groups that had historically experienced
discrimination could begin to share in benefits Jobs, public spending, educational programs
Representative number of people from different groups had to have access, not just a few individuals
Group identity was most important Aroused ire of Republicans and conservatives in general
Considered it a dangerous form of interest-group politics Smacked of racist quotas Asserted that it would lead to “reverse discrimination”
California’s Proposition 209, 1996
Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions What were the achievements and failures of
Carter’s presidency? Why is Reagan’s presidency so controversial to
party partisans? What were his greatest triumphs? His greatest disappointments?
Examine the administration of George W. Bush. What are his most noteworthy accomplishments? What are his greatest failures?
How has the role of Native Americans in American society changed in recent times? Site movements and laws that were part of these changes.