The Nixon Administration
Chapter 24, Section 1 Notes
Ch 24 Objectives #5 & #6 Summarize Nixon’s plans to lead the nation
on a more conservative course Analyze Nixon’s efforts to win the support
of Southern Democrats Describe the steps Nixon took to battle
stagflation Examine the importance of Nixon’s visits
to China and the Soviet Union
Main Idea and Terms/Names President Richard
Nixon tried to steer the country in a conservative direction and away from federal control
Richard Nixon New Federalism Revenue Sharing Family Assistance Plan Southern Strategy Stagflation OPEC Realpolitik Détente SALT I Treaty
Nixon’s Goals#1 Size & Power of Federal Gov.
Limit the federal government Reduce its power Reverse Johnson’s liberal policies
Restore America’s prestige and influence in the world Fix “Vietnam”
Nixon’s New Conservatism #1 Size & Power of Federal Gov.
Decrease the size and influence of the federal government
New Federalism Distribute some federal power to state/local
levels Revenue Sharing
More financial freedom for local govts. State/local govts could spend their federal
money how they saw fit
Nixon’s New Conservatism#2 Inefficiency of the welfare system
Welfare Reform Family Assistance Plan (FAP) Family of Four receives $1600/yr.
Could also earn supplemental income Unemployed participants would have to take
job training or any reasonable job Nixon’s bill was defeated
Both liberals and conservatives attacked it.
Nixon’s New Conservatism#2 Inefficiency of the welfare system
New Federalism – two faces Nixon needed support of Democrats Wanted to reduce liberal programs
Nixon couldn’t defeat some liberal programs Used Impoundment – withheld the necessary
funds Federal courts ordered the end of impounding
Law and Order#3 Vietnam & Domestic Disorder
Election of 1968 – Nixon promised to get out of Vietnam and restore law and order
Law and Order – FBI wiretapped liberals IRS audited anti-war and civil rights activists Nixon compiled “enemies list”
VP – Spiro Agnew confronted the liberal media
Southern Strategy#4 Nixon’s reelection
Southern Strategy#4 Nixon’s reelection Nixon tried to get support from white southern
democrats who were unhappy with federal desegregation policies and a liberal supreme court
Nixon favored slow desegregation, in 1969 he ordered the Dept. of Health, Ed, and Welfare to delay segregation in Miss. and SC ( Overturned by the Supreme Court)
Desegregation though school busing became a civil rights issue ( Whites in Detroit and Boston opposed it) Nixon was opposed to it
Nixon and the Supreme Court#5 Liberalism of SC Justices
Nixon criticized Warren Court for being too liberal
Four justices retired and Nixon chose replacements (conservatives)
Nominated Warren Burger as Chief Justice
Nixon and the Economy#6 Stagflation & Recession
Stagflation – high inflation and high unemployment Johnson’s Great Society and the Vietnam war
were funded with deficit spending Competition in world trade Flood of new workers Dependency on foreign oil – OPEC was
formed and increased the price of oil
Nixon and the Economy#6 Stagflation & Recession
Nixon tries to reverse deficit spending Raised taxes and cut the budget Congress rejected plan
Nixon tries to confront inflation Reduce amount of money in circulation Raise interest rates
Nixon controlled wages and prices Recession continued
OPEC and War During the 1960’s the Organization of Petroleum
Exporting Countries (OPEC) raised the price of oil The Six Days War in 1967 impacted prices The 1973 Yom Kippur War between Israel and
Egypt and Syria rose prices The US sent massive military aid to Israel, Arab
OPEC nations cut oil sales to the US (Oil Embargo) By 1974 price increased 4x
Major gas lines and shortages in the US early, mid 1970’s
Nixon’s Foreign Policy Nixon’s top priority was peace in Vietnam Significant advances in US relationships
with China and Soviet Union
Nixon’s Foreign Policy Kissinger – Secretary of State
Realpolitik – “political realism” Foreign policy should be based on power NOT
ideology If weak country falls to communism – ignore it! Departure from containment US should confront powerful nations
Negotiations or military engagement
Nixon’s Foreign Policy#7. U.S. - China
Kissinger – Secretary of State Détente – more flexible approach to
Communist nations Ease Cold War tensions
Nixon visits China in 1972 Opened up diplomatic and economic ties Agreements – neither will dominate Pacific
and Taiwan would eventually reunite with China
Nixon Visits China Since 1949 the US had not recognized the
Communist Chinese Government “Ping-pong” diplomacy began in 1971 Nixon wanted to play the “China Card” and take
advantage of the rift between the China and the USSR
Nixon’s visit to China was symbolic and it opened up diplomatic and economic relations
Both would cooperate and participate in scientific and cultural exchanges
Nixon’s Foreign Policy#8 U.S. Soviet Relations
1972 - Nixon visits Moscow, Soviet Union Nixon and Brezhnev sign SALT I
Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty Limited number of intercontinental missiles
1972 “peace was at hand” in Vietnam Peace was still elusive