The Nixon Years

1968 to 1974

I.) The Election of 1968A. Republican candidate=

Richard NixonB. Democrat candidate=

Hubert HumphreyC. Independent candidate=

George Wallace

D. Outcome: 1. Nixon elected 37th

president of U.S.

II.) New DirectionA. Transform American into

“Conservative” direction to decrease the size and influence of federal government

B. Nixon’s Plan:1. New Federalism: distribute

portion of federal power to state and local governments

C. Nixon’s New Federalism Actions:1. State & Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972:

enacts Revenue Sharing2. Family Assistance Plan of 1969: welfare reform;

defeated in the Senate3. Worked to dismantle some of the nations social

programs enacted by Johnson’s Great Societya. used impoundment (withholding funds

for programs)

D. Law and Order Policy1. supported by: “Silent Majority”

(middle class Americans who wanted to restore law and order)

2. illegal enforcement:- wiretaps- CIA investigations- IRS audits- enemies list

F. Southern Strategy:1. Goal: attract southern Democrats who

felt Democrats had become too liberal2. How: try to slow desegregation

3. Outcome: Congress resists

G. Supreme Court: 1. Four justices retire (including Chief Justice Earl Warren)

2. Nominates conservative judges - Nominates conservative Warren Burger for Chief Justice

Outcome: Conservative Supreme Court

H. Economic Problems:1. Stagflation: high inflation and high

unemployment (1967-1973)

2. Caused by: - deficit spending - competition - foreign oil dependency

3. Fixes: - raise interest rates - price & wage controls - wants tax hike & budget cuts

G. Nixon’s Foreign Policy:1. Realpolitik: based on nations

power not on moral principles (ignore less powerful focus on powerful)

Henry Kissinger- national security advisor & secretary of state

2. Détente: U.S. policy to ease Cold War tensions- Nixon visits communist China (Feb. 1972)- Nixon visits Soviet Union (May 1972)- SALT I Treaty (reduce/limit nuclear arms)- End war in Vietnam

III.) The Imperial PresidencyA. Executive Branch had become

most powerful govt. branchB. Nixon expands the power of

the presidency with disregard for constitutional checks

The Inner Circle 1. H.R Haldeman (Chief of Staff) 2. John Ehrichman (Domestic Advisor) 3. John Mitchell (Attorney General) 4. John Dean (Presidential Counsel)

IV.) The Watergate ScandalA. Definition: Nixon administration’s attempt to

cover up a burglary of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington D.C.

B. Outcome: House will vote to impeach (remove) Nixon from office and Nixon will resign the presidency (Aug. 8, 1974)

“The Events of Watergate”June 17, 1972: 5 men are caught breaking into DNC HQ at

Watergate complex

John McCord former CIA agent is groups leader andhas ties to John Mitchell

Cover-up begins: shred evidence, pay-off burglars not to speak, ask CIA/FBI to stop investigation

Washington Post (Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein) begin investigation that links administration to burglary

little public interest in Watergate

November 1972: Nixon is re-elected by a landslide

January 1973: trial of Watergate burglars begins; John Sirica judge

James McCord hints to judge he lied under oath and Powerful members of Nixon’s administration involved

Public interest grows due to possible White House involvement

April 30, 1973: John Dean dismissed, Hardeman, Ehrlichman, and Kleindienst (Mitchell’s replacement) resign

May 1973: Senate begins a Watergate investigation with “President’s Men” testifying one after another

John Dean testifies Nixon involved in cover-up

Presidential aide Alexander Butterfield testifies Nixon had taped all Oval Office conversations; Nixon refuses to give up tapes citing

“Executive Privilege”

October 1973: Saturday Night Massacre: Nixon wants Archibald Cox fired; Richardson refuses & resigns;

Solicitor General fires him

Days before VP Spiro Agnew resigns; Gerald Ford nominated as replacement

March 1974: seven presidential aides indicted by grand jury

July 24, 1974: Supreme Court votes Nixon must give up Oval Office tapes; Nixon argues goes against National Security

July 27, 1974: House Judiciary Committee approves 3 articles of impeachment

August 5, 1974: Nixon release tapes; 18 min gap missing (“The Smoking Gun”)

Tapes prove Nixon knew about break-in and agreedTo cover them up

August 8, 1974: House of Representatives about to vote on impeachment when Nixon resigns from

office of the presidency

August 8, 1974: Gerald Ford sworn in as 38th president