Transcript Gerald Ford - Sunny Hills High School
Gerald Ford
The First “Unelected” President
Mr. Ford’s Handicaps
Parodied as a bumbling dim-wit by his critics - Chevy Chase will open Saturday Night Live with a classic Ford pratfall.
The fact that he was appointed gave his administration an air of illegitimacy.
The Pardon
Ford’s pardon of Nixon leads to cries of a “buddy deal.”
Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme Sara Jane Moore Two Assassination Attempts – September 5, 1975 September 22, 1975
WIN Buttons
Ford vetoed congressional spending bills that were intended to end a current recession.
Ford started a campaign to end inflation called WIN - whip inflation now.
The Helsinki Accords
The US and 34 nations signed a human rights agreement that began the first small flames of dissent in the Eastern Bloc.
Détente begins to wither
US conservatives complain that détente has been a one way street.
Cuban aggression and the soviet’s hard line with dissidents and Jewish immigrants cooled US/USSR relations.
The Fall of Saigon
NVA and VC offensive explodes in 1975, by April they have entered Saigon -- 140,000 Vietnamese are evacuated.
The
Mayaguez
Incident
May 1975 -- Cambodian communists, the Khmer Rouge, seized an American merchant ship and its 39 crew members.
American marines re-captured the ship at the cost of 39 marine lives.
1976 - The Bicentennial Election
Democrats nominate James Earl Carter of Georgia.
“Hi, my name’s Jimmy Carter and I’m running for president.”
The honest, born-again, southern Baptist touched people with his honesty.
He promised, “I’ll never lie to you.” and that he would clean up Washington.
Carter Walks to Victory
Carter wins 51% of the popular vote against Ford and his running mate Nelson Rockefeller
Carter refuses the limousine and walks to the White House from the steps of Congress.
DeBacker
Jimmy Carter
1977 - 1980
End to Stalemate?
Democratic president and Democratic congress should mean success for Carter.
Carter establishes the Department of Energy and calls for a tax reform bill.
Carter as an “outsider”
Carter’s anti Washington rhetoric ended the honeymoon with congress.
He appeared isolated behind a cadre of Georgia “good ole’ boys.” Billy Carter
The Human Rights President
Carter calls for human rights to be the guiding philosophy behind American foreign policy.
Ferdinand Marcos
He called for the end of American aid to dictators (except in the Philippines and South Korea.
Chun Doo-hwan
He championed the Black minorities in Rhodesia and South Africa.
Nelson Mandela served 27 years in prison
Appointed Andrew Young, an African American, as ambassador to the United Nations.
Panama Canal
Carter shocked many Americans when he agreed to hand over the Panama Canal to the country of Panama.
Camp David Accords
Carter negotiated separate peace settlement between Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Menachim Begin of Israel.
Carter went on to extend full diplomatic relations with China.
Carter goes on retreat.
Carter holes up at Camp David and solicits the advice of hundreds of Americans on the problems facing America especially the energy crisis.
The Malaise Speech
He makes a major televised address to the nation to discuss the energy problems.
He tells America there is “moral and spiritual crisis” in the country and “spirit of malaise” afflicting the country.
The Energy Program
Carter called for the creation of a $140 billion federal energy program for conservation and the creation of synthetic fuels.
He then shocked the nation by firing four cabinet members.
SALT II
Soviet premier Leonid Brezhnev met Carter in Vienna to sign the SALT II agreement.
Conservative resistance, Soviets in Cuba and the oil crisis killed SALT II in the Senate.
Iran
Shah Reza Pahlavi of Iran is overthrown and flees the country - he is allowed to enter the US for medical treatment.
Iranian militants stormed the US embassy in Teheran taking Americans hostage.
Middle East Instability
USSR reacts to the rise of Muslim militancy by invading Afghanistan.
Carter slaps an embargo on the USSR and forced a US Boycott of the summer Olympics in Moscow.
Delta Force
Carter creates a anti-terrorist “Rapid Deployment Force” called Delta Force.
Delta Force’s rescue attempt of the hostages failed in the deserts of Iran.
1980 Election
Hostage humiliation, high inflation rates and reaction to the “malaise” in America cost Carter the election to Ronald Reagan in 1980