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American History Unit VI – Looking Toward the Future

Chapter 21 – A Search for Order Section 1 – The Nixon Years 4/30/2020

The Nixon Years

The Main Idea

Beyond the ongoing turmoil of the Vietnam War, the Nixon administration did enjoy some notable success.

Reading Focus

• What were the key features of Nixon’s politics and domestic policies? • How did Nixon carry out his foreign policies with regard to China and the Soviet Union?

• How did trouble in the Middle East affect the Nixon administration?

• What were some of the major social and cultural events at home in the Nixon years?

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When Elvis met Nixon

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http://www.history.com/videos/as-it happened-nixon-resignation-august 9-1974#when-elivis-met-nixon

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Key Features of Nixon’s Politics and Domestic Policies Nixon the Conservative 

Believed the federal government was too large



Enacted “southern strategy” to appeal to former segregationists

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Firm stand against crime and drug use

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Key Features of Nixon’s Politics and Domestic Policies Nixon the Liberal 

Increased funding for programs such as food stamps and increased Social Security payments



Took special interest in environmental issues

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Created a new organization to prevent work-related injuries and deaths



Advanced affirmative action

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Nixon’s Politics and Domestic Policies

New Federalism

• Thought federal government was too large • Solution was called the New Federalism • Key feature was the concept of

revenue sharing

• Believed that local governments could spend taxpayers money more effectively

Southern Strategy

• Nixon wanted to expand his support in the Democratic south • Tried to weaken the 1965 Voting Rights Act • Urged a slowdown in forced integration • Opposed busing • Wanted local governments to take action themselves

Drugs and Crime

• Opposed federal court rulings that put limits on the power of the police.

• Sought to name conservative judges to federal courts • Filled four openings on the Supreme Court (2 of his nominees were rejected) 4/30/2020

Nixon’s Politics and Domestic Policies

Environmentalism 

Environmental concerns had been growing.



Rachel Carson’s Silent

Spring

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Massive Earth Day demonstrations in 1970



Signed the Clean Air Act



Act sought to regulate levels of air pollution created by factories and other sources.

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Worked to establish the Environmental Protection Agency

Other Policies 

Signed the Occupational Safety and Health Act



Act created the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) to prevent work related death and injuries



Advanced affirmative action by setting specific hiring goals and timetables for overcoming discrimination



Extended affirmative action programs to the hiring of women

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Nixon’s Politics and Domestic Policies



What were the key features of Nixon’s politics and domestic policies?



Describe – What conservative ideas did Nixon promote?



Analyze – How did Nixon lose the support of African Americans?

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Draw Conclusions – What impact did President Nixon have on the Supreme Court?

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Nixon’s Politics and Domestic Policies



Identify – What was the purpose of the Clean Air Act?



Summarize – What programs or legislation did Nixon promote to help the poor and working-class Americans?



Evaluate – After reviewing legislation supported by President Nixon, do you think he was a true conservative?

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Nixon’s Foreign Policies with China and the Soviet Union      

Nixon had great success with his foreign policy issues.

Henry Kissinger

was Nixon’s national security advisor and later secretary of state.

Kissinger shaped much of Nixon’s foreign policy.

Kissinger believed in the notion of realpolitik rather than on broad rules or principles.

—or basing foreign policies on realistic views of national interest Nixon took steps to ease tensions with Cold War enemies —a policy called détente.

The goal of détente was to build a more stable world in which the United States and its adversaries accepted one another’s place.

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Kissinger and Realpolitik

Kissinger believed the United States should consider each foreign-policy conflict or question from the standpoint of what is best for America.

The government should not be bound by promises to fight communism or promote freedom wherever it is threatened. Kissinger’s realpolitik marked a significant change from earlier policies such as containment.

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Nixon visits China

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Nixon Reaches Out (03:42

)

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Nixon’s Foreign Policies

The Soviet Union 

In 1969 Nixon began talks with the Soviet Union in order to slow the arms race.



Known as the Strategic Arms Limitations Talks (SALT)

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Both nations had increased their number of weapons and made innovations in weapons technology (Ex. antiballistic missiles, or ABMs).

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In 1972 Nixon and Leonid Brezhnev agreed to an ABM treaty.



Following this round of talks (now called

SALT I

), negotiations began on a second round of discussions.

China 

Nixon wanted to improve relations with the Communist People’s Republic of China.



Believed that friendlier relations with China would force a more cooperative relationship with the Soviet Union (China’s rival).



His efforts were done secretly



Nixon surprised Americans by visiting China in 1972 where he met with Chinese leaders and Mao Zedong.



They agreed to disagree about Taiwan.

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Nixon visits China- Feb. 21, 1972

China was a world leader For 22 years the U.S. did not recognize China Nixon would support China’s entry into U.N.

Ping Pong Diplomacy- Nixon to be first U.S. President to visit China Détente- bring normal relation between two countries.

Nixon signs the Shanghai Joint Communique declaring that there is but one China and that Taiwan is part of China.

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The Moscow Summit: Nixon is Reelected to Finish the War (03:17)

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Nixon Visits U.S.S.R.

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Nixon Visits U.S.S.R.

China and U.S.S.R. are bitter rivals.

U.S. needs to balance its relationship with the two.

Nixon goes to Russia for summit meeting with Soviet Leader Leonid Brezhnev.

Agreements on space, health and science SALT- Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty- may 26, 1972 to slow down the dangerous and expensive nuclear arms race.

Détente- successful in easing tensions and reducing risks of war with Communist powers.

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Kissinger on Détente with the Soviet Union

In a speech given to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, on Sept. 19. 1974.

“Since the dawn of the nuclear age the world’s fears of holocaust and its hope for peace have turned on the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union.” Kissinger gives the following reasons for tension between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. ( Differences in philosophy and interests)

– – – –

Rooted in History and the way the two countries developed Conflicting values and opposing ideologies Diverging national interests that produce political and military competition Influenced by allies and friends whose friendship and interests we will not sacrifice. Kissinger recommends the following in dealing with these differences.

–

Both countries must recognize that neither can impose its will on the other without running a risk of destruction.

– – –

Both must balance competition with the need for coexistence.

No international peace without a good relationship between the two Both countries must use restrain themselves and use their enormous power to benefit mankind

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Nixon’s Foreign Policies



How did Nixon carry out his foreign policies with regard to China and the Soviet Union?



Explain – What was Detente?



Summarize – What was realpolitik?



Elaborate – Why did Nixon want to improve relations with China?

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History of Arab/Israeli conflict

 Judea - home of the Jews in ancient times, was conquered by the Romans and renamed Palestine .  Palestine - conquered and ruled by Arabs for over a thousand years.

 The Zionist movement - to restore the Jews to Israel, ignoring the existing Arab population.  1917 - Palestine was granted to Britain as a League of Nations mandate to build a national home for the Jewish people.  Arabs resented the Jews coming in to take their land. they rioted repeatedly and later revolted creating a history of hatred. British stopped Jewish immigration       After the Holocaust - increased Jewish immigration to Palestine.

1947 -UN partitioned the land into Arab and Jewish states . Arabs did not accept the partition and war broke out. Jews won the war and expanded their state several hundred thousand Palestinian refugees . The Arab states refused to recognize Israel or make peace with it. Wars broke out in 1956, 1967, 1973 and 1982, and there were many terror raids and Israeli reprisals.  Each side believes different versions of the same history. Each side views the conflict as wholly the fault of the other and expects an apology 4/30/2020

Problems in the Middle East 1970’s

 Religious conflicts between- Muslims, Christian, and Jews.

 No Arab state had yet recognized Isreal’s right to exist as a country. Terrorism   What about the Palestinian Question?

PLO- Palestinian Liberation Organization. Terrorism against Israel.

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Trouble in the Middle East



1967 Six-Day War

–

resulted in Israel occupying territory that had belonged to the nations of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan

–

The United Nations passed a resolution that called for Israel to withdraw from these lands and for the Arab states to recognize Israel’s right to exist



1973 Yom Kippur War

–

Egypt and Syria attacked Israel, and the fighting affected the United States.

•

Threat of Soviet involvement could turn conflict into a superpower confrontation

•

Imposition of an oil embargo

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Kissinger & the Middle East (02:22)

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War in the Middle East

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War in the Middle East

Yom Kippur War- Oct. 6, 1973- lasted three weeks.

Holiest day of the Jewish year.

Egypt and Syria launched a coordinated surprise assault against Israel, with the Egyptian army crossing the Suez Canal and Syrian troops penetrating the Golan Heights. The goal was to win back territory lost to the Israelis in 1947 and 1956 During the next three weeks, the Israel Defense Forces turned the tide of battle and repulsed the attackers, crossing the Suez Canal into Egypt and advancing to within 20 miles (32 km.) of the Syrian capital, Damascus.

Oct. 12, 1973- Nixon gives aid to Israelis to fight the war. Helicopters, howitzers, and tanks.

Arabs got supplies from Russia.

The total cost off the war was estimated to US$7 billion on both Israeli and Egyptian side, but much of the operations on Arab side were financed by Saudi Arabia.

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Trouble in the Middle East

Oil Embargo Shuttle Diplomacy 

Several Arab nations imposed an oil embargo in reaction to the Yom Kippur War.



They agreed not to ship oil to the United States and certain other countries who supported Israel.



The Arab countries were a part of

OPEC

(the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries).



The United States was dependent on foreign sources for one third of its oil needs.

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The embargo caused serious problems throughout the U.S. economy.



Henry Kissinger tried to solve the crisis in the Middle East.

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He was unable to get all the parties to meet together to talk about solutions.

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Started what came to be called

shuttle diplomacy 

Kissinger traveled —shuttled— from group to group trying to work out separate agreements.



Eventually the fighting ended and the oil embargo was lifted.

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Arab Oil Embargo 1973-1974

Arab Oil Embargo- 1973-1974

    

OPEC- Organization of Oil Exporting Countries (Many Arab nations) OPEC- declares all oil exports suspended to all nations considered to have helped Israel in the 1973 October war. The Arab oil embargo soon causes major shortages in the U.S. and Britain and gas rationing produces many long car jams at filling stations. Saudi Arabia advocated only moderate price hikes but in the meantime the cost of crude oil rose 400% in the next year.

The immediate results of the Oil Crisis were dramatic. Prices of gasoline quadrupled, rising from just 25 cents to over a dollar in just a few months

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Henry Kissinger and Foreign Affairs

Henry Alfred Kissinger was the 56th Secretary of State of the United States from 1973 to 1977 Dr. Kissinger was born in Fuerth, Germany, on May 27, 1923, came to the United States in 1938, and was naturalized a United States citizen on June 19, 1943. He received the BA Degree Summa Cum Laude at Harvard College in 1950 and the MA and PhD Degrees at Harvard University in 1952 and 1954 respectively.

Kissinger played a dominant role in United States foreign policy between 1969 and 1977 Kissinger and North Vietnamese foreign minister Le Duc Tho were jointly offered the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize for their roles in negotiating a ceasefire and U.S. withdrawal from the protracted Vietnam War .

Kissinger pioneered the policy of

détente

with the Soviet Union , seeking a relaxation in tensions between the two superpowers.

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Middle East 1975

  UN authorized cease fire resolution.

Kissinger-

Shuttle diplomacy

- shuttling between the two sides to enable them to communicate and reach an agreement.

 Egypt and Israel renounced force to settle disputes. They both moved back and created a large buffer zone.

 U.S. troops stationed in zone to monitor movement.

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Trouble in the Middle East

   

How did trouble in the Middle East affect the Nixon administration?

Identify – What was OPEC and why is it important to the U.S.?

Identify Cause and Effect – Why did some Arab nations refuse to send oil to the United States following the Yom Kippur War?

Evaluate – The oil embargo following the Yom Kippur War created severe problems in the U.S. economy. What do you think would happen to the U.S. economy today if Arab nations began an oil embargo?

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The Man on the Moon (02:57)

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Troubled Economy

 Voyage to the Moon- Apollo 11 – Televised- Hundreds of millions of viewers – – – 3 Astronauts- Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins.

Lunar Module the “Eagle” The Eagle has landed on Tranquility base. July 20, 1969 – – 6 and 1/2 hours on the Moon.

Costs- three astronauts killed in a fire on earth and between $25-$35 Billion dollars.

– Benefits- Priceless 4/30/2020

NASA

Major Social and Cultural Events during the Nixon Years   On July 16, 1969 the Apollo 11 successfully lifted off

from the Kennedy Space Center.

Three astronauts were on board —

Neil Armstrong

, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, and Michael Collins.



On July 20 Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon.

Inflation and Price Controls



Nixon was worried about the high rates of inflation and unemployment.



He announced a 90-day freeze of wages and prices in order to stop inflation from rising.



The wage and price controls did work temporarily.

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Troubled Economy

 Inflation and Stagflation  Nixon Promised to balance the Budget ($200 Billion) and produce a surplus.

 Tax Reform Act- 1969 ended the Johnson income tax surcharge.

 Vietnam costs rising.

 1969-1970- Nixon proposed wage-price guidelines to slow down prices.

 Congress created EPA.

 Arab oil embargo caused oil prices to jump in 1973.

 Baby boomers in job market- glut.

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Troubled Economy

 Aug. 15, 1971- Nixon announced a 90 price freeze after prices went up 14.5% (first mandatory wage-price control in peace time.)  Took the country off the gold standard. This would end the gold drain to foreign countries turning U.S. dollars in for U.S. gold.

 10% surcharge on foreign imports. Trying to promote sale of U.S. goods abroad and discourage Americans from buying foreign products- Japan + W. Germany.

 The Economy began to thrive  Inflation fell to 3.5%  Unemployment dropped 4/30/2020

Troubled Economy

 Winding down the Vietnam War- Costs  Economic Costs  The war cost the United States more than $140 billion.

 In Vietnam, the last sustained war the nation fought, the United States spent $111 billion during the eight years of the war, from 1964 to 1972. Adjusted for inflation, that's more than $494 billion, an average of $61.8 billion per year, or $5.15 billion per month. ( The Pentagon is spending nearly $5 billion per month in Iraq and Afghanistan, a pace that would bring yearly costs to almost $60 billion) 4/30/2020  Human Costs:  There were 540,000 American troops in Vietnam sent by Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, more than 325 men being held prisoners of war, and America was sharply divided over our purpose and our presence in Vietnam.

 The war left 58,000 American soldiers dead and more than 300,000 wounded. Numerous American soldiers also returned home with crippling and long-lasting psychological wounds.

Major Events at Home



What were some of the major social and cultural events at home in the Nixon years?



identify – Who was Neal Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin?



Make Inferences – What is the significance of the United States begin the first to send astronauts to the moon?

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Draw Conclusions – Why were American achievements in space a mixed victory?

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Major Events at Home



Draw Conclusions – Which President gets the most credit for the first successful lunar space flight and why?

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Summarize – What was the economic climate at the end of Nixon’s first term?

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