Politics and Economics 1971 - 1980
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Transcript Politics and Economics 1971 - 1980
Politics and Economics
1971 - 1980
Chapter 27
Learning Targets
• Students will be able to explain the policies and achievements of the
Nixon administration and the Watergate scandal that resulted in
Nixon’s resignation
• Students will be able to explain the administrations of Presidents Ford
and Carter
• Students will be able to explain the economic and social problems
impacting the US during the 1970’s
The Nixon Administration
• The Election of 1968
Democratic nominee: Hubert
Humphrey
Republican nominee: Richard
Nixon
Third-Party nominee: George
Wallace
Nixon’s Southern Strategy captured several Southern states
by promising to slow
desegregation and overturn some
Civil Rights policies
The Nixon Administration
• Nixon Policies
Law & order – against expanding the
rights of accused criminals
New Federalism – dismantled federal
programs giving more control to state
and local governments
Revenue Sharing – federal funds
given to states (allowing the
imposition of conditions)
Impounded funds – Nixon refused to
release money appropriated by
Congress for programs if he opposed
those programs
The Nixon Administration
• Nixon’s Foreign Policy
Chose Henry Kissinger as his
National Security Advisor
Détente – relaxation of tensions
Nixon sought better relations with
the USSR and Communist China
Nixon visited China in 1972 and
opened up trade/travel
Summit – high-level meeting
Nixon traveled to USSR and met
with Russian leaders and signed a
Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty
(SALT I)
The Watergate Scandal
• Nixon secretive and suspicious of
opponents
• Had “Enemies List”
• Election of 1972 loomed – Nixon
wanted to ensure victory
• Five Nixon supporters broke into
Democratic Party offices at
Watergate Hotel – arrested by
police
• Authorities found that some of the
“burglars” were ex-CIA and worked
for the Committee to Re-elect the
President (CRP)
The Watergate Scandal
• President initiated a cover-up of
the incident
• Nixon denied involvement and won
election of 1972
• 1973 Trial of burglars – John Dean
ratted out Nixon
• Testimony revealed tape recordings
made in Oval Office
• Investigators sought tapes but
Nixon refused – cited Executive
Privilege – policy where
conversations should remain
confidential for national security
The Watergate Scandal
• Special Prosecutor appointed by
the court – Archibald Cox
• Cox demanded the recordings
• Nixon ordered his Attorney
General to fire Cox – he and his
assistant refused
• Cox fired by his Solicitor General
• This was called “Saturday Night
Massacre” by the press
The Watergate Scandal
• Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned
due to conviction for bribes
• Gerald Ford appointed VP
• New Special Prosecutor named –
Leon Jaworski
• Jaworski also demanded recordings
• Nixon forced by court to turn over
all tapes
• House Judiciary Committee voted to
impeach Nixon
• Nixon resigned - Ford now
President
Ford & Carter
• Economic Crisis of the 1970s
Johnson’s high spending on Vietnam
War and the Great Society caused
inflation – rise in the cost of goods
US support for Israel in 1973 Yom
Kippur War caused OPEC to embargo
(stop shipment) oil to US – caused gas
shortage
Odd/Even days, national speed limit
of 55 mph
Decline of manufacturing jobs in US
“Stagflation” – combination of rising
prices and economic stagnation
Ford & Carter
• Ford Takes Over
Pardoned Nixon – aroused
immense criticism
Worst recession since Great
Depression
Ford advocated using less oil/gas
and higher interest rates as part of
WIN policy (Whip Inflation Now)
Made Kissinger Secretary of State
Recognized borders of Eastern
Europe under Helsinki Accords
Sent US Marines to rescue cargo
ship Mayaguez from Cambodia
Ford & Carter
• Election of 1976 – Governor of
Georgia, Jimmy Carter, won
presidency
• Created Department of Energy –
asked Americans to cut
consumption of oil
• Carter proved to be poor leader
• Signed treaty giving the Panama
Canal back to Panama (1999)
• Boycotted 1980 Moscow Olympics
Ford & Carter
• Carter brokered peace treaty
between Egypt and Israel in
Camp David Accords 1978
• Backed Shah of Iran
• Iran revolted against the Shah –
US embassy in Tehran stormed
and 52 Americans held hostage
• Authorized rescue attempt
(Desert One) that ended in
accident killing 8 US servicemen
• Iran kept hostages until Reagan
elected in 1980
Life in the 1970s – The “Me” Decade
• Americans becoming more
self-obsessed
• New Age Movement – the
seeking of fulfillment
• Transcendental Meditation –
daily meditation and
repetition of mantras helped
achieve harmony and good
health
• Guru – mystical leader
• More women worked outside
the home, had fewer children,
and divorce rates doubled
Life in the 1970s – The “Me” Decade
• Cultural Trends
Television – new perspectives on
blacks and women (The Jeffersons,
Good Times, Maude, Mary Tyler
Moore)
Music – less “message” music, rise
of Disco
Fads – skateboards, mood rings,
CB radios, aerobics, running
Assignment
• Presidential Assessment
Students will research the following presidents: Nixon, Ford, and Carter
Students will create a PowerPoint that meets the following criteria
o Name of president and picture with beginning and end dates of administration
o Short biography (not longer than one slide)
o A minimum of five positive actions/events (explain them – why are they important?)
o A minimum of five negative actions/events (explain them – why are they important?)
o Use appropriate pictures/charts/graphs/etc. in explanation
o Overall conclusion – your opinion of his presidency supported by facts
Students may work individually or in pairs
Students will turn in the work by the end of the period Friday, 27 March