The Presidency of Richard Nixon

1. The Presidency of Richard Nixon

2. Nixon was the first candidate to appreciate the new importance of the “Sunbelt”: military bases, high-tech industries, retirement communities, anti-segregationists made the South more conservative than before The Republican Resurgence Nixon claimed to represent the “silent majority” who worked, paid taxes, & did not protest • In 1968, Republicans benefited from the Vietnam disaster & division in the Democratic party: • Richard Nixon (R) ran as the one candidate who could restore order in America • Humphrey (D) was plagued by anti-war protesters • George Wallace (3rd) attacked blacks & liberals

3. The End of an Era • The presidential election of 1968 ended 30 years of: • Liberal reform—Americans began to favor conservative political leaders • Activist foreign policy—Vietnam proved that Containment failed to be applied to global scale • A “silent majority” seemed fed up with protest, violence, long hair, drug use, & sexual promiscuity

4. Foreign Policy Nixon hoped for a relaxing of Cold War tensions • Nixon proved to be an effective foreign-policy president: • Most foreign policy decisions were made by Nixon & National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger • Developed a plan for détente: • An “honorable” exit from Vietnam • Using U.S. trade to induce cooperation from the USSR • Improved relations with China

5. Ending the Vietnam War These bombings were conducted without the consent or approval of Congress In 1973, Congress passed the War Powers Act requiring Congress’ approval to send U.S. forces into combat for more than 90 days & must inform Congress within 48 hours as to the reasons for military intervention • Nixon’s plan for an “honorable peace” was “Vietnamization”: • Gradual withdraw of U.S. troops • Handing over the fighting to South Vietnamese troops • Privately, Nixon hoped for a “knockout blow” & ordered U.S. troops into Cambodia & Laos • The effect was the largest series of protests in American history Protests at Kent State & Jackson State resulted in bloody confrontations between students & National Guard

6. Gotta get down to it. Soldiers are cutting us down Shoulda been done long ago What if you knew her & found her dead on the ground? How can you run when you know? Kent State, Ohio student protests Tin soldiers and Nixon coming. We're finally on our own.This summer I hear the drumming.Four dead in Ohio. Slides animate on their own

7. Ending the Vietnam War • In January 1973, the U.S. & North Vietnam agreed to a cease fire • By March 1973, U.S. troops were withdrawn • By 1975, the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon fell & Vietnam became unified under the Communist government • Vietnam proved Containment could not be sustained

9. In Search of Détente “Ping-pong diplomacy” • In Feb 1972, Nixon became 1st U.S. president to visit & recognize the People’s Republic of China: • These improved Sino-American relations helped eased Cold War tensions & forced the USSR to consider diplomacy with the U.S. • Presented the U.S. with its 1st economic access to China

10. In Search of Détente But…the SALT treaty did not target the construction of Multiple Independently Targeted Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs) • Nixon traveled to Moscow to meet with Soviet leader Brezhnev: • The U.S. agreed to sell the USSR $1 billion worth of grain • USSR agreed to Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT), the 1st Cold War nuclear arms treaty • Kissinger negotiated an end to the Yom Kippur War in 1973 between Israel & Egypt

11. Nixon’s Covert Operations • Despite Nixon’s public détente with the USSR & China, most foreign policy was covert: • CIA funded the leaders of brutal gov’ts in Iran, South Africa, the Philippines, & Nicaragua • CIA assassinated Chilean president Salvador Allende

12. Nixon’s Domestic Policy Replaced retiring chief justice Earl Warren with Warren Burger • Nixon entered office as a moderate who kept LBJ’s Great Society in place • But, Nixon shifted responsibility for social problems to state & local governments • Nixon reshaped the Supreme Court along conservative lines when 4 justices retired Nominated Harry Blackmun, Lewis Powell, & William Rehnquist

13. Nixon’s Domestic Policy • Nixon oversaw the creation of: • Environmental Protection Agency • Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) • A failed plan to replace welfare benefits with a minimum income • Quotas for minority construction firms for gov’t projects • Ended the gold standard in 1971

14. Nixonomics Democrats coined “Nixonomics” to describe Nixon’s failed plan • The economy was a challenge: • Nixon inherited inflation & deficit spending from the Vietnam War • Nixon’s decrease in government spending & increase in interest rates led to the 1st American recession since 1958 • In 1971, Nixon responded with a 90-day freeze on wages & prices & imposed a 10% tax on imports This “Great Nixon Turnaround” ended the recession

15. The 1972 election saw a shift in voting patterns: Only blacks, Jews, & the poor voted overwhelmingly Democratic while the GOP continued its dominance in the Sunbelt The Election of 1972 • In 1972, Nixon ran for re-election • Democrat George McGovern was labeled an “outsider” who supported “acid, abortion, & amnesty” • Nixon won in the 4th largest margin of victory in history • But…the Watergate scandal ended the Nixon presidency

16. Watergate: A Crisis of Democracy

17. The Watergate Scandal • In 1972, a break-in at Democratic candidate George McGovern’s headquarters revealed a well-funded plan of espionage & sabotage by the Committee to Re-Elect the President (CREEP) • The Watergate cover-up led to Nixon’s resignation & a changed American perception of the gov’t & the role of the media

18. The Watergate Complex

19. Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein of the Washington Post broke the Watergate story Their investigation revealed…

20. The Burglars

21. Formation of the “Plumbers”

22. All the President's Men

23. Daniel Ellsberg’s Pentagon Papers

24. Nixon’s Enemies List • Jane Fonda • Paul Newman • Edward Kennedy • Joe Namath • Daniel Schorr • Bill Cosby • Several 100 more U.S. citizens

25. The Watergate Scandal • The Watergate scandal began to unravel in 1973: • The discovery that Nixon recorded conversations proved most damning • The Supreme Court ordered Nixon to turn over all tapes to a Senate investigative committee • The House brought 3 articles of impeachment against president Due largely to Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein Obstruction of justice Abuse of power Contempt of Congress

26. Stonewalling

28. The Watergate Scandal Teddy Roosevelt began the trend of a stronger president than Congress; a trend that continued throughout the 20th century until Nixon • Impact of the Watergate scandal: • 26 members of Nixon’s administration were sent to jail • The press began to be seen as a “watchdog” over the gov’t • An independent judiciary branch was vital to protect individual freedom & national interests • Power shifted from the president to Congress After Nixon, Congress enacted campaign finance reform, made it easier for the Justice Dept to investigate the Executive Branch, took back some control of the federal budget, passed the Freedom of Information Act, & reigned in CIA covert operations

29. Conclusions: Politics After Watergate • The Watergate scandal eroded public trust in their own gov’t • The growing tension between president & Congress prevented strong, effective leadership from meeting foreign & domestic problems in the 1970s • The discontent of the 1960s & 1970s revealed an America at war with itself

30. Ranking Presidential Scandals • Examine & rank order presidential scandals in American history: • Ulysses Grant Crédit Mobilier & Whiskey Ring • Warren Harding Teapot Dome • Richard Nixon Watergate • Ronald Reagan Iran-Contra Affair • Bill Clinton Whitewater &Monica Lewinski Affair