Nixon, Ford and Carter (1968-1976)

1. Nixon, Ford and Carter(1968-1976)

2. Presidential Election of 1968 • Hubert Humphrey (Dem) • Richard Nixon (Rep) • George Wallace (Independent) Issues: the Vietnam War and Civil Rights

3. Presidential Election of 1968 • George Wallace (Independent) • Former Democrat • Governor of Alabama • Pro-segregation • “Segregation Now, Segregation Tomorrow, Segregation Forever” • Won 13.5% of the vote • What do you think of this campaign ad?

4. Presidential Election of 1968 • Richard Nixon (Rep) • Messages aimed at “middle America” and “silent majority” • Promised “peace with honor” in Vietnam • Law and order candidate • Would Vote for Nixon? • Streamline government • Return to traditional values • Used “Southern Strategy”

5. Presidential Election of 1968 • Southern Strategy • Appeal to south concerns about desegregation • Effect – much of South voted for Nixon Example of “realpolitik”

6. Presidential Election of 1968 • Southern strategy • Nixon played the “race card” • From now on, the Republicans are never going to get more than 10 to 20 percent of the Negro vote and they don't need any more than that... but Republicans would be shortsighted if they weakened enforcement of the Voting Rights Act. The more Negroes who register as Democrats in the South, the sooner the Negrophobe whites will quit the Democrats and become Republicans. That's where the votes are. Without that prodding from the blacks, the whites will backslide into their old comfortable arrangement with the local Democrats.[3] • Quote from Kevin Phillips, Nixon Strategist (NY Times, May 17, 1970)

8. Presidential election of 1968 • Nixon won • 301 electoral votes to Humphrey’s 191 • George Wallace got 46!

9. The Silent Majority Speech (Nov. 1969) • “I recognize that some of my fellow Americans have reached different conclusions as to how peace should be achieved….But as President of the United States, I would be untrue to my oath of office to be dictated by the minority who hold that view and who try to impose it on the nation by mounting demonstrations in the street. If a vocal minority, however fervent its cause, prevails over reason and the will of the majority, this nation has no future as a free society. So tonight to you, the great silent majority of my fellow Americans, I ask for your support.” • Who is the “silent majority”?

10. The Silent Majority Speech (Nov. 1969) • “The policy of the previous administration not only resulted in our assuming the primary responsibility for fighting the war, but even more significantly did not adequately stress the goal of strengthening the South Vietnamese so that they could defend themselves when we left.” • What is Nixon’s criticism of the previous administration of President Johnson?

11. The Presidency of Richard Nixon • Nixon view - foreign policy more important • Remember: His goal was to find a way to end the war in ________.

12. Nixon’s visit with China in Feb. 1972 • What was the motive behind Nixon’s visit?

13. Effect of visits to China and Soviet • Détente – Relaxation of tensions • Nixon believed in a multipolar world • “I think it will be a safer world and a better world if we have a strong, healthy United States, Europe, Soviet Union, China, Japan, each balancing the other, not playing one against the other, an even balance.” — Richard Nixon, 1972 • What is the benefit of a multipolar world?

14. Nixon’s visit with the Soviet Union in May 1972 Nixon is acting as “chief diplomat” • Summit: High level diplomatic meeting • Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I) signed: agreement to limit nuclear weapons • To be monitored by satellite photograph (Can’t count on countries to be honest)

15. Nixon’s Domestic Goal SMALLER Government • New Federalism • Give more power/ responsibility to states • Revenue-sharing - $ to states to fund their own programs

16. Watergate • Break-in of the Democratic National Headquarters • Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, reporters from the Washington Post, are credited with breaking the case. • Richard Nixon was not responsible for the break in so what were the grounds for impeachment? • What revealed Nixon’s role in the break-in’s cover-up? • What does “Executive Privilege” mean? • Nixon resigned before he was impeached

20. Legacy of Watergate • New Laws and government policies • Ethics in Government Act • Federal Campaign Act Amendments • FBI Domestic Security Guidelines • Congress able to hire an independent counsel to investigate • Public distrust of government

22. Economic Crisis - background • Prosperity of America (1950s -60s) • easy access to raw materials • strong manufacturing industry • BIG CARS! • Budget deficit in the 1960s (Johnson) • Government spending • No tax increases • Increased Inflation

23. Economic Crisis • Oil Crisis • OPEC Countries declared an embargo on oil to US due to our support of Israel in the Yom Kippur War (1973) • Price controls set by Nixon in 1971 caused an oil shortage. Inflation soared to double digits. • Prices set lower than market equilibrium (Price Ceiling)

24. OPEC Oil Embargo (video) • How did OPEC use their oil? • What is the reason for their action? • What the impact of the oil embargo on the US? • What did Nixon do to try to end the oil crisis?

28. Economic Crisis Stagflation Caused By a Negative Supply Shock, Steep Decrease in Overall Supply (Oil shortage = High costs of Production High Prices and High Unemployment If you choose to fight inflation, you deepen the recession. If you choose to fight recession, you create more inflation.

30. Economic Crisis • Gerald Ford (President after Nixon resigned) • Program: Whip Inflation Now! (WIN)

31. Presidential election of 1976 Gerald Ford (R) vs. Jimmy Carter(D)

33. War Against Consumption • Carter blames our reliance on foreign oil • Created the Department of Energy

34. War Against Consumption • Supported de-regulation (eliminate Nixon’s price and wage controls), but then taxed oil company profits • 1979 Oil Crisis • Gave his “Malais” Speech • Public felt that Carter blame them!

36. Carter’s Foreign Policy • Camp David Accords • Meeting between the leaders of Egypt and Israel • Egypt gave formal recognition to Israel • Israel agreed to give the Sinai Peninsula back to Egypt • The US rewarded them with annual subsidies ($$$$)

39. Carter’s Foreign Policy • 1979 Iranian Revolution • Islamist Revolution • New leader: Ayatollah Khomeini • Hostage Crisis: 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981 • Carter attempted a rescue mission (Operation Eagle Claw), but two aircraft crashed killing 8 service men and 1 Iranian citizen Evaluate Carter’s chances for re-election in 1980

42. Foreign Policy • Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan. (1979-1989) • US Response: • Embargo of grain to the Soviet Union • Boycott 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow Blowback (CIA term for unintended consequences): We supported the Mujahideen in Afganistan against the Communists. They eventually become the Taliban, the organization we fought against in the War in Afghanistan (2001 to NOW). Pres. Obama speech on May 27, 2014

45. Who will become US President after Carter?