A CRISIS IN CONFIDENCE 1969-1980
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Transcript of A CRISIS IN CONFIDENCE 1969-1980
A CRISIS IN CONFIDENCE A CRISIS IN CONFIDENCE 1969-19801969-1980
America: Past and Present
Chapter 31
Nixon in PowerNixon in Power
• Apparent success in first term
• Triumphs in foreign affairs
• Nixon cuts himself off from Congress, his own cabinet, and the nation
Reshaping the Great Reshaping the Great SocietySociety
• Nixon and the Great Society• more efficient administration• shift responsibility to the states• shift school desegregation to the courts
• Shift to conservative Supreme Court• appointment of conservatives and
moderates• Burger Court similar to Warren Court
• Pace of change slows but continues
NixonomicsNixonomics
• Nixon and inflation• inflation spurred by Vietnam • federal spending cuts• interest rates forced up
• 1970--Nixon-induced recession
• 1971--wage and price controls
• Economy revives
Building a Republican Building a Republican MajorityMajority
• Nixon obsessed about reelection
• Inactive on desegregation to win South
• Attack cultural revolution to win “middle America”
• Democrats try to retain majority by joining crusade against drugs, crime
In Search of DIn Search of Déétentetente
• Foreign-policy assumptions• Cold War to be managed, not won• America must make a strategic retreat• improve relations with China to neutralize
Russia
• February 1972--Nixon visits China
In Search of DIn Search of Déétente:tente:Outcome of China VisitOutcome of China Visit
• February 1972--U.S. recognition of Communist China set in motion
• May 1972--Russians sign SALT I
• Apparent mutual desire to reduce Cold War tensions
Ending the Vietnam WarEnding the Vietnam War
• Nixon’s plan - VIETNAMIZATION• gradual reduction of American troops• intensify American bombing • hard line at the peace talks
• 1970--invasion of Cambodia
• January, 1973--peace talks conclude with disguised American surrender
The Crisis of DemocracyThe Crisis of Democracy
• June, 1972--Nixon agents arrested for attempted Watergate break-in
• Nixon stonewalled the press about White House involvement• even instructed aides to lie under oath
The Election of 1972The Election of 1972
• Nixon’s opponents• American Independent George Wallace--
shot and disabled, followers vote for Nixon• Democrat George McGovern--nomination
alienates middle class; Staunch Liberal
• Nixon landslide suggests new alignment• middle class shifting to Republican
conservatism• African Americans, Jews, the poor remain
strongly Democratic
The Watergate ScandalThe Watergate Scandal• Summer 1973--Senate investigation
• damaging Senate hearings on cover-up• White House tapes discovered
• Summer 1974• Nixon must relinquish tapes; “smoking gun”
of investigation• House Judiciary committee recommends
impeachment
• August 9, 1974--Nixon resigns
The Watergate Scandal: The Watergate Scandal: ConsequencesConsequences
• Demonstrated growing power of the executive branch
• Illustrates vitality of institutions• the press• the federal judiciary• Congress
• Encourages more cynicism about Washington and politics (politicians)
Energy and the Energy and the EconomyEconomy
• U.S. way of life based on cheap energy
• 1970s energy crisis sparks inflation
The October WarThe October War
• October, 1973--Yom Kippur War pits Egypt, Syria against Israel
• U.S. supplies weapons to Israel
• Arab oil nations retaliate with boycott• prices of gasoline and home heating fuel
rose sharply
The Oil ShocksThe Oil Shocks
• Effects of soaring oil prices • consumer spending plunges• recession by 1974• inflation persists through 1970s
• Tax cut aids consumer spending and encourages recovery
• 1979--Iranian Revolution causes second surge in oil prices
The Oil Shocks: Price Increases The Oil Shocks: Price Increases of Crude Oil and Gasoline, of Crude Oil and Gasoline, 1973-19851973-1985
The Search for an The Search for an Energy PolicyEnergy Policy
• Ford tries to encourage production
• Carter tries to encourage conservation
• Congressional legislation to• encourage production, e.g. Alaska pipeline• encourage conservation, e.g. gas rationing
• Energy problem persists
The Great InflationThe Great Inflation
• Oil prices drive inflation• price of goods soars• real income declines as buying power
diminishes due to inflation
• Attempted government controls result in record high interest rates (pull $ out of circulation to increase value of $ left in market, thereby decreasing inflation.)
The Shifting American The Shifting American EconomyEconomy
• U.S. share of world markets declines
• U.S. heavy industrial production declines…U.S. becomes service industry centered
• High technology prospers
• Businesses tend to diversify
The Ford AdministrationThe Ford Administration 1974-1974-7676
• Pardon of Nixon unpopular
• Democratic Congress alienated• disclosure of illegal CIA activities under
Kennedy and Johnson• opposes Democratic bills protecting the
environment and civil rights
The 1976 CampaignThe 1976 Campaign
• Ford damaged by Watergate
• Democrat Jimmy Carter wins close vote• former governor of Georgia• campaigns as outsider• calls for decency, morality in government
Disenchantment with Disenchantment with CarterCarter
• Carter displays lack of political vision
• Outsider status hampers effectiveness
• 1979--Carter blames American people for "national malaise"
From Détente to From Détente to Renewed Cold WarRenewed Cold War
• U.S. international dominance declined sharply in the 1970s
• Internal and external events weakened foreign policy
Retreat in AsiaRetreat in Asia
• April 1975--North Vietnam captures Saigon
• U.S. response--evacuation, no aid
• Subsequent incidents met with caution, restraint
Accommodation in Latin Accommodation in Latin AmericaAmerica
• 1977--treaty returns Panama Canal to Panama
• 1979--U.S. refuses aid to Nicaraguan government against Sandinistas
• Carter assists El Salvador against Marxist rebels
The Quest for Peace in The Quest for Peace in the Middle Eastthe Middle East
• Carter’s success• 1978--Camp David Accords • 1979--Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty
• Carter’s failure• 1979--Iranian Revolution • November--U.S. embassy in Teheran
invaded, 58 Americans taken hostage• Carter fails to secure hostages’ release
The Cold War ResumesThe Cold War Resumes
• Carter, Brzezinski shift from Détente• condemn Soviet human rights abuses• new missile systems deployed• increased aid to China
• December, 1979--Russians invade Afghanistan
A Failed PresidencyA Failed Presidency
• Carter lost public confidence during the Iranian hostage crisis
• Double-digit inflation also contributed to voter disappointment