The Nixon The Nixon AdministrationAdministration

President Richard M. Nixon tried to President Richard M. Nixon tried to steer the country in a conservative steer the country in a conservative

direction and away from federal direction and away from federal control.control.Presentation created by Robert L. Martinez

Nixon tried to instill a sense of Nixon tried to instill a sense of order into a nation still divided order into a nation still divided

over the continuing over the continuing Vietnam Vietnam WarWar..

Man on the MoonMan on the Moon On July 20, 1969, one of AmericaOn July 20, 1969, one of America’’s s long-held dreams became a reality. long-held dreams became a reality.

Nearly 10 years after John F. Kennedy Nearly 10 years after John F. Kennedy challenged American to put a person challenged American to put a person

on the moon, astronaut Neil on the moon, astronaut Neil Armstrong climbed down the ladder Armstrong climbed down the ladder

of his lunar module and stepped onto of his lunar module and stepped onto the surface of the moon.the surface of the moon.

The The Twenty-sixth AmendmentTwenty-sixth Amendment was ratified in 1971, extending was ratified in 1971, extending

voting rights to 18 years or voting rights to 18 years or older. The draft of 18 year olds older. The draft of 18 year olds

had a large influence on the had a large influence on the passing of this amendment. passing of this amendment.

NixonNixon’’s agenda was to decrease s agenda was to decrease the size and influence of the the size and influence of the federal government. Nixon federal government. Nixon

believed that Lyndon Johnsonbelieved that Lyndon Johnson’’s s Great SocietyGreat Society programs, had programs, had given the federal government given the federal government

too much responsibility.too much responsibility.

NixonNixon’’s plan, known as s plan, known as New New FederalismFederalism, was to distribute a , was to distribute a

portion of federal power to state portion of federal power to state and local governments. Under and local governments. Under

revenue sharing, state and local revenue sharing, state and local governments could spend their governments could spend their

federal dollars however they saw federal dollars however they saw fit within certain limitations.fit within certain limitations.

At first Nixon cooperated with At first Nixon cooperated with Congress, which Democrats Congress, which Democrats

controlled. Soon he refused to spend controlled. Soon he refused to spend money voted by Congress on money voted by Congress on

programs that he did not like. The programs that he did not like. The Supreme Court ruled this action Supreme Court ruled this action

unconstitutional.unconstitutional.

Beginning a policy of law and Beginning a policy of law and order, Nixon enlisted the CIA and order, Nixon enlisted the CIA and

IRS to harass his political IRS to harass his political ““enemiesenemies”” – liberals and – liberals and

dissidents.dissidents.

Nixon hoped to bolster his political Nixon hoped to bolster his political support, especially in the South, to support, especially in the South, to ensure his re-election. He tried to ensure his re-election. He tried to slow school integration, but the slow school integration, but the

Supreme Court ordered the Supreme Court ordered the administration to move more administration to move more

quickly. He also named quickly. He also named conservatives to fill vacancies in conservatives to fill vacancies in

the Supreme Court.the Supreme Court.

Nixon attempted to stop the Nixon attempted to stop the integration of schools through integration of schools through

busingbusing. In 1971, the Supreme Court . In 1971, the Supreme Court ruled in ruled in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Educationof Education that school districts may that school districts may bus students to other schools to end bus students to other schools to end the pattern of all-black and all-white the pattern of all-black and all-white

schools.schools.

“ I’m not against any individual child. I am not a racist,no matter what those high-and-mighty suburbanliberals with their picket signs say. I just won’t have mychildren bused to some ….slum school, and I don’t wantchildren from God knows where coming over here.”

- A South Boston mother quoted in The School Bus Controversy, 1970-75.

StagnationStagnation A stagnant economy trouble the A stagnant economy trouble the country. By 1973, the inflation rate country. By 1973, the inflation rate

had doubled, and the unemployment had doubled, and the unemployment rate was up 50%. The causes were rate was up 50%. The causes were high spending on the high spending on the Vietnam War, Vietnam War,

growing foreign competition, growing foreign competition, and and the the difficulty of finding jobs for millions of difficulty of finding jobs for millions of

new workersnew workers..

Another problem was Another problem was reduced supply of and higher reduced supply of and higher

prices for oil and gasoline. prices for oil and gasoline. NixonNixon’’s efforts to lower s efforts to lower

prices did not work.prices did not work.

During the 60s, America received During the 60s, America received much of its petroleum from the much of its petroleum from the oil-producing Middle East. Many oil-producing Middle East. Many of these countries belonged to a of these countries belonged to a cartel called cartel called OPECOPEC. During the . During the 60s, OPEC gradually raised oil 60s, OPEC gradually raised oil

prices.prices.

In 1973, the In 1973, the Yom Kippur WarYom Kippur War broke out, with Israel against broke out, with Israel against

Egypt and Syria. When the Egypt and Syria. When the United States sent massive United States sent massive

military aid to Israel, its military aid to Israel, its longtime ally, the Arab OPEC longtime ally, the Arab OPEC

nations responded by cutting off nations responded by cutting off all oil sales to the United States.all oil sales to the United States.

When OPEC resumed selling its When OPEC resumed selling its oil to the United States in 1974, oil to the United States in 1974, the price had quadrupled. This the price had quadrupled. This

sharp rise in oil prices only sharp rise in oil prices only worsened the problem of worsened the problem of

inflation.inflation.

Henry KissingerHenry Kissinger The architect of NixonThe architect of Nixon’’s foreign policy s foreign policy

was his adviser for national security was his adviser for national security affairs, affairs, Henry KissingerHenry Kissinger. Kissinger . Kissinger introduced introduced realpolitikrealpolitik, stating that , stating that foreign policy should be based on foreign policy should be based on

consideration of a nationconsideration of a nation’’s power, not s power, not its philosophy or beliefs.its philosophy or beliefs.

DetenteDetente Nixon and Kissinger introduced Nixon and Kissinger introduced détentedétente, a policy aimed at easing , a policy aimed at easing

Cold War tensions.Cold War tensions.

The president de-escalated The president de-escalated AmericaAmerica’’s involvement in s involvement in

Vietnam and oversaw peace Vietnam and oversaw peace negotiations with North Vietnam.negotiations with North Vietnam.

End of the Vietnam WarEnd of the Vietnam War

In 1972, he visited In 1972, he visited Communist Communist ChinaChina. This reversed past U.S. . This reversed past U.S. policy, which had refused to policy, which had refused to

formally recognize the formally recognize the Communist rulers there.Communist rulers there.

SALTSALT Three months later, Nixon went to Three months later, Nixon went to

the Soviet Union. These moves the Soviet Union. These moves were widely popular. With the were widely popular. With the

Soviets, he signed the Strategic Soviets, he signed the Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty (Arms Limitations Treaty (SALTSALT), ), which limited nuclear weapons. which limited nuclear weapons.

Nixon Re-electedNixon Re-elected

Foreign policy triumphs helped Foreign policy triumphs helped Nixon easily win re-election.Nixon easily win re-election.

WatergateWatergateNixonNixon’’s Downfalls Downfall

President NixonPresident Nixon’’s involvement in s involvement in the Watergate scandal forced him the Watergate scandal forced him

to resign from office.to resign from office.

The The Watergate scandalWatergate scandal was was caused by an illegal break-in and caused by an illegal break-in and

attempts to block the attempts to block the investigation of it. The affair investigation of it. The affair

tested the idea that no one, not tested the idea that no one, not even the president, is above the even the president, is above the

law.law.

Nixon campaign aides were Nixon campaign aides were determined to win his re-election determined to win his re-election

by any means necessary. They by any means necessary. They hired 5 men to raid & wiretap hired 5 men to raid & wiretap

the Democratic party offices in a the Democratic party offices in a Washington, D.C., complex called Washington, D.C., complex called

Watergate.Watergate.

Wire TapsWire Taps Hoping to photograph files and Hoping to photograph files and

place taps on phones, the men place taps on phones, the men were caught. Rather than were caught. Rather than

forcing those involved to resign, forcing those involved to resign, the administration tried to hide the administration tried to hide

the link to the White House.the link to the White House.

After NixonAfter Nixon’’s re-election, the s re-election, the cover-up began to unravel. One of cover-up began to unravel. One of the burglars said that the White the burglars said that the White House was involved. Soon 3 top House was involved. Soon 3 top

Nixon aides, who had been Nixon aides, who had been involved, resigned. In Senate involved, resigned. In Senate

hearings, televised live, one of hearings, televised live, one of them said that Nixon had known of them said that Nixon had known of

the cover-up.the cover-up.

White House TapesWhite House Tapes When it was revealed that White When it was revealed that White

House meetings had been tape House meetings had been tape recorded, the Senate committee recorded, the Senate committee

demanded the tapes. Nixon demanded the tapes. Nixon refused to turn them over. Court refused to turn them over. Court battles over the tapes lasted a battles over the tapes lasted a

year.year.

In March 1974, a grand jury charged 7 In March 1974, a grand jury charged 7 Nixon aides with obstruction of Nixon aides with obstruction of

justice and perjury, or lying under justice and perjury, or lying under oath. Nixon released more than 1,250 oath. Nixon released more than 1,250

pages of taped conversations, but pages of taped conversations, but withheld conversations on some key withheld conversations on some key

dates.dates.

ImpeachmentImpeachment In July 1974, the Supreme Court In July 1974, the Supreme Court ordered the White House to release ordered the White House to release the tapes. Three days later a House the tapes. Three days later a House

committee voted to impeach committee voted to impeach President Nixon. If the full House of President Nixon. If the full House of

Representatives approved, Nixon Representatives approved, Nixon would go to trial in the Senate. would go to trial in the Senate. If If judged guilty there, he would be judged guilty there, he would be

removed from officeremoved from office..

Nixon ResignsNixon Resigns When the tapes were finally released, When the tapes were finally released,

it was clear that Nixon had known of it was clear that Nixon had known of the cover-up. On August 8, 1974, he the cover-up. On August 8, 1974, he

resigned but defiantly refused to resigned but defiantly refused to admit guilt.admit guilt.

Accidental PresidentAccidental President

Gerald FordGerald Ford Vice President Gerald Ford, a career Vice President Gerald Ford, a career

Congressional leader from Michigan Congressional leader from Michigan ascends to the position of President ascends to the position of President

of the United States, after never have of the United States, after never have been elected to national office.been elected to national office.