3/22/2017. The Seventies. Richard Nixon 37 th President Domestic Policy

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Annice Briggs
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1 The Seventies Richard Nixon 37 th President Domestic Policy New Federalism Nixon wanted to slow down the growth of Great Society programs -Family Assistance Plan- a reform of welfare system -guaranteed family of four a small income Defeated in Congress New Federalism cont. Revenue sharing program- distributed a portion of federal tax revenues back to states -shifted some responsibility of social programs from federal to state govts. Attempt by Rep. to check growth of federal govt. Return responsibility of social programs back to state Domestic Policy Reduced funding for War on Poverty programs Dismantled Office of Economic Opportunity Impounded billions of dollars appropriated by Congress for urban renewal, pollution control, & other environmental programs Vetoed a bill providing for a national child care system Nixon s Economic Policies 70s U.S. suffers from stagflation- (stagnation & inflation combined) Nixon attempted to slow inflation by reducing govt. spending This resulted in recession & unemployment Nixon then adopts Keynesian economics to avoid alienating middle class 90 day price freeze, removal of gold standard and increase in tariff pulls U.S. out of recession Foreign Policy Vietnam Nixon looked for a way out without conceding defeat Vietnamization- policy of gradually withdraw U.S. Troops & Give S. Vietnam money, weapons, & training to take over the war Nixon Doctrine- in future Asian allies would receive U.S. support but not use of U.S. ground forces 1

2 10 Opposition to Nixon s War Policies In 1970 Nixon expanded war by invading Cambodia Student protests on college campuses broke out across the nation Kent State - Ohio Opposition to Nixon s War Policies In 1970 Nixon expanded war by invading Cambodia Student protests on college campuses broke out across the nation Peace in Vietnam Since 1968 U.S. was working toward peace in Vietnam By 1972 It appeared peace was at hand but N. Vietnamese stepped up attacks on locations throughout S.E. Asia -U.S. responded by stepping up bombing of N. Vietnam Peace in Vietnam Paris Peace Accords- U.S. agreed to withdraw the last of its troops in exchange for over 500 POWs -also promised a cease fire and free elections The Paris Accord did not end the war between N & S Vietnam Detente A deliberate reduction of Cold War Tensions Seek peaceful coexistence with the Soviet Union & China Nixon Visits China 1972 Nixon traveled to China Opened formal diplomatic relations between U.S. & China China was admitted to U.N. & security Council seat Arms Control Nixon traveled to Moscow Treaty talks to limit ABMs (SALT I) Froze the number ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads Energy Crisis Yom Kippur War- Syrians & Egyptians attack Israel Nixon supports Israel (Aid) 2

3 Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)- placed embargo on oil prompting a world wide shortage -prompted switch to foreign fuel efficient cars -loss of jobs Election of 1972 Southern Strategy Political strategy to form Republican majority by appealing to silent majority -millions of voters who were resentful toward war protests, A.A. militants, school busing, & counterculture -many were Southern white democrats 1972 election will mark the beginning of new Republican majority realignment of sunbelt & suburban voters Election of 1972 Results War Powers Act 1973 Nixon authorizes bombing raids in Cambodia Congress wanted to limit president s powers over military Required presidents to report to Congress within 48 hours of military action Congress would also have to approve military action lasting more than 60 days Watergate White House Abuses Nixon repeatedly authorized illegal surveillance of citizens -Daniel Ellsberg & The Pentagon Papers- U.S. blunders in Vietnam -White House aides broke into Ellsberg s psychiatrist s office to look for damaging info The plumbers - a secretive group formed to plug govt. information leaks (financed by CREEP) -harassed opponents by using IRS 29 Watergate Scandal Group of men were caught breaking into DNC in Washington D.C. -attempt to bug offices -White House denied any involvement Senate investigation implicated Nixon & was caught trying to cover it up Resignation of Nixon June the House voted to impeach Nixon Nixon released uncensored tapes containing evidence of the cover-up Facing certain conviction Nixon resigned on August 9,

4 Significance of Watergate -checks & balances worked -Presidency had grown powerful from FDR to Nixon -A loss of faith in the federal government Legislation Passed in Wake of Watergate Freedom of Information Act- gave citizens greater access to files that federal government agencies had amassed on them Fair Campaign Practices Act limited campaign contributions & provided stricter accountability Gerald Ford 38 th President Ford s Presidency Tried to bring inflation under control by encouraging voluntary measures to be taken by businesses & consumers (made things worse) Civil Rights The Second Stage Feminism Betty Friedan Feminine Mystique- encouraged women to seek careers instead of staying home National Organization for Women (NOW) -adopted activist tactics of other civil rights movements to bring equality for women Success of Women s Movement Title IX of Education Amendments Act prohibited colleges from discriminating on the basis of sex Affirmative Action was extended to women in 1967 Child care tax reductions for parents in Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) 1972 Proposed amendment to provide equality of rights shall not be denied on basis of sex Failed to ratified Failed because of conservative backlash against radical feminists 41 4

5 Roe v. Wade (1973) Legalized the right for women to choose to have an abortion or not -legalized abortion on basis of woman s right to privacy Sparked major conservative & religious backlash Affirmative Action Procedures designed to help minorities after years of discrimination -hiring & enrollment goals, special recruitment & training programs, & reserved slots A.A. & Latinos were aided tremendously Affirmative action was divisive as many Whites complained of reverse discrimination Bakke v. University of California- paved the way for elimination of affirmative action Busing Most divisive inssue Milliken v. Bradley- ordered cities with patterns of residential segregation to use busing to achieve integration Sparked intense & sometime violent opposition white flight - many white parents moved children to private schools Many A.A. parents opposed busing & wanted improved schools in A.A. neighborhoods Election of 1976 Election of 1976 Results Jimmy Carter 39 th President Domestic Policy Attempt to Slow Inflation Inflation growing at rate of about 13% a year Slowed economic growth as consumers & businesses could no longer afford higher prices & interest rates Attempted to control inflation by conserving oil & revive U.S. coal industries (measures failed) Second attempt to control inflation was through raising interest rates to 20% -unemployment increased, taxes increased, & deficit grew Foreign Policy Human Rights Human rights was centerpiece of his policy 5

6 Criticized suppression of dissent in the USSR Withdrew economic aid from countries that violated human rights Established Office of Human Rights Panama Canal Carter wanted to fix inequities in original Panama Canal Treaty of 1903 In 1977 signed treaty giving control of canal to the Panamanians Carter & Detente Continued détente with China & USSR Improved relations with China by exchanging ambassadors SALT II (1979)- signed with USSR to limit the size of each superpowers nuclear delivery system -Senate never ratified treaty because the Soviets invaded Afghanistan Soviet-Afghan War ( ) Soviets invasion ended a decade of if improving U.S.-USSR relations U.S. feared invasion would lead Soviet control of Persian Gulf & oil there Carter s Responses: -embargo on grain & tech. to USSR -boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics Carter now gave up arms reduction for arms buildup Camp David Accords Hostility between Egypt & Israel over land claims Carter invited the leader of the two countries to Camp David to negotiate the peace settlement Camp David Accords provided the framework for peace settlement in region -resulted in Egypt being first M.E. nation to recognize Israel & Israel would hand over land taken from Egypt in Six Day War The rest of Arab world & PLO objected to settlement Iran (1979) Shah of Iran was overthrown by fundamentalist Islamic leader Ayatollah Khomeini U.S. was allied with the Shah who let him into the country for medical treatment & protection Iranian oil production halted 2 nd oil crisis Iran Hostage Crisis Iranian students seized U.S. embassy taking 66 American hostages The Captors demanded that the shah be returned to Iran for trial U.S. refused Carter suspended arms sales to Iran & froze Iranian assets in American banks A failed military rescue reinforced public s view that Carter was ineffective The crisis would paralyze his administration for 14 months 6

Domestic Crises

Domestic Crises 1968-1980 In 1968 conservative Richard Nixon became President. One of Nixon s greatest accomplishments was his 1972 visit to communist China. Visit opened China to American markets and