WARM UP 1 Create an episode map on the Vietnam War!!!
DO NOW 1) Create a picture and two sentences with the following vocabulary words related to the Nixon Presidency: 1) Détente 2) New Federalism 3) Southern Strategy 4) Stagflation 5) Realpolitik 6) Saturday Night Massacre 7) Watergate Scandal
THE NIXON ADMINISTRATION
I. 37th President II. 1968-1974 III. Former Vice President for Eisenhower IV. Republican V. Law and Order President VI. Resigned in 1974 due to Watergate scandal RICHARD MILLHOUSE NIXON
NIXON DOMESTIC POLICY I. Nixon wanted to move the USA in a more conservative direction during his presidency: A. Law & order president: tough on crime B. New Federalism: plan to give more political control back to state governments & take power away from New Deal/Great Society plans C. Southern Strategy: slow down integration & rolled back Civil Rights legislation to gain southern voters in 1972 election D. Successfully ended the Vietnam War E. Wanted to end political and social unrest within the USA à protests, marches, speeches, problems F. Appointed 4 conservative (Republican) Supreme Court justices
NIXON FOREIGN POLICY I. As president Nixon worked to thaw Cold War tension A. Nixon and Sec. of State Henry Kissinger s foreign policy brought about a time known as détente a reduction in Cold War problems B. Nixon & Kissinger used a political idea known as realpolitik that focused on the strength of nations not their political ideals C. Nixon visited China in 1972 D. Nixon visited Soviet Union in 1972 E. USSR & USA agreed to the SALT I Treaty (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty) i. Limited nuclear weapons
NIXON & THE AMERICAN ECONOMY I. During Nixon s president the American economy experienced problems A. The USA faced high unemployment and high inflation which is known as stagflation B. The American economy experienced wage and price freezes as Americans suffered to afford basic goods II. The most serious problem the American economy faced in the Nixon administration was the oil embargo by OPEC A. OPEC Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries B. OPEC refused to sell the USA oil due to American support of Israel in their war with Egypt C. The American economy suffered without oil & gasoline
THE WATERGATE SCANDAL
ELECTION OF 1972 I. Following his election in 1968 Nixon was obsessed with ensuring a 2 nd term as president A. Implemented the Southern Strategy to gain southern voters B. Organized the Committee to Reelect the President (CREEP) II. In June 1972 CREEP hired 5 men to break into the Democratic National Committee s headquarter in the Watergate Complex in Washington, D.C. A. Sent there to plant listening devices (bugs) so that CREEP would know the Democrats plans in the election of 1972 and ensure an easy victory for Nixon
I. The 5 men were arrested and sent to prison though no one knew that they were sent there by Nixon in the beginning of the investigation II. Nixon easily defeated George McGovern in the election of 1972 III. Two journalists (Robert Woodward and Carl Bernstein) published a news story that Nixon had ordered the break-in and the cover-up that followed WATERGATE SCANDAL
WATERGATE SCANDAL I. By 1973 the Watergate Scandal began to fall apart II. May 1973 - Congress begins an investigation into the president to determine any wrongdoing III. June 1973 some who were involved in the cover-up begin to rat on the Nixon Administration IV. July 1973 it is discovered that Nixon has audio recordings of Whitehouse discussion including those mentioning Watergate V. August 1973 Nixon refuses to give up the Whitehouse tapes
WATERGATE SCANDAL I. July 1974 Supreme Court ordered Nixon to hand over the taped immediately II. August 1974 Nixon gives tapes to Justice Dept. and Congress III. The tapes proved that Nixon had covered up his involvement in the Watergate Break-in and cover-up that followed IV. August 1974 Congress votes to impeach Nixon V. August 9, 1974 facing impeachment Nixon resigned the presidency instead of being removed from office
EFFECTS OF WATERGATE I. VP Gerald Ford became president following Nixon s resignation II. Ford pardoned Nixon for all his crimes à no jail time & no punishment III. Showed the American people the dirty/ cheating side of American politics IV. Led to widespread distrust of the American government and politicians