Nixon Foreign Domestic Policy Nixon Communism Henry Kissinger

Nixon Foreign & Domestic Policy

Nixon & Communism • Henry Kissinger: Nixon’s Sec. of State • Realpolitik: focus on concrete national interests, not ideology • So what does realpolitik mean? • There is no united worldwide communist movement • Focus on China & Soviet Union

Nixon & China • Why China? • 1) economic opportunities • 2) weaken China’s relation with USSR • Nixon meets with Zhou Enlai (China’s Premier) • Results • Trade thrives • Americans visit China

Nixon’s Tool for Relations with China • PING-PONG!!!!!!

In the End China & the US are BFFs!!!! • It bridged “the vastest ocean in the world, twenty-five years of no communication. ” – Zhou Enlai • Focus shifts to USSR when Soviet Leader Leonid Brezhnev invites Nixon to Moscow

Nixon & Brezhnev • SALT I (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty) • Major step towards ending the nuclear arms race • Nixon worked towards détente • easing Cold War tensions

Thoughts on Nixon? As an American you trust Richard Nixon as the President of the US? Why?

Nixon Domestic Policy • New Federalism • Tired of “big” government • Revenue sharing with states • States fund social programs • Silent majority • People who give life to the American Dream • Federal Government Programs • OSHA(Occupational Safety and Health Administration) • DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) • EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

Watergate

What was it? • Office/apartment complex • Headquarters o f Democrats

June 17, 1972: The scandal starts • CREEP (Committee to Re-Elect Nixon) • Lead by John Mitchell (former Attorney General) • “Dirty Tricks”- find ways to discredit Democrats • Led by G. Gordon Liddy & E. Howard Hunt • What happened? • 5 men caught sneaking into Democratic headquarters • Result: Mitchell informs Nixon of event • Cover-up occurs

Televised Hearings Begin • Before hearings: Liddy & 6 others are convicted of crimes • Head prosecutor: Archibald Cox • John Dean (White House Counsel) • Claims Nixon knew about Watergate

Oval Office Tapes • Nixon had all conversations in Oval Office taped • Approval rating plummets • Spiro Agnew (Nixon’s V. P. ) resigns • Watergate investigators want the tapes • Nixon refuses (executive privilege) • Supreme Court Cases: US v. Nixon • Unanimous decision • Nixon ordered to turn over the tapes

End of Richard Nixon • 1974: Nixon threatened to be impeached • August 8, 1974: Nixon resigns • 1 st and only president ever to do so • Gerald Ford ( Nixon’s V. P. ) takes over

Exit of Richard Nixon

All the President’s Men • Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein • Washington Post reporters • Inform public about scandal • “Deep Throat” • Watergate informer • Later revealed as W. Mark Felt

Summary • How would you determine Nixon’s presidency?