The Ford and Carter Years AP US HISTORY

The Ford and Carter Years AP US HISTORY

Gerald Ford Became vice president after Spiro Agnew resigned Last surviving member of the Warren Commission

Ford Pardons Nixon Ford, an unelected president, gives Richard Nixon a Presidential Pardon Wants to begin the “healing”

CIA is investigated Dem. Congress searched for executive abuses Accused of engineering foreign assassinations (Allende of Chile) George HW Bush of Texas appt to clean up agency

“Whip Inflation Now” (WIN) Ford tries to combat rising inflation (related to rising gas prices) by encouraging people to save energy (oil, gas, etc)

“Tight Money” Gov’t spending gets cut Encourages Fed. Reserve to raise interest rates, restricting credit

1973 Oil Crisis Yom Kippur War – Oct 6, 1973 Syrians and Egyptians attempt to recover lands lost to Israel in 1967 Six Day War US gave $2 billion in arms to Israel

1973 Oil Crisis (continued) OPEC placed an embargo on oil sold to Israel’s supporters Worldwide oil shortage, long lines at US gas stations

Domino Theory in Effect 1975 – Saigon finally falls to Communists Cambodia also falls

Foreign Policy Ford continues Nixon’s policy of negotiating w/ Soviet Union and China (detente, realpolitik)

Ford’s Greatest Accomplishment Helsinki Series Accords of agreements that promised greater cooperation between the nations of Eastern and Western Europe

Election of 1976 Ford won Republican nomination after close battle with Ronald Reagan (later hurt him in the polls) Democrats nominated little known former Ga. Governor Jimmy Carter – Washington outsider

Carter’s Background Grew up on a farm US Naval Academy Submariner Supported Civil Rights Moved back to Ga following death of his father May have cost him customers Entered Ga politics Contested first election loss in Georgia Equality in education was an early goal

Election of 1976

Jimmy Carter Democrat wins election of 1976 by a narrow margin Peanut farmer from Georgia

National Energy Act Tax placed on gas-guzzling cars, removed price controls on oil and natural gas produced in the United States, extended tax credits for development of alternative energy

Economic Crisis 1979 – another fuel shortage OPEC raises prices again By 1980, inflation up to 14 percent

Foreign Competition Changes U. S. Economy Service sector expands rapidly Overseas growth led to a complex job market

Carter and Civil Rights Carter includes many African-Americans and women in his administration

Carter and African. Americans Carter’s strong identification with African-Americans was interesting considering his background Son of “Mr. Earl” – unyielding segregationist

Andrew Young Appointed US ambassador to UN

Andrew Young (continued) Frequently embarrassed Carter administration Cuba – said Castro had troops in Africa to “oppose racism” Defended Soviet trials of Jews Said that Great Britain “invented racism” In Playboy interview – called Nixon, Ford, and Lincoln racists

Andrew Young Resigned after meeting with a member of the PLO

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke Supreme Court decides that affirmative action policies are unconstitutional in university admissions

Carter’s Foreign Policy Carter rejects philosophy of realpolitik Favors a foreign policy based on human rights Carter is inconsistent with his emphasis on Human Rights Brazil, Argentina – NO South Korea, Philippines – YES Some thought this policy undercut containment (Nicaragua)

Panama Canal Many Panamanians resent US involvement in their country 1978 – US Senate agrees to turn over control of the Panama Canal to Panama on December 31, 1999

Panama Canal Treaty 1973 – Panama complained to UN – US used veto General Omar Torrijos J. Helms – drug dealer? Bribes? Faced much Senate opposition

Carter and Brezhnev Signed SALT II – provided for limits on the number of strategic weapons and nuclear-missile launchers that each side could produce

SALT II Breaks Down Dec. 1979 – Soviets invade Afghanistan – Carter refuses to push for SALT II agreement

Camp David Accords Israel and Egypt hated each other 1977 – Anwar el-Sadat (Egypt) and Menachem Begin (Israel) Carter invited them to talk at Camp David (Maryland)

Camp David Accords (continued) Israel agreed to withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula Egypt formally recognized Israel’s right to exist

Revolution in Iran 1979 – Ayatollah Khomeini leads rebels in overthrowing the shah of Iran (supported by US)

Hostage Crisis Nov. 1979 – students seized the US embassy in Tehran and took 52 Americans hostage Led to 444 day crisis