The Presidency of Richard Nixon Nixon was the

The Presidency of Richard Nixon

Nixon was the first candidate to appreciate the The Republican Resurgence new importance of the “Sunbelt”: military high-tech industries, retirement Nixon to. Republicans represent the “silent majority” ■bases, Inclaimed 1968, benefited communities, anti-segregationists made the who worked, paid taxes, & did not protest from the Vietnam disaster & South more conservative than before division in the Democratic party: –Richard Nixon (R) ran as the one candidate who could restore order in America –Humphrey (D) was plagued by anti-war protesters –George Wallace (3 rd) attacked blacks & liberals

The End of an Era ■ The presidential election of 1968 ended 30 years of: –Liberal reform—Americans reform began to favor conservative political leaders –Activist foreign policy—Vietnam policy proved that Containment failed to be applied to global scale ■ A “silent majority” seemed fed up with protest, violence, long hair, drug use, & sexual promiscuity

Foreign Policy Nixon hoped for a relaxing ■ Nixon proved to be an effective of Cold War tensions foreign-policy president: –Most foreign policy decisions were made by Nixon & National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger ■ Developed a plan for détente: détente –An “honorable” exit from Vietnam –Using U. S. trade to induce cooperation from the USSR –Improved relations with China

These bombings conducted without In 1973, Congress passed the War Powers Act Ending thewere Vietnam War the consent or approval requiring Congress’ approvalof to Congress send U. S. ■ Nixon’s plan formore an “honorable forces into combat than 90 days & was “Vietnamization”: mustpeace” inform Congress within 48 hours as to the reasons for military intervention –Gradual withdraw of U. S. troops –Handing over the&fighting to Protests at Kent State Jackson State South troops resulted. Vietnamese in bloody confrontations between students National ■ Privately, Nixon&hoped for. Guard a “knockout blow” & ordered U. S. troops into Cambodia & Laos ■ The effect was the largest series of protests in American history

Ending the Vietnam War ■ In January 1973, the U. S. & North Vietnam agreed to a cease fire –By March 1973, U. S. troops were withdrawn –By 1975, the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon fell & Vietnam became unified under the Communist government –Vietnam proved Containment could not be sustained

In Search of Détente ■ In Feb 1972, Nixon became 1 st U. S. president to visit & recognize the People’s Republic of China: –These improved Sino-American relations helped eased Cold War tensions & forced the USSR to consider diplomacy with the U. S. –Presented the U. S. with its 1 st economic access to China

But…the SALT treatyofdid not target the In Search Détente construction of Multiple Independently ■Targeted Nixon traveled Moscow to meet Reentry to Vehicles (MIRVs) with Soviet leader Brezhnev: –The U. S. agreed to sell the USSR $1 billion worth of grain –USSR agreed to Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT), the 1 st Cold War nuclear arms treaty ■ Kissinger negotiated an end to the Yom Kippur War in 1973 between Israel & Egypt

Shuttle Diplomacy In diplomacy and international relations, shuttle diplomacy is the action of an outside party in serving as an intermediary between (or among) principals in a dispute, without direct principal-to-principal contact. Originally and usually, the process entails successive travel ("shuttling") by the intermediary, from the working location of one principal, to that of another. The term was first applied to describe the efforts of United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger,

Realpolitik The policy of Realpolitik was formally introduced to the Richard Nixon White House by Henry Kissinger. ]In this context, the policy meant dealing with other powerful nations in a practical manner rather than on the basis of political doctrine or ethics—for instance, Nixon's diplomacy with the People's Republic of China, despite the U. S. 's opposition to communism and the previous doctrine of containment. Another example is Kissinger's use of shuttle diplomacy after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, where he persuaded the Israelis to withdraw partially from the Sinai in deference to the political realities created by the oil crisis. Realpolitik is distinct from ideological politics in that it is not dictated by a fixed set of rules, but instead tends to be goal-oriented, limited only by practical exigencies. Since realpolitik is ordered toward the most practical means of securing national interests, it can often entail compromising on ideological principles.

Nixon’s Covert Operations ■ Despite Nixon’s public détente with the USSR & China, most foreign policy was covert: –CIA funded the leaders of brutal gov’ts in Iran, South Africa, the Philippines, & Nicaragua –CIA assassinated Chilean president Salvador Allende

Nixon’s Domestic Policy ■ Nixon entered office asjustice a Replaced retiring chief moderate whowith kept LBJ’s Great Earl Warren Burger Society in place. Harry Blackmun, Nominated Lewis. Nixon Powell, & William Rehnquist –But, shifted responsibility for social problems to state & local governments –Nixon reshaped the Supreme Court along conservative lines when 4 justices retired

Nixon’s Domestic Policy ■ Nixon oversaw the creation of: –Environmental Protection Agency –Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) –A failed plan to replace welfare benefits with a minimum income –Quotas for minority construction firms for gov’t projects –Ended the gold standard in 1971

Nixonomics ■ The economy was a“Nixonomics” challenge: Democrats coined to describe Nixon’s failed plan –Nixon inherited inflation & deficit spending from the Vietnam War This “Great Nixon Turnaround” ended the recession –Nixon’s decrease in government spending & increase in interest rates led to the 1 st American recession since 1958 ■ In 1971, Nixon responded with a 90 -day freeze on wages & prices & imposed a 10% tax on imports

Armstrong and Aldrin on the Moon

Pentagon Papers

Busing Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, (1971) was an important United States Supreme Court case dealing with the busing of students to promote integration in public schools. After a first trial going to the Board of Education, the Court held that busing was an appropriate remedy for the problem of racial imbalance among schools, even where the imbalance resulted from the selection of students based on geographic proximity to the school rather than from deliberate assignment based on race. This was done to ensure the schools would be "properly" integrated and that all students would receive equal educational opportunities regardless of their race.

The 1972 election a shift in The saw Election ofvoting 1972 patterns: Only blacks, Jews, & the poor voted ■ In 1972, Nixon ran for re-election overwhelmingly Democratic while the GOP continued its dominance –Democrat Georgein the Sunbelt Mc. Govern was labeled an “outsider” who supported “acid, abortion, & amnesty” –Nixon won in the 4 th largest margin of victory in history ■ But…the Watergate scandal ended the Nixon presidency

Watergate: A Crisis of Democracy

The Watergate Scandal ■ In 1972, a break-in at Democratic candidate George Mc. Govern’s headquarters revealed a wellfunded plan of espionage & sabotage by the Committee to Re. Elect the President (CREEP) ■ The Watergate cover-up led to Nixon’s resignation & a changed American perception of the gov’t & the role of the media

The Watergate Complex

Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein of the Washington Post broke the Watergate story Their investigation revealed…

The Burglars

Formation of the “Plumbers”

All the President's Men

Daniel Ellsberg’s Pentagon Papers

Nixon’s Enemies List ■ Jane Fonda ■ Paul Newman ■ Edward Kennedy ■ Joe Namath ■ Daniel Schorr ■ Bill Cosby ■ Several 100 more U. S. citizens

The Watergate Scandal ■ The Watergate scandal began to unravel in 1973: –The discovery that Nixon Duerecorded largely to Washington Post reporters conversations proved Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein most damning Obstruction. Court of justice –The Supreme ordered Nixon to turn Contempt over all tapes to a Abuse of power of Congress Senate investigative committee –The House brought 3 articles of impeachment against president

Stonewalling

The Watergate Scandal Teddy Roosevelt began the trend of a stronger president than Congress; a trend that continued ■ Impact of theth. Watergate scandal: throughout the 20 century until Nixon – 26 members of Nixon’s After Nixon, Congress enacted campaign administration were sent to jail finance reform, made it easier for the Justice Dept–The to investigate the Executive Branch, as press began to be seen took back some control over of the federal budget, a “watchdog” gov’t passed the Freedom of Information Act, & –reigned An independent in CIA covertjudiciary operationsbranch was vital to protect individual freedom & national interests –Power shifted from the president to Congress

Conclusions: Politics After Watergate ■ The Watergate scandal eroded public trust in their own gov’t ■ The growing tension between president & Congress prevented strong, effective leadership from meeting foreign & domestic problems in the 1970 s ■ The discontent of the 1960 s & 1970 s revealed an America at war with itself

Ranking Presidential Scandals ■ Examine & rank order presidential scandals in American history: –Ulysses Grant Crédit Mobilier & Whiskey Ring –Warren Harding Teapot Dome –Richard Nixon Watergate –Ronald Reagan Iran-Contra Affair –Bill Clinton Whitewater & Monica Lewinski Affair