1. The Imperial Presidency of Richard Nixon

2. PDN What issued faced Nixon as he took office in 1968?

3. Election of 1968 Candidates – Dems – Huberty Humphrey (after RFK shot) – Reps – Richard Nixon – American Independent Party – George Wallace – Main Issue - Vietnam

6. Nixon’s Domestic Issues New Federalism – revenue sharing between national and State governments Man on the Moon Oil Crisis Inflation Anti-Crime Laws (no use of evidence seized illegally) Environmental Protection

7. “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind…”

8. Nixon’s Foreign Affairs Opened China Reduced tensions with the Soviets SALT I (strategic arms limitations treaty) Vietnamization (gradual withdrawal of troops from Vietnam) Bombing of Cambodia and Laos Secretary of State Kissinger in Middle East Peace talks

9. Nixon in China

10. Election of 1972 Dems – Edwin Muskie Reps – Richard Nixon Nixon wins

12. Agnew Resigns Vice President Spiro Agnew resigns for taking bribes when he was Governor of Maryland Gerald Ford (Senate majority leader) is appointed Vice President by Nixon and approved by the Senate

13. Spiro Agnew

14. WATERGATE June 17, 1972 – 5 burglars arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Headquarters at the Watergate Hotel They had “bugging” devices and cameras They are linked to the CIA and CRP (Creep) (Committee to re-elect the President)

15. Watergate Hotel

16. The Cover-up Washington Post Reporters, Woodward and Bernstein, following leads of an FBI informant, learn that Nixon knew of the break-in and tried to cover it up Nixon denies this and fires top aides who were allegedly involved

17. Woodward and Bernstein

18. The Tapes Senate Committee and the Special Prosecuter, Archibald Cox, learn Nixon kept tape recordings of all his conversations in the White House Nixon refuses to turn over the tapes and instead gives them an edited transcript of the tapes

19. Impeachment Proceedings The Supreme Court unanimously decides Nixon must produce the tapes The House of Representatives begins impeachment proceedings Nixon resigns BEFORE he is impeached (brought up on charges) Several members of his staff get prison time

21. “I am not a crook”

22. FORD Gerald Ford becomes President on August 9 th, 1974 He chooses Nelson Rockefeller former Gov. of N.Y.) for Vice President and the Senate approves Only time in U.S. History that NEITHER the President nor the Vice President were elected to the executive by the people

23. Gerald Ford

24. EXIT SLIP What lasting consequences can be seen today that resulted from the Watergate Scandal?