1. The Nixon Years

2. I. Election of 1968  Richard Nixon defeated Hubert H. Humphrey  Democrats retained control of Congress  Nixon promised to bring America together by being open to new ideas

3. II. Domestic Issues  War Against Crime  Had domestic success with war against crime  Added conservative judges to the Supreme Court  Economic Policies  War on poverty and vietnam war produced large deficit and inflation  Addressed inflation by slowing the money supply; unemployment increased  Slowdown of business reduced federal revenue increasing inflation resulting in stagflation  Froze wages, prices, and rents to address stagflation  Stimulated economy with tax cuts  New Federalism  Intended to reduce role of federal government’s role in economy and turn over tasks to state and local governments

4.  Energy Crisis  Shortage of energy, namely oil  Arabs (OPEC) placed an embargo on oil exports in 1973 in response to US support of Israel. This led to shortage of gas and heating oil  The embargo made the US realize its dependence on foreign oil  Built a pipeline across Alaska to make country self- sufficient by 1980  Congress passed laws lowering highway speeds to 55 mph

5. III. Foreign Policy Issues  Nixon wanted to be remembered as a peacemaker  Soviet Union  Henry Kissinger appointed national security advisor and later secretary of state  Détente – relaxed tensions between US and USSR  SALT – limited production of nuclear weapons  China  Improved relations and became more open  1 st president to visit China  Major obstacle was Taiwan  Remove troops  Exchange for vietnamese troops

6.  Vietnam  Pentagon Papers (1971) secret government documents about the misleading of the war  Vietnamization – withdraw of US troops replacing them with South Vietnamese troops  Allowed the US to withdraw with “honor”  Middle East  1973, Yom Kippur War – Egypt and Syria attack Israel  US supports Israel and Soviets aided the Arab nations. War would in a cease fire  Shuttle diplomacy – flying back and forth between capitals seeking to find lasting peace