1. 32.3 The Ford and Carter Years
Essential Questions
What were the challenges to the Ford and Carter Administrations?

2. Key Terms Gerald R. Ford Jimmy Carter National Energy Act Human Rights
Camp David Accords

3. Key Dates August 9, 1974 Ford is sworn in as President
May Mayaguez Incident
November Jimmy Carter Elected
September 17, 1978 – Camp David Accords
July 15, 1979 – “Crisis of Confidence” Speech

4. “Our long national nightmare is over”-Gerald Ford
What problems did Ford face when he was sworn in as President?
Watergate
Distrust of the government
The economy- still nation’s biggest issue
Ford appeared honest, but also boring
“I’m a Ford, not a Lincoln”
Commonly described as “Square”

5. Gerald R. Ford

6. Nixon Pardon
September 8, 1974 Ford Pardons Nixon for role in Watergate
“A body blow to the president's own credibility…”-The New York Times
Ford believed it would help the nation move past Watergate
Damaged Ford’s public support
Hoped to win back support by instituting new policies to address the nation’s struggling economy

8. Ford’s Economic Policies
Inflation and unemployment – stagflation continued to be a problem
Inflation was 11% by end of 1974
Much of it was caused by rising oil and gas prices
“Whip Inflation Now”
Asked people to cut back on gas and oil
Cut government spending
Increased interest rates
Initially made things worse- economy moved into full-recession

9. Were Ford’s policies bad for the nation?
Battles With Congress
Democratic Congress was opposed to much of Ford’s economic policy
Wanted to increase spending on jobs programs, health, education
Ford vetoed much of their legislation- arguing that increased spending would only make inflation worse
Ford vetoed over 50 Bills in two years
By 1976 inflation was below 10% and unemployment had fallen about .5% from 8.5 to 8%
Were Ford’s policies bad for the nation?

10. Ford’s Foreign Policy Continued much of Nixon’s policies
Henry Kissinger remained Secretary of State
Helsinki Accords
Agreements designed to increase cooperation b/t Eastern and Western Europe
Mayaguez incident
Cambodia seized US ship Mayaguez
Ford launches airstrikes on Cambodia and sends US Marines to rescue hostages
41 soldiers are killed saving 39 hostages

11. S.S. Mayaguez

12. USS Holt Boards the Mayaguez

13. The Election of 1976 Ford eventually wins Republican Nomination
Faced strong opposition from Conservative former California Governor Ronald Reagan
Democrats nominate former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter
Democrats in strong position after Watergate and conflict in the Republican Party
“We could run an aardvark this year and win”
Carter ran as a Washington outsider- to an advantage
Carter was folksy, and his personality and morality helped him more than his experience

14. Jimmy Carter

15. Carter Campaign

17. Carter’s Inauguration

18. The Carter Administration
Energy Crisis
Caused mostly by over-reliance on imported oil
1978- National Energy Act
Tax on gas guzzling cars
Tax credits for alternative energy sources
Removal of price controls on heating oil and gasoline for US resources
Cars became more efficient
Renewable sources of energy began to be developed

19. Continuing Economic Crisis
1979- violence in the Middle East raises prices and causes oil shortages in the US
Inflation rose to 11.3%
Price controls
Spending cuts
De-regulation of transportation
Raise in interest rates
Seen as inconsistent
“Crisis of Confidence Speech”
Inflation at 13.5%

20. Rust Belt Economy shifted to service economy from industrial
Foreign Competition
Higher energy costs
Loss of low skill labor
Many cities especially in North and Midwest lost their industries ex. steel, automotive, textile
Rust Belt Cities
Ex. Baltimore, Detroit, Buffalo, Cleveland

24. Domestic Policy
Ford
Carter
Pros
Cons

25. Human Rights Foreign Policy
Rejected realpolitik and Détente
Focused on Human Rights
Carter refused Aid to countries that had human rights violations
examples?
Many of these nations were US allies
Supported dictators in some countries and cut off others
Angered US allies and was initially popular but public support for the policy quickly fell
More tension with Soviet Union
Soviet invasion of Afghanistan led to a escalation of tensions in 1979

26. Camp David Accords Carter’s biggest foreign policy achievement
Summer 1978 brought Egyptian President Anwar el-Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin
Two Agreements
5 year transition period for Israel and Jordan to work out issue of self-rule for Palestinians
Ending hostilities between Israel and Egypt
Detailed treaty signed in March 1979
Israel returned conquered land to Egypt
Egypt recognized Israel as a nation- 1st Arab nation to do so.

27. Iranian Hostage Crisis
Shah of Iran was US ally since 1950s
Corrupt
Brutal
Secret police- Savak- tortured and executed thousands
January Massive strikes and protests paralyze country
January Ayatollah Ruhollah Kohmeini returns from exile in Paris- establishes government based strictly on the Qur’an
October Shah flees Iran
Goes to the United States for cancer treatment
November Iranian students storm US embassy in Tehran- capturing 52 Americans for 444 days
Carter severed diplomatic relations and severed trade with Iran
Not released to January 20th 1981

28. Shah of Iran

29. Ayatollah Kohmeini

30. Iranian Revolution

38. Foreign Policy
Ford
Carter
Pros
Cons

39. Quiz T/F The Public was supportive of Ford’s pardon of Nixon.
What two economic problems did Ford and Carter battle during their presidencies?
Who challenged Ford for the Republican presidential nomination in 1976? (Not who he ran against in the general election)
What was the focus of Jimmy Carter’s Foreign Policy?
What two nations negotiated a peace deal at Camp David?