1. Watergate:Nixon’s Downfall Ford and Carter Administration
Chapter Notes

2. Watergate scandal
scandal that centered around the Nixon Administration attempt to cover-up a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters
Nixon & Admin relied on distance from Congress & secrecy from many.
Push for re-election
June, 1972, a guard at Watergate caught five men breaking in
burglars were former CIA & members of CRP
The cover-up began
documents in Admin’s offices were shredded
Nixon asks CIA to urge FBI to stop investigations

3. Woodward & Bernstein publish reports-Washington Post
“How much did the President know?”
some stated Nixon was involved in cover-up
presidential aide told that Nixon taped ALL of his conversations
Nixon Admin members resign/fired one after the other Sat. Night Massacre
In ‘74 Nixon finally releases pages of edited transcripts of the tapes
Investigators & Supreme Court wanted all & unedited
After a subpoena, Nixon released the tapes, BUT
Contained many gaps, one with 18.5 min gap
Nixon’s sec. had accidentally erased part of a conversation

4. One tape answered the question; Nixon had known & helped
Before the House could impeach him Nixon resigned
Only president to ever resign from office
He admitted no guilt
**Effects of Watergate:
produced a deep letdown toward the presidential office
public & media developed a distrust about political officials

5. Ford Administration
After Nixon resigned Gerald Ford was appointed president of the U.S.
Gerald Ford is the only president never elected to office (speaker of the house)
Granted Nixon a full pardon of the Watergate scandal, made many mad
Helsinki Accords-series of agreements that promised greater cooperation between nations of Eastern & Western Europe

6. Carter Administration
The 1976 election
won by a nationally unknown peanut farmer & former governor of GA Jimmy Carter
Carter considered the energy crisis the most important issue facing the nation
National Energy Act place tax on gas-guzzling cars, removed price controls on oil & natural gas in US
Carter’s Energy Act also extended tax credits for the development of alternative energy
Carter appointed to office more African Americans that any other president
*Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
stated that affirmative action was unconstitutional

7. Carter’s Legacy: Good and Bad
*Camp David Accords
Carter helped forge peace between long-time enemies Israel & Egypt
HUGE SET BACK FOR CARTER ADMINISTRATION
*Iran Hostage Crisis
Ayatollah Khomeini led rebels to overthrow the shah, established a religious state based on the Koran
Carter allowed the fleeing shah to enter the US it angered Iranians who in 1979 seized the US Embassy
52 Americans were held hostage in return for the shah being returned, Carter refused & a yr long standoff
This & economic problems cost Carter, 1980 election went to Ronald Reagan
Reagan was able to get the hostages freed after 444 days in captivity