The Ford and Carter Years How does the country heal & suffer during the late 70s?

Ford Pardons Nixon  To move the country beyond Watergate, Ford pardons Nixon of any crimes he may have committed while President  Ford loses much public support – but some say it allowed the country to heal quicker from wounds of Vietnam & Watergate  After being sworn in President Gerald Ford tells America “our long national nightmare is over”

Ford and the Economy Mid 70s experiencing an energy crisis due to high oil & electric prices - Ford urged energy conservation Recession is getting worse, Inflation at 10%, Ford starts WIN – Whip Inflation Now WIN=Cut spending & raise interest rates, RESULT: made recession worse Constant battles w/ Dem Congress – Ford vetoes 50 bills in 2 yrs

Ford’s Foreign Policy Due to War Powers Act Ford can’t help in S. Vietnam However, Ford keeps Kissinger who continues Nixon’s détente Ford participates in the Helsinki Accords 35 nations signed the Accords, which mend relationships between Eastern and Western Europe

1976 Election Ford challenged in his own party by CA Gov Ronald Reagan Ford beats Reagan for Republican nomination, faces Georgia Gov Jimmy Carter in November, Carter seen as an “outsider”  Carter beats Ford in very close election te.org/commercials/ outube.com/ watch?v=jlz 0he9rtKw&s afe=active utube.com/wa tch?v=nEIpAI qzbTg&safe= active

Economy Worsens Carter goes to Congress with 100 proposals on Energy Crisis, is met with resistance by Senators who states depend cars/gas 1978: Carter & Congress agree pass National Energy Act: tax “gas guzzlers” & give tax credits for alternative energy Americans use less foreign oil so OPEC slows production Oil prices rise, inflation climbs to 14%, unemployment on the rise

Environmental Issues of 1970s 1970s sees more environmental awareness, incl. first “Earth Day”, Clean Air Act and conservation laws in Alaska Mid 70s: Hooker Chemical sells “Love Canal” site to developers and school district In NY 1978: Press reveals Hooker Chemical used the site to dump toxic waste, which is now contaminating area Due to energy crisis, many feel nuclear power is the answer but citizens question if it is safe 1979: series of human errors leads to a partial meltdown of a nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island in PA

Skylab 1979: US Space Station Skylab is about to fall out of space, people begin to panic, will Skylab fall on me? Clip: How long was Skylab manned? Where did Skylab eventually hit? Clip #1: What did safety officials say at first? Was there a real danger? What do all plants now have as a result?

Carter’s Foreign Policy Carter & Sec’y of State Cyrus Vance reject realpolitik policy of Kissinger, want to focus on human rights Cut off relations with Argentina and Brazil due to dictatorships Agreed to return the Panama Canal to Panama on 12/31/99 Signs SALT II w/ Soviets, when Soviet Union invades Afghanistan, Congress refuses to ratify SALT II Carter boycotts Olympic in Moscow

Camp David Accords Carter gets leaders of Egypt & Israel to meet at Camp David to mediate a peace agreements between two nations Israel returns the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, Egypt recognizes Israel’s right to exist

Iran Hostage Crisis 1979: Ayatollah Khomeini tells people of Iran to revolt against the rule of Shah Mohammad Pahlavi, who is backed by US Shah flees Iran, Khomeini takes control Carter allows Shah into US for medical treatment Iranian students storm US embassy taking 52 workers hostage, students demand the return of the Shah for US hostages

444 Days Carter refuses, US tries rescue attempt but it fails Shah dies in hospital – hostages still held for 444 days Economy & hostage crisis make Carter look weak Clips : 1) What happens to the Shah in 1953 and who restores him to power? 2) What does Carter do to Iranian money? 3) When are hostages released?