70s- 90s Presidents and policies

Nixon- Foreign Policy Silent majority – referred to those Americans who did not join in the large demonstrations against the Vietnam War at the time, who did not join in the counterculture, and who did not participate in public discourse.demonstrationsVietnam Warcounterculture Law and order – Targeted nation’s antiwar protesters – Placed several conservative justices on the Supreme Court, i.e. Warren Burger – Relations with China and Soviet Union – Détente- Easing of tensions with China – Visited China in 1972 – Hoped to encourage a more active pursuit of diplomacy – Visited Moscow in later that year Henry Kissinger- Secretary of State, worked with Nixon to forged friendly relations with Soviet Union and China

President Richard Nixon (Domestic Issues) SALT- Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty – Part of Nixon’s trip to Moscow – A plan to limit nuclear arms between the two nations Environmental Protection Agency – –Endangered Species Act – Required Federal agencies to “use the best scientific and commercial data available” to protect endangered or threatened species Watergate- Nixon Administration’s attempt to cover up a break in at the Democratic National Committee’s headquarters. Nixon resigns facing impeachment charges

President Jimmy Carter (Foreign Policy) – Camp David Accords— Israel/ Egypt Peace Treaty (1979) – Carter helped broker a historic peace treaty – Marked the first step in achieving peace in the Middle East – Iran Hostage Crisis- 52 American hostages held in Iran for 444 days – Carter tried an unsuccessful rescue mission – Hostages not released until the day Carter left office

Jimmy Carter (Domestic Issues) – Energy Policies (Dept. Of energy created) – Created to help reduce U.S. energy consumption – Many energy proposals blocked by Congress – 2 major fuel shortages – OPEC – raising of oil prices – Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 – to reduce discriminatory credit practices against low- income neighborhoods, a practice known as redliningredlining Stagflation – combination of rising prices and economic stagnation

Ronald Reagan (Foreign Policy) – Lebanon (Beirut) Marines in Lebanon "Peace Through Strength" – Increased defense spending – Iran Contra Affair

Ronald Reagan (Domestic Issues) – Reaganomics – Reagan encouraged the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates high and asked Congress for a massive tax cut – Critics called it “trickle-down economics” “conservative resurgence” –Growth in the conservative movement (Moral Majority)

Bill Clinton Focused on the economy – Lower interest rates – Reduce the federal deficit – Instead raised taxes Health care issues – Put the burden of benefits on the employers Contract with America – Republican response to Clinton – Able to pass most reforms including lower taxes, welfare reform, anti-crime laws

Bill Clinton Impeached – Arranged illegal loans to a real estate company – Affair with a White House intern – December 1998, Impeachment hearings – Found not guilty of perjury 55-45, and on the charge of obstruction of justice – Not impeached but reputation damaged

George W. Bush Bush v. Gore – Supreme Court rules 7-2 that the hand recounts in Florida violated equal protection clause – Ruling left Bush the winner of 2000 election Strategic Defense – Bush favored the effort to develop missiles and other devices that could shoot down nuclear missiles

George W. Bush War on Terrorism – 9/11 Terrorist Attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. – More Americans were killed on 9/11 than Pearl Harbor….3,000 Al-Qaeda – Responsible for 9/11 – Led by Osama bin Laden – Recruited Muslims and channeled money and arms to the Afghan resistance and acts of terror

Barack Obama present 2008 Election – America elects first African-American President ?????

Important people In Modern America a. Bill Gates b. Sam Walton c. Estée Lauder d. Robert Johnson e. Lionel Sosa f. Billy Graham g. Barry Goldwater h. Sandra Day O'Connor i:Oprah Winfrey j: Sonia Sotomayor K: Hillary Clinton L:Phyllis Schlafly M:Raul (Roy) Perez Benavidez