Chapter 32 Section 3 Goal 12

Ford as President Gerald Ford became president without ever being voted for (either VP or P) Pardons Nixon for any illegal actions he may have committed Perception was the this was engineered from the beginning and was why Nixon choose Ford to replace Agnew (but never proven) Hurts Ford in 1976 election Give amnesty to all “draft dodgers” hurts him again politically

Ford and Foreign Policy Helsinki Accords: signed with the USSR  Boundaries of eastern Europe agreed upon  Agreements made regarding travel between US and USSR  Guarantees of human rights ** Many Americans see policy of détente only benefitting the USSR and not the US**

Election of 1976 Republicans nominate Ford Democrats nominate Jimmy Carter, former peanut farmer and Gov of GA, plays on the Washington “outsider” card Close election but Republicans were hurt by Watergate and Carter wins Congress also goes heavily Democrat, which will at first allow Carter to get a lot of legislation passed C1_tME C1_tME

Carter as President Establishes Dept of Energy Passes major tax cut Ends up getting hurt by being a Washington outsider, same thing that made him popular with the people Has major foreign policy issues…..

Carter and Foreign policy, highlights Focus on human rights around the world  Cut off aid to Argentina and Brazil (countries US had good relations with but had poor human rights records)  Establishes Bureau of Human Rights in the State Dept  Critics (usually supporters of Containment) say that this policy undercut potential non-communist allies. Also not in accordance with realpolitik either  Also accused of being inconsistent because supports dictators in South Korea and Philippines 1977 announces plans to give up ownership of Panama Canal (not a popular move) US had owned Panama Canal since 1914, Panamanians didn’t like this. Two nations agree to two treaties, one of which has Panama Canal go back to Panama Dec 31, 1999 Treaty passes by one vote in the Senate

Carter and Foreign Policy Camp David Accords: 1977 Egyptian President Anwar El-Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister, Menachem Begin met in Jerusalem to discuss peace between two nations Talks stall and in 1978 Carter invites Sadat and Begin to Camp David (presidential retreat in MD) to talk it out 12 days of serious negotiations, end up with CAMP DAVID ACCORDS. First signed peace agreement with Israel and an Arab country. Israel agrees to withdraw from Sinai Peninsula (seized from Egypt in the Six-Day War 1967) and Egypt will formally recognize Israel’s right to exist.\ Many issues left unsolved but recognized as a major step and MAJOR success of Carter’s presidency

SALT II Agreements Before Carter tensions with USSR were easing but Carter’s belief in human rights made things difficult again Delays second SALT meeting, Carter and Leonid Brezhnev finally meet in June 1979 in Vienna and sign the SALT II agreement (limiting of weapons) Senate dislike treaty says it puts US at military disadvantage, before treaty if passed USSR invades Afghanistan (Dec 1979). Not good because this is an expansion of Communism, threat to oil fields and production, and their next-door neighbor is Iran US places embargo on USSR and boycotts 1980 summer olympics in Moscow SALT II dies and is never signed because of the above actions

Iran Hostage Crisis By 1979, Shah of Iran (leader of Iran and ally of US put in power by US CIA and US controlled was in trouble, resentment over his regime’s corruption and dictatorial tactics was spreading Jan 1979, revolution breaks out in Iran, led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (Muslim religious leader) goal was to overthrow the Shah and set up a religious state based on strict obedience to the Koran. Carter and US support the Shah, Oct 1979 Shah is allowed to enter US for cancer treatment (had actually fled Iran in Jan when revolution starts) This really makes revolutionaries in Iran mad! Nov 4, 1979 armed students seize the US embassy in Tehran and took 52 Americans hostage, demand US send Shah back to Iran IF we want the hostages released Carter refuses and year long standoff ensues US works to get hostages released on our own terms, economic sanctions, secret rescue mission, none successful Jan 20, 1981 (shortly after Reagan takes office) hostages are released after 444 days in captivity This really hurts Carter’s presidency…Iran becomes the symbol of a wealth of problems Americans believe that Carter can not solve

Economic Problems of Carter Much worse than the foreign policy issues Inflation was rising, 13% in 1979 (4% considered normal) Cost of importing oil rising, and public refuses any mention of energy conservation laws  Does manage to get National Energy Act passed which places a tax on high gas cars, removes price controls on oil and natural gas produced in US, and gives tax credits for the development of alternative energy  Results in a slight decrease in dependence on foreign oil Interest rates are high to control inflation (less people able to borrow money) Oil problems get worse in 1979 when Shah is ousted, new Iranian government anti-US, feeling spreads thru Middle East, OPEC cuts oil production and raises prices, makes problem worse and Carter is blamed for it By 1980 inflation is at 14%, US slipped from #1 standard of living to #5, big factor in getting Reagan into White House