ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS: Did the U. S ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS: Did the U.S. Presidency become unmanageable in the 1970s? How well did American leaders deal with the challenge of stagflation? Nixon and Ford

TEKS and Objectives We will… I will… (10A) describe Nixon’s leadership in relations with China and détente (10C) compare impact of energy on American way of life (10E) describe conservative resurgence of 1980s, including Phyllis Schlafly (14B) identify roles of the EPA and the Endangered Species Act (17E) describe the relationship between U.S. and OPEC oil embargo (19C) describe the effects of Watergate (21A) analyze the effects of Tinker v. Des Moines and Wisconsin v. Yoder Analyze excerpts from President Nixon and President Ford

(1969-1974) The Nixon Presidency

The Imperial Presidency The expansion of Presidential Power New Deal World Wars President Richard Nixon (R) Did not consult congress about bombing Cambodia/Laos Used public funds to remodel his public homes Used CIA/FBI to collect information about his enemies

1st Amendment Rights Tinker v. Des Moines (1969) Tinker siblings wore black armbands protesting the war Suspended from school Supreme Court ruled this was violation of 1st Amendment rights

1st Amendment Rights Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) Secondary education conflicted with Amish values/beliefs Wisconsin state law required Amish children to attend school beyond Grade 8 Supreme Court ruled law violated freedom of religion

Economy of the 1970s Inflation Nixon’s Response Rising prices, trade deficit, and rising unemployment Nixon’s Response Unsuccessful at controlling inflation Cut spending on social programs Imposed a peacetime wage and price controls

Nixon and the Environment Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Sets air/water pollution standards for cities Construction projects reviewed for environmental impact Private citizens can file lawsuits against polluters

Nixon and the Environment Endangered Species Act (1973) Protects plants/animas in danger of extinction

Nixon and Civil Rights Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) Proposed by Alice Paul in 1923 but failed to pass Congress every year Approved by Congress in 1972 but not ratified by the states Introduced to every Congress since

Nixon and Civil Rights Phyllis Schlafly Critic of Women’s Liberation Movement Campaigned against ERA Argued amendment would deprive women of the “right” to be “supported and protected” by men Feared ERA would lead to unisex restrooms and women in combat

Nixon and China (1972) Previous Presidents Nixon U.S. refused diplomatic relationship with Communist China Vetoed attempts by China to enter UN Nixon Restored diplomatic relations in order pressure N. Vietnam Became first American President to visit China

Nixon and the Soviet Union (1972) Nixon’s Policy of Détente Relaxing of tensions First President to visit Moscow Signed an agreement (SALT) limited the development of defensive missile systems

Vice President Ford Takes Office Spiro Agnew Nixon’s VP forced to resign Took bribes while serving as Governor of Maryland 25th Amendment Establishes procedures for succession of the Presidency/Vice-Presidency Gerald Ford appointed new VP

The Watergate Scandal Watergate The Cover-Up CIA agents broke into Democratic Party headquarters The Cover-Up Nixon tried to cover up investigation claiming it was a matter of national security

The Watergate Scandal The Watergate Tapes Executive Privilege Investigation revealed Nixon participated in cover-up Nixon secretly recorded all of his own White House conversations Executive Privilege Nixon refused to turn over tapes Asserted Congress had no authority to question members of executive branch

The Watergate Scandal United States v. Nixon (1974) Nixon argued turning over tapes to judicial branch violated separation of powers Supreme Court ruled Nixon must turn over tapes No one is above the law

The Watergate Scandal Nixon Resigns Tapes revealed Nixon had lied about cover-up House of Representatives moved to impeach Nixon became first President to resign

In a televised address, Nixon spoke to the nation on August 8, 1974: “I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is opposed to every instinct in my body. But as President, I must put the interests of America first. America needs a full-time President, particularly at this time with [the] problems we face at home and abroad. To continue to fight through the months ahead for my personal vindication would totally absorb the time of both the President and the Congress…Therefore, I shall resign the Presidency effective at noon tomorrow.” Did Nixon tell the truth when he made this statement resigning the Presidency?

The Watergate Scandal Impact Lowered public confidence in government Showed growth of Presidential power could lead to abuse Showed system of checks and balances works Proved 2-party system works Reaffirmed role of press in uncovering government misconduct Supreme Court preserved its independence Congress passed new laws to curb Presidential power

1974-1977 The Ford Presidency

The President’s Pardon Ford Pardons Nixon Nixon pardoned for all his crimes Pardon heavily criticized

Ford later said he intended to spare Mr Ford later said he intended to spare Mr. Nixon and the nation from further turmoil as a result of the Watergate scandals. In his Autobiography he wrote: “I simply was not convinced that the country wanted to see an ex-President behind bars. We are not a vengeful people; forgiveness is on the roots of the American tradition. And Nixon, in my opinion, had already suffered enormously…But I wasn’t motivated by concern over the state of his health. It was the state of the country’s health at home and around the world that worried me…” Do you think President Ford was truthful when he said he was more concerned about the health of the country than that of Nixon? Do you think President Ford, in pardoning Nixon, did the right thing?

Continuing Stagflation Inflation Rising prices Stagflation High unemployment + inflation

Continuing Stagflation Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Most members Arab countries U.S. sided with Israel in 1973 war Arab countries imposed oil embargo on U.S. Continued to increase oil prices even after the war Higher cost of energy for Americans

Ford and the Soviet Union Helsinki Accords (1975) International peace agreement U.S., Canada, USSR, and most European countries Recognized post-WWII borders Promised respect for human rights