Today’s Standard SSUSH25 Describe President Richard M. Nixon’s opening of China, the Watergate scandal, and the Presidency of Gerald Ford.

The Presidency of Richard Nixon The Watergate Scandal & The Presidency of Gerald Ford 1969 - 1977

The Election of 1968 1) The 60s – dominated by Democrats The Election of 1968 – an era of Conservatism 2) Republican Party Richard Nixon is elected 37th President Private man Didn’t trust many 3) Relied more on a few advisors rather than his own cabinet

Nixon and Foreign Relations 4) Nixon wanted to focus on foreign relations He would ease Cold War tensions Nixon’s most trusted advisor was the Secretary of State Head of foreign policy Henry Kissinger

Detente 5) Nixon’s plans for relaxing the Cold War tension was called detente A policy of improving relations with communist powers China Russia Nixon at the Great Wall of China

Nixon & China 6) The United States had not given Communist China formal recognition as a nation since its establishment in 1949 Nixon, however, made a few very important moves to improve relations with China A) He visited and toured China and met with Chairman Mao Zedong B) Nixon agreed to pull U.S. troops out of the Chinese island of Taiwan

Nixon and Russia Nixon also wanted better relations with Russia 7) 1972 – Nixon visits Russia and meets with Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev There, they both signed the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) Limited the number of missiles to be owned by the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. A big step towards reducing the nuclear threat of the Cold War

The Watergate Scandal Nixon was popular and successful during his first term 1) He was determined to win re-election in 1972; even if it meant illegal activity 2) Since members of his cabinet had to be approved by the Senate, he didn’t share his secrets with them 3) Instead, Nixon hired his own secret group to do his bidding – “the plumbers”

The Break-In June 17, 1972 4) The Democratic National Committee Headquarters at the Watergate office Washington, D.C. A break in was attempted by the “Plumbers” to wiretap phones of Nixon’s opponents They were caught and arrested Money they had was traced back to President Nixon 5) The Watergate Scandal

Nixon Resigns Nixon denied involvement Reporters continued uncovering evidence 6) July 1974 – The Supreme Court demands Nixon’s private phone recordings 7) Rather than face certain impeachment, Nixon decided to resign on August 8th, 1974 The first president to do so The famous last picture of Nixon as he leaves the White House.

President Gerald Ford 1974 - 1976 1) Nixon’s Vice-President Gerald Ford took over 2) Lost much popularity when he pardoned Nixon for Watergate 3) Ford faced a Congress dominated by Democrats He couldn’t really get anything done 4) He would run for re-election in 1976 but was defeated by Democrat from Georgia Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter 39th President of the United States