The Stalemated Seventies

I. Détente and China Détente= The period of 1968-1976, which is characterized by diminished tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States. Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT)- attempt to reduce nuclear weapons in both the US and Soviet Union.

I. Détente and China Nixon was the first president to visit the Communist country of China in 1972. This helped formalize foreign relations between the US and China.

II. 1972 Landslide Republican Incumbent: Nixon running for a second term. Democrat: McGovern Promised to remove all troops from Vietnam in 90 days. Nixon won all states except for Massachusetts.

III. Watergate June 17, 1972. The scandal began when members of CREEP (Yes, CREEP) or the Republican Committee for the Reelection of the President, were caught with wiretapping materials in headquarters of the Democratic Party at the Watergate Hotel. Word comes out that the president knew about this and tried to cover it up.

III. Watergate The worst of the scandal involved: Obstruction of justice- covering up a crime and lying to the investigators about key facts. Burglarizing psychiatric office of political enemy Daniel Ellsberg. Illegal use of the FBI and CIA to wiretap conversations. Use of the IRS to harass political opponents. Most damaging revelation for Nixon: He secretly taped all conversations (phone and in person) in the oval office!

IV. Nixon Resigns July 1974 the Supreme Court ordered Nixon to submit all tapes to Congress despite his claim of “executive privilege.” Nixon believed that the executive (President) had a privilege to keep information confidential. Nixon realized impeachment was on the horizon, so he resigned in August of 1974 to keep the presidential retirement plan…

V. America’s First Unelected President After Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned due to his own scandal, Congress approved the new choice of a longtime congressman from Michigan, Gerald Ford. When Nixon resigned, Ford became the first unelected President. Ford pardoned Nixon for any “known and unknown crimes” he had committed as president. Hugely controversial. People wanted justice and revenge! May have led to Ford losing the election in 1976.

VI. The Peanut Farming President Election of 1976 200 year anniversary of the Declaration of Independence! Republican Incumbent: Gerald Ford Democrat: Jimmy Carter, a peanut farmer from Georgia whose honest campaign (“I will never lie to you.”) got him elected.

VI. The Peanut Farming President Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt Carter’s most spectacular foreign policy achievement. Stagflation Massive inflation, a stagnant economy and oil shortages. Iranian Hostage Crisis 52 American hostages held for 444 days. Cause: The Iranians wanted the U.S. to return their exiled Shah for trial. Botched rescue made Carter look weak. Soviets moved into Afghanistan (their Vietnam).

VII. The Election of 1980 Ronald Reagan (Republican) wins against Carter. Promised to revitalize the economy and keep the Soviets in check. “Reaganomics” Cut taxes for the rich to stimulate the economy. “Trickle-down theory” AKA supply side economics.