Nixon’s Presidency

1968 Election Results Johnson decided against running for reelection Richard Nixon won a narrow victory over Hubert Humphrey A third candidate, George Wallace - a pro-segregation governor of Alabama took many votes in the South

The “Silent Majority” Nixon appealed to what he believed was the majority of Americans: “Non-shouters, non-demonstrator…” His campaign focused on: Crime and punishment The “welfare mess” This spoke to a rising conservative backlash against the counterculture

Nixon’s Foreign Policy In 1969 President Nixon announced a new direction for American Foreign Policy Détente  relaxation of tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union and China Realpolitik: realistic approach to politics based on what’s best for the nation

Nixon Visits China February, 1972  Nixon announced that he would visit China to work towards more normal relations Nixon hoped that dealing with China could: Help in Vietnam Divide the two communist powers further Pressure the Soviets into an arms treaty

United States-Soviet Tensions Ease May, 1972  American- Soviet summit held to discuss the tensions between the nations Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I)  plan to limit nuclear arms in both nations

Latin American Politics Nixon and the CIA supported Augusto Pinochet in a military coup (takeover) of the communist Chilean government Pinochet would control Chile until 1990 He was then tried for Crimes Against Humanity for numerous atrocities

Nixon Domestic Policy New Federalism  reduce the size of the federal government by dismantling several federal programs and giving more control to state and local governments Nixon tried to undo a number of Great Society programs, but he ended up expanding some like the Food Stamp program

Watergate Scandal Nixon greatly desired reelection, so his advisors ordered men to break into the Democratic Party’s headquarters at Watergate complex and steal any sensitive campaign information A security guard making a routine round spotted a piece of tape holding a door lock and ripped it off When he came back around, the tape was there again and he called the police and the men were arrested

The InvestigATION It was also revealed that the President had a recording device put in the Oval Office The Senate and a special prosecutor demanded Nixon’s tapes He refused and fired his Attorney General who refused to fire the special prosecutor

Nixon Resigns The court ordered Nixon to turn over the tapes and he complied Several days later, the House Judiciary Committee voted to impeach Nixon August 9, 1974  Nixon resigned to avoid impeachment and Gerald Ford took the oath of office

Gerald Ford’s Presidency Nixon’s V.P. Spiro Agnew had resigned so without a VP, Nixon chose Gerald Ford Ford pardoned Nixon for any crime(s) he may have committed He lost the election in 1976 to Jimmy Carter

Berlin Wall Falls, 1989 A wave of rebellion against Soviet influence occurs throughout its European allies. Eventually East and West Germany are reunited in 1990. December 21, 1991, USSR dissolved and Boris Yeltsin becomes the president of Russia.