The Politically Tumultuous 60s and 70s US History Mrs. Housenick 4/27/12

Review of Johnson Took over after JFK assassination in November of 1963 Helped get Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965 passed Escalated troop levels in Vietnam with Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Immigration Act of 1965

Johnson’s Great Society Program Saw himself in mold of FDR and the New Deal Massive amount of social welfare legislation, all under the idea of a War on Poverty Office of Economic Opportunity Job Corps Head Start Programs Medicare (healthcare for elderly) and Medicaid (healthcare for poor) Many programs still around today, but many have had budget cuts

Changes Made by Warren Court Earl Warren was liberal Supreme Court chief justice in 1960s and 60s While he was in charge, Supreme Court made big decisions that resulted in huge changes to US Brown v. Board of Education ruling Other key decisions: Government must provide lawyer, all suspects must be read their rights (Miranda rights). Separation of church and state: public schools couldn’t require prayer in schools

Nixon Review Elected in 1968 Moon landing in 1969 Helped bring end of US involvement in Vietnam—Vietnamization 26th Amendment passed while president—changed voting age to 18 Partly because of protest to Vietnam draft Began détente with Soviet Union Visit to China SALT treaty on long-range weapons

The Watergate Scandal Begins with break-in to Democratic party headquarters in 1972. Men responsible worked for CREEP: Committee to re-elect Nixon Made worse when V.P. Spiro Agnew resigned for taking bribes—replaced with Gerald Ford.

The Scandal Worsens Nixon denied any prior knowledge of break-ins Became evident Nixon was covering up Senate Committee investigating asked Nixon to turn over tapes from White House, Nixon refused Nixon starting to look more suspicious

The End of Nixon Finally handed over tapes in 1974 Showed Nixon had obstructed the investigation of the Watergate scandal and that he had been involved in the cover-up Senate began plans to impeach Nixon August 8, 1974: NIXON RESIGNS First president ever or since to resign Watergate left many Americans with a deep distrust of public officials Never served jail time, pardoned by President Ford later