FDR ( ) (D) *4-term president *Breaks 2-term limit of “unwritten constitution” * 22 nd Amendment-2-term limit (1954) New Deal Program 3 R’s Pump Priming Alphabet Agencies Fire side chats Attempts to pack the Supreme Court President during most of WWII Foreign Policy w Latin America: Good Neighbor Policy: less emphasis on intervention & more emphasis on cooperation. Eleanor Roosevelt: “eyes and ears” Eleanor’s after FDR died: Eleanor led a committee in the UN that authored the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Harry S. Truman ( ) (D) Took over for FDR after he died. Made decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan in 1945 to end WWII. Began the policy of containment of communism with the Truman Doctrine ($ to Greece & Turkey) Supported economic recovery in Europe through the Marshall Plan.($ to rebuild Europe, largest amt went to Britain, France, Italy & West Germany) Continued New Deal philosophy with his Fair Deal. Desegregated the military after WWII. Entered the Korean War during his presidency

Dwight D. Eisenhower (R) ( ) Commander of Allied forces in Europe during WWII Issued the Eisenhower Doctrine: The United States pledged to help any Middle Eastern nation to resist Communist aggression. (See Cold War & Foreign Policy power point for more on his foreign policy during the Cold War) Sent troops to Little Rock, Arkansas to support school desegregation. (See Civil Rights power point) While in office Alaska & Hawaii become 49 th & 50 th states.

John F. Kennedy (D) ) Domestic policy: (Issues of concern in U.S.) JFK called his domestic policy NEW FRONTIER : he continued to expand upon traditions begun during FDR’s New Deal in the 30’s. The space program : goal of landing a person on the moon by the end of the 1960’s. In 1969, six years later that goal was met when astronaut Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon’s surface. “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” – N. Armstrong The Peace Corps : program sent thousands of American volunteers to developing nations where they trained local people in technical/educational/health programs. Still in existence today.

JFK Foreign Policy: Continued Truman’s cold war policy of containment. Kennedy & Latin America: Bay of Pigs: April 1961 The failed CIA plan to overthrow Fidel Castro. A total embarrassment of Kennedy & the U.S. government. The Cuban Missile Crisis: Oct.1962 Naval Blockade of Cuba after finding out they had agreed to allow Soviets place nuclear missiles there aimed at the U.S. Brought U.S. & Soviets to brink of war. Soviets backed down. This helped Kennedy recover some of the lost prestige of the Bay of Pigs invasion. Kennedy & Vietnam: Shared Eisenhower’s belief in the Domino Theory.) (see Cold War & Foreign Policy power point for more info)

Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) (D)( ) Domestic Policy: GREAT SOCIETY: this is LBJ’s policy that promoted anti poverty programs & civil rights in the U.S. * Civil Rights Act of 1964 (see Civil Rights power point) the most sweeping civil rights law. Foreign Policy: Vietnam: Containment Escalated the war dramatically. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was passed under LBJ: It empowered the president to take all necessary measures …to prevent further aggression. So the executive branch got stronger…in essence, so did the Federal Government. Hmmmm is this a pattern? You bet your bottom dollar there is a pattern here!! Our gov’t keeps getting stronger during times of war or threat and specifically the power of the presidency.

RICHARD NIXON ( ) (R) The BIG IDEA: Beginning in the early 1970’s, conservatism (republicans) replaced liberalism (democrats) in American politics. During this time period Nixon:. Vietnam had turned into the nation’s most costly war and American support for the war was at an all-time low. VIETNAMIZATION: Nixon called for a takeover of the ground fighting by Vietnamese soldiers. He also bombed neighboring Cambodia fueling many student protests including the Kent State protest which led to four students being shot and killed by the U.S. National Guard. War Powers Act:1973 reversed Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.

NIXON Other Foreign Policy Interests: China & Soviet Union. CHINA: Presidential visit in 1971 to China. The U.S. had not had diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic since the 1949 Communist Revolution. Nixon “opened the door” to normal diplomatic relations and cleared the way for economic & cultural exchanges. Nixon’s visit is considered a turning point in U.S. foreign policy? Why? A new policy towards the Soviet Union: DÉTENTE The goal of détente was to bring a warming in the cold war. Designed to prevent open conflict. SALT: strategic arms limitations talks

NIXON: DOMESTIC ISSUES With a Congress primarily filled with Democrats he realized he would not be successful in pushing his Republican policies through Congress, hence he limited his domestic policy goals. NEW FEDERALISM: He wanted to reduce the role of Federal Gov’t and turn over more activities to the states. (to save fed $) He criticized LBJ’s GREAT SOCIETY as too costly. SCANDAL: WATERGATE AFFAIR Nixon ordered a cover-up of an investigation related to an illegal break-in to wiretap phones in the Democratic Party headquarters in Watergate Towers, Washington D.C. He resigned before he could be impeached & removed from office. Many people called Nixon’s administration the “Imperial Presidency” b/c of his disregard of the Constitution. Nixon was later pardoned by Ford his predecessor. The system of checks and balances had stopped Nixon from placing the presidency above the law. See the movie Frost/Nixon based on the real life interview of Nixon after his downfall.

FORD ( ) (R) Only president not to be elected by the American Public. (Nixon stepped down so he succeeded to the presidency) Pardoned Nixon for his actions with Watergate. An attempt at regaining the prestige of the presidency. Worked to restore faith in government after the Watergate crisis.

JIMMY CARTER (D) ) Domestic problems included inflation (Stagflation) and oil shortages. Supported international humanitarian rights. Greatest success was the CAMP DAVID ACCORDS which led to peace between Egypt and Israel. Hostage Crisis: U.S. Embassy in Iran was struck & more than 50 American hostages were taken. Released the day of President Reagan’s inauguration. Nearly a year later. Big supporter and participant of Habitat for Humanity (non governmental/non profit organization) once he completed his presidency. This organization builds homes for people in need.

RONALD REAGAN ( ) (R) Took a conservative viewpoint on social issues, such as abortion and prayer in school. Based his supply-side economic policy or “Reaganomics” on the belief that government involvement can destroy individual initiative. (A lot like Hoover’s “Trickle Down Economics”) An end to the Cold War: Berlin Wall Falls in 1989 and East and West Germany are reunified. (see Cold War & Foreign Policy for more) Popularity damaged and foreign policy weakened by Iran-Contra scandal.

George H.W. Bush (R) ( ) Inherited the budget deficits, savings and loan scandals and legacy of the Iran-Contra Affair from the Reagan administration. In office when cold war officially ended and Communist governments in Eastern Europe and Soviet Union fell. Led the U.S. in the Persian Gulf War against Iraq. August, The UN also authorized a joint military buildup called Operation Desert Shield. Became known as Operation Desert Storm in Jan. 1991—air assault on Iraq. Feb 1991 Iraq accepted all UN demands.

Bill Clinton ( ) (R) Domestic policies centered on health care and social security reform, as well as economic issues, such as reduction of national deficit. Secured approval of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) SCANDAL: Impeached by the House of Reps in 1998 on charges of perjury & obstruction of justice, but acquitted by the Senate. (note: Andrew Johnson was impeached in 1868 by the Radical Republicans. He too was not removed from office. ) Whitewater Affair: a scandal alleging the Clinton and his wife Hillary (now secretary of state for Obama) were involved in an illegal real estate scheme in Arkansas. They were never formally charged. 1990’s enjoyed the longest period of economic growth in its history.

George W. Bush ( ) Controversial Election of 2000: Bush v. Al Gore (see pic  ) Bush had 50.5% Electoral Vote Al Gore had 49.5 % of Electoral Vote Gore won the popular or people’s vote but as per the Constitution it is the majority of the electoral votes that wins the presidency. “Winner Takes All” approach. Very controversial because sometimes the winner isn’t who the majority of the population voted for, as in the case of Election Don’t forget that the electoral votes designated to each state is based on the individual states’ representation in congress. NY 33 (that’s 2 in the senate & 31 in the House of Reps)

George W. Bush (continued) Declared war on international terrorism and ordered U.S. forces into Afghanistan to defeat Taliban and al Qaeda extremists post 9/11. Patriot Act 2001 Department of Homeland Security was created in light of 9/11 terror attacks. Led the U.S. into a War against Iraq to end the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. Immigration Issues: especially more serious since 9/11. Educational Reform: No Child Left Behind. Economic Issues: Recession—Global

Barrack Obama (D) Inherited a recession from his predecessor, George W. Bush. Actively seeks to increase federal government involvement in economic matters. (ex. Bail outs for companies, job creation, financial assistance programs for people in economic crisis with housing. ) Obama is often compared to FDR with his “Pump Priming” economic philosophy. (Think New Deal programs) War on Terrorism continues to be U.S. Foreign Policy. We are still engaged in military operations in the Middle East. Recently U.S. Navy SEALS killed Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. Viewed as a huge victory for the war on terrorism.