Chapter 28: Politics and Economics

The Nixon Administration The Election of 1968 Early Policies US Relations with China, USSR Henry Kissinger

The Election of 1968 Nixon (Republican) v. Humphrey (Democrat) v. Wallace (Independent) Role of Southern Voters Historically Democratic Effect of Alabama’s Wallace Nixon’s approach to Southerners South Carolina’s Strom Thurmond Conservatives to federal courts, Supreme Court Southern VP Oppose court-ordered busing

And the winner is…Richard Nixon

Nixon’s Policies New Federalism Improve Government Efficiency Dismantled Federal Programs More Control to Local and State Gov’t Results? Revenue-Sharing Plan Federal Funding to State and Local Agencies Conditional Funding Problems Impounded Funding Refusing to release funding appropriated by Congress Declared Unconstitutional

Henry Kissinger Background German Immigrant who fled Nazi Germany Served in US Military Intelligence during WWII Worked as a consultant on national security for Kennedy and Johnson Took position as National Security Advisor for Nixon

Kissinger and Nixon Shared Views Vietnamization (Nixon Doctrine) Cannot abandon Vietnam (focus on gradual withdrawal) Work with South Vietnamese to defend themselves US Allies Take care of own defense US still provide aid and training No longer “conceive all the plans, design all the programs, execute all the decisions, and undertake all the defense of the free nations of the world”

Detente Definition: Relaxing of Tensions Kissinger and Nixon: Multipolar world meant US adaptation Role of China, Japan, and Western Europe Relations with Communist states China: 1972 Visit, “Normalize Relations”, Political Tool with USSR USSR: 1972 Summit, SALT I, Proxy Wars

Watergate

Background June 17, 1972 Nixon’s advisors order break-in of Democratic HQ to steal campaign information Five men arrested for attempt to place wiretaps on phones and steal information from Democratic National Headquarters (located at the Watergate Hotel) One of the five men, James McCord, was a retired CIA agent Also a member of Committee for the Re-Election of the President Role of Woodward and Carl Bernstein

Watergate continued Reports that CRP funded burglars Funds coming from White House? Cover-up begins White House officials destroy incriminating documents False testimony to investigators CIA stops FBI from investigating Nixon’s press secretary: “White House has had no involvement” Effects on the Election?

1972 Election Nixon’s Reelection Campaign Effects of 1960 loss and 1968 Election Secretive, Defensive, Resentful of Critics Effects of Vietnam and riots China and Russia George Wallace drops out after attack South Dakota Sen. George McGovern Win at any cost—WATERGATE Nixon wins by one of the largest margins in history (61% of popular vote, 49 states, 520 electoral votes)

Watergate (post-election) 1973: Burglars go on trial McCord testifies in front of grand jury and in front of the new Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities Testimony leads to White House and campaign officials exposed John Dean (counsel to the president) made allegations against Nixon

Testimonies John Dean: Attorney General John Mitchell ordered break-in Nixon active in cover-up (Nixon denies role) Who told the truth? Alexander Butterfield (White House aide): Recording system in White House Would explain what Nixon really knew Legal Decision (US v. Nixon, 1974)

The Tapes Executive privilege? Confidential for National Security US v. Nixon Archibald Cox Special prosecutor appointed by Nixon to handle Watergate Took Nixon to court to hand over tapes Nixon response Att. Gen. Richardson refused to fire Cox and resigned Richardson’s deputy did same Solicitor General Robert Bork fires Cox (Saturday Night Massacre) US v. Nixon results

After the tapes House Judiciary Committee votes to impeach Nixon on charges of misconduct, obstructing justice, misusing federal agencies, and defying authority of Congress Before House vote on impeachment evidence of Nixon’s involvement surfaced CIA order to stop FBI investigation

Friday, August 8, 1974 Wednesday, August 6, 1974

Results Gerald Ford becomes president September 8, 1974: “full, free, and absolute pardon” to Nixon New Laws Federal Campaign Act Amendments Limits campaign contributions Established agency to administer stricter election laws Ethics in Government Act Financial disclosure in all three branches of government FBI Domestic Security Investigations Guideline Act Restricted political intelligence gathering activities Created Counsel for investigating high government officials

Exit Slip “Watergate was probably a good thing for the country; it was a good, sobering lesson. Accountability to the law applies to everyone. The problem with kings and prime ministers and presidents is that they think that they are above it…that they have some special rights, and privileges, and status. And a process that says: No. We have our laws and believe them, and they apply to everyone, is a very good thing.” -Bob Woodward, Nixon: An Oral History of His Presidency Do you believe Woodward that the laws in the US apply to everyone? Why or why not?