 Chapter 25, Section 5

 Nixon and Kissinger (his most trusted advisor) believed in the idea of realpolitik. o This focused on concrete national goals as opposed to political ideologies. o Clearly define the goals and the U.S. would not be involved in affairs which it shouldn’t be.  Nixon also began U.S. recognition of communist China, specifically to further trade agreements. o It would also benefit the U.S. in driving a wedge between China and the Soviet Union and o Possibly influence the North Vietnamese to accept peace.  The U.S. formally recognized China in 1979.

 After Nixon journeyed to China, Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev began to fear Russian isolation. So he too invited Nixon to visit.  In 1972, Brezhnev and Nixon signed the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I). o It froze the deployment of ICBMs; o Placed limits on ABMs  It did not end the arms race, but it was a step in the right direction. o This went along with Nixon’s policy of détente– reducing Cold War tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

 Chapter 27, Section 1

 During his campaign, Nixon sought to be the spokesman for the ‘silent majority’ that was Middle America.  Nixon proposed the idea of a ‘New Federalism’, backing off the influence of the federal government in everyday affairs, and returning some power to the states. o He hoped to do this through revenue sharing: federal government shared revenue with the states to fund social programs.  These ideas benefitted Middle America– the key Republican demographic.

 After many years of strong growth and low inflation, the economy experienced both a recession and high inflation at the same time.  Though it began under Johnson, stagflation (the term coined) grew more troublesome under Nixon.  Causes included: expanding federal budget (due to Vietnam); rising foreign competition; increase in the price of oil. o Oil prices rose due to OPEC’s embargo on Israel and their Allies.

 Because Nixon had narrowly won the presidency in 1968, he hoped to increase his support for his 1972 bid.  To do this, he targeted blue-collar workers and southern whites, individuals who had traditionally voted Democratic. o This became known as Nixon’s Southern Strategy. It centered around being seen as a moderate. o So, on civil rights issues, such as busing, Nixon sided with those he was trying to win the support of.

 A break-in at the Democratic National Convention at the Watergate hotel gained national attention.  Nixon denied wrongdoing, but from an informant known as ‘Deep Throat’ doomed Nixon.  Although Nixon’s top aides resigned in November, 1973, Nixon still claimed that “I am not a crook.” o With the discovery of secret Oval Office tapes, Nixon was forced to turn them over, possibly implicating himself in Watergate.  Though portions of the tapes were erased, they did implicate Nixon. The House impeached him, and Nixon soon resigned.

 Chapter 27, Section 2

 Gerald Ford had become Nixon’s vice president when he was chosen to fulfill the spot vacated by Spiro Agnew.  The American people viewed Ford as honest, but soon grew to distrust him when he pardoned Nixon– officially forgiving him of any crimes he committed.  The economy continued to plague Ford, as it had Nixon. o Ford implemented a policy known as WIN (Whip Inflation Now). It encouraged personal saving and disciplined spending. o Because it was a voluntary program, however, it was not successful in helping the economy. (Sound familiar?)

 In 1976, a Washington “outsider” made a bid for the office. His name was Jimmy Carter, governor of Georgia. o He narrowly defeated Gerald Ford, but because many people distrusted professional politicians, it was enough to get him elected.  The support of the Christian fundamentalists helped propel Carter to the presidency. o They believed in a strict, literal interpretation of the Bible. o They had become a larger, more united voting bloc in the 1970s.

 Carter was soon criticized for granting amnesty (political pardon) to those who had evaded the Vietnam War draft. o Carter also faced an energy crisis and severe inflation.  Between 1973 and 1979, the price of gas rose from 40 cents to $1.20. o This stemmed from the OPEC embargo on Israel and its allies.  The growing export of Japanese cars to the United States also harmed the one-solid US automobile industry.

 Throughout the 1970s, US society underwent many cultural and social changes. o The demographics of the population changed: more people moved to the South and there was an increase in immigrants from Latin America and SE Asia; o The divorce rate increased; o Out of wedlock births increased; o Traditional values were reaffirmed and expanded with a rise in televangelists.

 Chapter 27, Section 3

 Ford continued meeting with the Soviet Union’s Leonid Brezhnev to continue the détente policy begun under Nixon.  The two leaders worked together to endorse the Helsinki Accords, which promoted human rights within Europe, and around the world.  Ford also worked to sign the SALT II agreement, further limiting the nuclear arms production between the two countries.

 Carter took a step further away from Cold War tensions by focusing the goal of Soviet relations from fighting communism to promoting human rights.  Instead of continuing détente, he imposed sanctions, or penalties on the Soviets. o This included the US boycott of the 1980 summer Olympics in Moscow.  Carter’s other foreign policy endeavors included: o Expanding human rights in developing nations; o Improved relations with Cuba; o Began the process of returning the Panama Canal Zone to Panama.

 Carter also turned his attention to the Middle East. o Ever since Israel was founded in 1948, tensions between Egypt and Israel had been high.  The two countries met to broker a peace in Jerusalem in 1977, and to continue the peace negotiations, Carter invited both leaders to Camp David. o In two weeks of negotiations, the three leaders came to agree on the Camp David Accords– Egypt would formally recognize Israel, and Israel would withdraw troops from the Sinai Peninsula.

 With peace between Israel ad Egypt, Carter hoped it would spread to the rest of the Middle East. o However, Carter would soon face his biggest crisis in office.  When the CIA had overthrown the Iranian government in the 1950s and installed a pro-American Shah, many Iranians were angered. o Opposition grew, and when the Shah fled to seek cancer treatment, rebels led by Ayatollah Khomeini seized power.  Angered over the US’ acceptance of the Shah, Iranian radical students took control of the embassy and took the workers hostage, some for over a year. This was the Iran Hostage Crisis. o The 52 hostages were held for a total of 444 days, and the crisis doomed Carter’s presidency.