Politics and Economics The Nixon Administration Created by: Mr. Chansen, Stephen T. Department Head - Sunset High School Dallas Independent School District

Appealing to Middle America By the Presidential election of 1968, many people in the U.S. were extremely frustrated. Many people turned to Republican Richard M. Nixon He courted the vote of what he called “Middle American” and the “Silent Majority” Also promised to end the war in Vietnam and bring “peace with Honour” Said he would bring the country back to more traditional values His opponents Hubert Humphrey (Democrat) George Wallace (American Independent)

Nixon’s “Southern Strategy” A Major Shift in American Political Parties Nixon went after the votes in the South. These had traditionally been Democratic states going all the way back before the Civil War. He met with Southern senators like Strom Thurmond & promised to appoint a Southern VP (Spiro Agnew – Gov. of Maryland), he would oppose the courts on things like busing in the South, and he would only appoint conservatives to Federal courts, including a Southerner to the U.S. Supreme Court. Strategy worked – White Southerners abandoned the Democratic Party and began a steady switch over to the Republicans. Democrats were only victorious in one Southern state, Texas. 4 Southern states went to Wallace though. He was a segregationist. After his victory, Nixon attracted more Southerners to him and the Republican Party by slowing desegregation & even worked to overturn some Civil Rights policies.

A “Law-and-Order” President Another campaign promise of Nixon’s, had been to uphold law and order. Went after anti-war protesters Attorney General Mitchell prosecuted those who crossed state lines and started riots “We’re going to enforce the law against draft evaders, against radical students, against deserters, against civil disorders, against organized crime, and against street crime.” Also opposed Supreme Court rulings that expanded rights for accused criminals When Chief Justice Earl Warren retired, Nixon replaced him with Conservative judge Warren Burger. During his presidency, he also appointed another 3 conservative judges to the Supreme Court, including 1 Southerner. These new Justices did not reverse older ruling, but they refused to expand on them. Stone v. Powell (1976) – limited the right to appeal state convictions to a Federal court. Reaffirmed capital punishment

Another Nixon Campaign promise had been to reduce the size of the Federal Government. Policy of “New Federalism” – End several government programs and give more control and power back to the states. This was supposed to be more effective. Congress passed new “revenue-sharing” laws that would make state agencies more dependent on Federal funding. Revenue-sharing – federal tax money that is distributed among the states. Nixon set out to end or reduce in size many of Johnson’s “Great Society” programs. He vetoed funding for the Department of Housing & Urban Development Eliminated the Office of Economic Opportunity When Congress would approve funds for a program he opposed, Nixon would “impound” that money and refuse to release it. Impound – to take possession of By 1973, Nixon had impounded about $18 Billion, the Supreme Court then said it was Unconstitutional. New Federalism

Family Assistance Plan One piece of social legislation that Nixon actually pushed for was his reform of the welfare system. Program was called Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) 1969 – Nixon tries to replace AFDC with the Family Assistance Plan Would provide needy families with a $1600/year grant Liberals were thrilled & supported the plan Conservatives were against guaranteed income Passed the House of Reps. In 1970, but was defeated in the Senate.

Nixon’s Foreign Policy Despite his involvement in social issues, it was said that Nixon had a “monumental disinterest in domestic policies,” and that he wanted a “competent cabinet” to run the country for him so he could focus on foreign policy. Nixon choose former Harvard professor Henry Kissinger as his personal advisor for foreign policy. Kissinger had served under both Kennedy and Johnson Nixon and Kissinger shared many views Both thought that simply abandoning the war in Vietnam would hurt the U.S. internationally Implemented the Vietnamization Policy Worked so well, that they expanded the policy to other allies around the world. It became known as the Nixon Doctrine. Nixon’s Foreign Policy

Détente Soviet Union was upset about Nixon become president, as he was known as an anti-communist Nixon and Kissinger still wanted to contain communism, but thought that negotiating was a better strategy Developed new policy called détente. Détente – a policy that attempts to relax or ease tensions between nations. This policy helped ease the tensions between the U.S. and its 2 biggest rivals, the communist nations of the USSR and China. Proxy wars Even with improved relations the U.S. still got involved in places like Chile, when the CIA supported a coup of President Salvador. Conflicts like these did not directly involve the U.S. or the USSR, but were supported because it was a part of their international strategy.

Nixon Goes to China The détente with China was particularly helpful in easing tensions. The U.S. had refused to recognize the communist government there since their successful revolution in 1949. Instead the U.S. recognized the exiled regime that was on the Island of Taiwan. Nixon had previously supported this policy, but now reversed it. After months of highly secret negotiations between Kissinger and the Chinese, Nixon said he would travel to China in February, 1972. During the trip both sides agreed to a “more normal” relationship

Easing of U.S./U.S.S.R. Tensions Nixon’s policy had worked, soon after the world learned of the scheduled U.S./China meet, the USSR proposed a summit between the 2 nations. Summit – a meeting between heads of government Nixon flew to Moscow on May 22, 1972. During summit, both nations signed the SALT I Treaty. SALT – Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty Agreement that both nation temporarily “froze” the number of nuclear weapons. Increased trade Exchange of scientific knowledge Best period of US/Soviet relations through entire Cold War Helped to inspire the Helsinki Accords held in 1975