1. The Ford and Carter Years 1974-1980

2. Gerald Ford Vice President to Nixon
Sworn in – Appoints Nelson Rockefeller as VP
Scandal – Nixon’s Pardon
“Our national nightmare is over”
Free-market: 66 vetoes
1975 “Halloween Massacre” Rumsfeld Sec. of Defense, Cheney Chief of Staff
George HW Bush head of CIA

3. Ford and the Economy Recession & Inflation grew
Ford urged energy conservation
WIN – Whip Inflation Now!
Cut spending, urged higher interest rates
This made recession worse
Ford SNL

4. Ford’s Foreign Policy Kissinger remained Sec. of State
Fall of Saigon April 1975
Helsinki Accords - continued detente
Mayaguez incident vs. Khmer Rouge in Cambodia (1975)

5. Jimmy Carter - Democrat
1976 election narrowly defeats Ford
“Dark horse” “Man of the people”
Promised to bring honesty back to Washington
Strong Democrat majority in Congress but he still had difficulty

6. Carter on Energy… Energy Crisis continues Urged conservation
Developed the National Energy Act
Taxed “gas guzzlers”
Gave tax credits for alternative energy research
Gas prices temporarily eased by 1979

7. Economy Worsens OPEC raises prices again in ’79
By 1980 – inflation climbed to 13%

8. Shift in Focus of Foreign Policy
Carter focused on Humans Rights
Rejected “Realpolitik” of Kissinger
Cut off aid to oppressive governments of Argentina and Chile
Agreed to return the Panama Canal to Panama on 12/31/99

9. Do you agree with President Carter that human rights concerns should steer U.S. foreign policy? Why or why not?
Think about:
The responsibility of promoting human rights.
The loss of good relations with certain countries.
The collapse of détente with the Soviet Union.

10. Middle East Camp David Accords (1978)
mediated peace agreements between Egypt (Sadat) and Israel (Begin)
Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt
Egypt recognized Israel’s right to exist
Sadat & Begin

11. Iran Hostage Crisis
1979 – Iranians rebelled against the Shah (installed w/ help of CIA)
Ayatollah Khomeini led revolution returned from exile
Iran would impose strict Sharia Law
Carter allowed Shah to be treated in NY for cancer

12. Iranian Hostage Crisis…
November 4, 1979 – students raided the US embassy in Tehran
Demanded the return of the Shah for 52 US hostages
Carter refused
Lasted 444 days

13. Cold War Heats Up Again December 1979 – USSR invades Afghanistan
Carter:
Cancels SALT II
Cancels Wheat deal
Increases defense spending
Boycott of 1980 Moscow Olympics

14. Problems faced by Carter:
Distrust of politicians
Energy Crisis
Discrimination
Human right issues
Panama Canal
Cold War tensions
Middle East tensions
Choose four of the problems from the list and describe the policies/solutions offered by the Carter Administration.