1. Issues of Modern America
Nixon through Obama

2. Richard Nixon (1969-1974) Vietnam War: Détente with China and USSR:
Vietnamization
Escalation in Laos and Cambodia
Ceasefire/Withdrawal
Détente with China and USSR:
Visit to China and Moscow.
SALT I
Watergate Scandal:
CREEP
“Dirty Tricks”
White House coverup
Resigns on Aug. 9, 1974.

3. Gerald Ford (1974-1977) “Our long national nightmare is over…”
Pardons Nixon for all crimes.
Whip Inflation Now (WIN)
Refuses help to South Vietnam (1975).
Barely wins Republican nomination in 1976.

4. Jimmy Carter ( )
Former naval officer, peanut farmer, and governor of Georgia.
Difficult economic times:
“Stagflation”
Oil Embargo / Gas shortage
Camp David Accords (1978)
Iran Hostage Crisis (1979)
Three-Mile Island Nuclear Disaster (1979)
Environmentalism
Silent Spring (1962)

5. “The New Right”
Conservative backlash against social & economic changes of 1960’s and 1970’s.
New Deal & Great Society
Sexual Revolution
Roe v. Wade
Emergence of the “Christian Right”:
Pat Robertson: Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN)
Jerry Falwell: Moral Majority, Inc., Liberty University
Apex during late 1970’s & 1980’s.

6. Ronald Reagan ( )
Former Hollywood actor and governor of California
“Reaganomics”/Supply-Side:
Lower taxes
Reduce government spending
Shrink government size & influence
Cold War Policies:
SDI (“Star Wars”)
Iran Contra Scandal (1986)
Massive deficits

7. George H. W. Bush (1989-1993) Former CIA director and VP under Reagan
“Read my lips: no new taxes!”
Continuation of Reagan policies
Fall of Berlin Wall (1989)
Collapse of Soviet Union (1991)
Persian Gulf War (1991)

8. Bill Clinton (1993-2001) Former governor of Arkansas Centrist Democrat
Triangulation
North American Free Trade Agreement (1992)
Somalia Intervention (1993)
Impeachment (1998):
Jones Scandal
Lewinsky Affair
NATO Kosovo Intervention (1999)

9. George W. Bush (2001-2009) Former governor of Texas Election of 2000
FL results a mess
9/11/01 Terrorist Attacks
Patriot Act
Bush Tax Cuts
Invasion of Afghanistan (2001)
Invasion of Iraq (2003)

10. Barack Obama (2009-present)
Former senator from Illinois
Recession of 2008
Economic Stimulus (2009)
Affordable Care Act (2010)
Obamacare
End of wars in Iraq & (someday) Afghanistan