1. 1968 – 1993 Nixon - Bush
Chapters 24 & 25

2. Richard M. Nixon Won 1968 and 1972 Elections
Spokesperson for the Silent Majority
New Federalism – federal government gave money to states to fund social programs
Stagflation – combination of recession and inflation
OPEC oil embargo

3. Nixon and Watergate
Nixon linked to burglary of Democratic headquarters at the Watergate Complex
Senate investigation calls for release of Oval office tapes
Nixon refuses claiming executive privilege
Supreme Court says that tapes do not fall under executive privilege and orders tapes to be turned over to investigators
Nixon is charged with obstructing justice, misuse of power and refusing to comply

4. Results of Watergate Nixon resigns on August 8, 1974
Nixon used 25th Amendment to nominate Gerald Ford as Vice President
Public confidence in government dwindled
Several government reforms

5. Gerald R. Ford Succeeded Nixon as President; never elected
Pardoned Nixon
Stagflation continued
Helsinki Accords – European countries favor human rights
SALT II with Soviet Union - limit nuclear arms

6. James E. Carter
Won 1976 Presidential election with help of Christian fundamentalists
Inexperienced – caused problems when trying to pass legislation
Energy Crisis – conservation
December 1979 Soviets invade Afghanistan
Carter withdrew SALT II and imposed sanctions including boycotting 1980 Olympic games in Moscow

7. James E. Carter
Returned the Panama Canal zone to Panama by 1999 – very controversial
Camp David Accords – peace treaty between Egypt and Israel
Carter’s greatest foreign policy achievement
Iran hostage Crisis – Iranian radicals held 66 Americans hostage for 444 days
Big setback for Carter

8. Ronald W. Reagan Conservative resurgence Won 1980 and 1984 Elections
Opposed big government
Supported strong military
Traditional values
Optimism/ Prosperity and Patriotism
Supply-side economics (Reaganomics)– reduce taxes to encourage spending which will help the economy grow

9. Ronald W. Reagan Economic Recovery Act 1981
Reduced taxes by 25% over 3 years
Richest Americans received largest cuts. Why?
Deregulation – removal of government control over industry
Federal budget deficit – caused by increased military spending and decrease in taxes
The deficit increased from $79 billion over $221 billion in just 6 years
Equal Access Act – any group equal access to school facilities

10. Ronald W. Reagan Military Buildup Iran-Contra Affair (1985)
Largest in peacetime history
SDI – Strategic Defense Initiative (“Star Wars”)
Aided anticommunist rebellions in Afghanistan, Nicaragua, and Grenada
Iran-Contra Affair (1985)
U.S. sold weapons to Iran
Used the money to support Contras in Nicaragua
Negatively affected Reagan’s legacy (but not much)

11. George H.W. Bush Won 1988 Presidential election
“Kinder, gentler Nation”
Sent troops to Panama December 1989
Manuel Noriega arrested and convicted of drug trafficking
China 1989 – prodemocracy protests in Tiananmen Square
Chinese government crushed the rebellions
Bush condemned the actions of China but kept economic ties

12. George H.W. Bush Endorsed attempts to bring democracy to South America
Met with Nelson Mandela before he became leader in 1994
Operation Restore Hope 1992 – humanitarian mission to Somalia

14. George H.W. Bush Persian Gulf War
August 1990 – Saddam Hussein orders Iraqi invasion of Kuwait
Controlled over 20% of world oil production
UN resolution for Iraq to leave Kuwait
Operation Desert Storm
began January 16, 1991
February 28, 1991 – Iraq agreed to cease-fire
Increased Bush’s popularity

16. End of Cold War
Mikhail Gorbachev – became president of Soviet Union in 1985
Glasnost – new openness
Perestroika – reforms in Soviet Union
November of 1989 – Berlin Wall comes down
Communists lost power in Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania and Yugoslavia by 1991
Russian Federation – in 1991 the Soviet Union dissolved into 15 independent republics