1. Topic: Evaluating The Domestic Policies of President Richard Nixon
Do Now:
“The Vietnam War did not destroy the Democrats in The War was only one (albeit noisy) component of the Dems loss in ’68. The real reason they lost was due to the fact that Americans were tired of Democratic liberals like Johnson who had been in control since The American people were tired of the Great Society and Civil Rights… they wanted a return to conservative American beliefs”.
Defend or Refute This Statement

3. The Election of 1968 Johnson hated, refuses to run for a new term
Race riots, student riots, etc.
Dems Chicago Riot
Mayor R. Daley
1968: Nixon vs. Hubert Humphrey
Segregationist George Wallace as 3rd party candidate (Am. Ind.)
Nixon Wins:
“plan to end Vietnam war”
“law and order” candidate
Appeals to the “Silent Majority”
Takes advantage of Dem split (Hawk vs. Dove)

4. The Domestic Front 1970s: a period of “Stagflation”
Causes of economic downturn?
Nixon keeps many Great Society programs
SSI, Food Stamps
Nixon takes US off the Gold Standard; wage freezes
Nixon and the “Southern Strategy” (wins 1972 Election)
Nixon keeps US in Vietnam  reactions
1970 Kent State “Massacre”
Creation of the EPA
Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring

5. Domestic Controversies
Nixon reshapes the Supreme Court (The Burger Court)  not as conservative as he hopes
Nixon and Race:
De facto segregation and “white flight”
The Bakke Decision
Women’s issues:
Betty Freidan and the Feminine Mystique
Roe v. Wade case
Title IX in education
NOW and the Failure of the ERA

6. Conclusion
On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best) where would you place Nixon’s domestic policies? In 2-3 sentences, explain your rationale for your rating.