1. 27-1 & 2 The Nixon Years

2. Election of 1968
Dem. Hubert Humphrey (LBJ’s VP), Rep. Richard Nixon, and Ind. George Wallace (segregationist)
Nixon appealed to “Middle America” (aka “the Silent Majority”)
Promised “peace with honor” in Vietnam, law and order, and more traditional values
Nixon wins

3. Nixon’s Goals
Southern Strategy - wanted to attract Southerners to the Republican Party
Law and Order – wanted to prosecute militant protestors, draft dodgers, organized crime, etc.
Replaced retired Chief Justice Earl Warren with conservative Warren Burger (wanted fewer rights for criminals)
New Federalism – wanted to give control over government agencies to state and local governments
Used Revenue Sharing – federal funds to state and local governments
Wanted to reform AFDC
(Aid to Families with Dependent Children)

4. Foreign Policy Chose Henry Kissinger to be national security advisor
Wanted to contain communism, but improve relations with the USSR and China
Détente = relaxation of tensions

5. Nixon and China
Acknowledged mainland Chinese government instead of Taiwan
Visited China in February 1972
Chinese government gives Hsing-Hsing and Ling-Ling (pandas) to the US

6. Nixon and the USSR Goes to the USSR next in May 1972
1st president since WWII
Nixon and Brezhnev signed SALT I (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty) to limit nuclear weapons

7. Watergate June 17, 1972 Break-in at Democratic National headquarters
5 burglars intend to obtain info and wiretap phones
Piece of tape gives them away

8. The Cover-Up
One of the burglars was former CIA and a member of the Committee to Reelect the President
Washington Post journalists Woodward and Bernstein investigate connections to White House
Nixon denies involvement, public believes him, reelected by a landslide in 1972
Presidential aides testify before the Senate, John Dean says Nixon was involved in cover-up

9. The Tapes Who is telling the truth?
Hidden tape recorders in White House will tell
Nixon refuses to hand over tapes – claims Executive Privilege
Supreme Court orders Nixon to give up tapes
18 ½ minute gap raises questions, enough other info to show Nixon did know about cover-up

10. Nixon Resigns House Judiciary committee votes to impeach Nixon
Obstruction of justice
Misuse of federal agencies
Defiance of Congress
August 9, Nixon resigns before full House votes
Gerald Ford becomes president
Only president no one ever voted for!
Watergate left many Americans with a deep distrust of the government