1. Jimmy Carter & Gerald Ford

2. Tough Times in the U.S. Sept 8, 1974 Ford pardons Nixon Good choice? Economic issues OPEC causes oil prices to soar Whip Inflation Now falls through “Tight money” policy fails miserably Fighting Democrats in Congress

3. Better Luck Abroad Helsinki Accords Agreements that promised cooperation between nations of Eastern and Western Europe One of Ford’s biggest successes Southeast Asia Cease-fire in Vietnam breaks down US doesn’t send help and South Vietnam surrenders in 75 Cambodia seizes merchant ship in Gulf of Siam and Ford responds with military force

4. Reign of Jimmy Carter Domestic Agenda Energy Crisis National Energy Act: tax on gas- guzzling cars, no price controls on oil/gas in US, tax credits for alternative energy Violence in 79 Violence in Middle East led to fuel shortage and OPEC raised price 14% inflation by 1980 Changing Economy Rise in service sector jobs and decrease in manufacture jobs Civil Rights 28 African Americans, 29 women, 14 Latinos earn positions in judicial branch Regents of the University of California v. Bakke case

5. Reign of Jimmy Carter Foreign Policy Rejected Realpolitik Promotes human rights throughout the world No military aid to US allies Argentina and Brazil Gives up control of Panama Canal  wise decision? SALT II Middle East Camp David Accords Israel withdraws from Sinai Peninsula and Egypt recognizes Israel Iran Hostage Crisis Iranians resented shah Carter supported shah over Ayatollah Khomeini Armed students took 52 American hostages at US embassy in Tehran Hostages released in 1981 when Reagan sworn in

6. Questions to Consider How might the country have been different if former US president had gone on trial for criminal wrongdoing? If you had been in President Ford’s position, would you have pardoned Nixon? Why or why not? Do you agree with the ruling set forth by Regents of the University of California v. Bakke?

7. Environmental Activism Energy Crisis led people to a heightened sense of environmentalism; could not take the Earth for granted 1962: Rachel Carson and Silent Spring Argued that pesticides were killing off birds and fish April 22, 1970 Environmental Protection Agency: set and enforce pollution standards, conduct environmental research and assist state/local gov’t in pollution control

8. Environmental Activism Alaska Discovery of Oil in 1968 With new jobs created, people were concerned about Alaska’s wildlife Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 71 Nuclear Energy Drawbacks of dependence on foreign oil made nuclear energy appealing Three Mile Island Reactor over-heated and cooling system failed 100,000 residents evacuated