2. ■Essential Question: –In what ways did President Nixon represent a change towards conservative politics & how did his foreign policy alter the U.S. relationship with USSR & China? ■Warm-Up Question: –Why was 1968 an important year in American history?

3. The Presidency of Richard Nixon ■ By the late 1960s, citizens had seen enough turmoil in U.S. foreign & domestic affairs: – The economic boom of the 1950s & 1960s was starting to come to an end – American prestige in the world was damaged by the failure in Vietnam – Anti-war protests, “hippie” culture, & liberal gov’t programs led many citizens to believe that America was headed for moral decay & economic collapse

4. The Election of Richard Nixon In 1968, Americans elected conservative Republican Richard Nixon Nixon’s victory in 1968 was due to the turnout of a “silent majority” who wanted a more conservative gov’t

5. Richard Nixon & Domestic Policy As a conservative, Nixon believed in a limited role for the national gov’t He tried to reduce or eliminate many Great Society programs He gave states more control over how money for welfare programs was spent

6. Richard Nixon & Domestic Policy By the late 1960s, the South was becoming more conservative due to new military bases & corporate headquarters, the relocation of retirees, & frustration by whites over civil rights Nixon seized the opportunity to attract Southerners to the Republican Party by opposing new civil rights policies & cutting government spending

7. The evolution of the “Sunbelt” from liberal to conservative (1940-2008) F. RooseveltWilkie Election Results by County: 1940 (F. Roosevelt vs. Wilkie) TrumanDewey vs. S. Thurman Election Results by County: 1948 (Truman vs. Dewey vs. S. Thurman) KennedyNixon Election Results by County: 1960 (Kennedy vs. Nixon) HumphreyNixon Wallace Election Results by County: 1968 (Humphrey vs. Nixon vs. Wallace) McGovernNixon Election Results by County: 1972 (McGovern vs. Nixon) ObamaMcCain Election Results by County: 2008 (Obama vs. McCain)

8. Current Population Trends: 1970-2030 The Conservative South Today

9. Richard Nixon & Foreign Policy President Nixon successfully changed U.S. foreign policy détente Instead of using containment to fight Communism & increase Cold War tensions, Nixon created a policy of détente (to ease tensions) with America’s Cold War enemies

10. The Presidency of Richard Nixon President Nixon successfully changed U.S. foreign policy President Nixon & aide Henry Kissinger used a strategy called triangular diplomacy to improve America’s role in the world

11. Richard Nixon & Foreign Policy Nixon’s foreign policy included “peace with honor” in Vietnam Nixon discussed plans for “Vietnamization” but secretly bombed Cambodia & Laos in 1970 In 1973, Nixon negotiated a cease fire, withdrew U.S. troops, & ended the Vietnam War

12. Richard Nixon & Foreign Policy Nixon’s foreign policy included better relations with China In 1972, Nixon became the 1 st president to visit & recognize China Nixon’s visit allowed for the possibility of U.S. trade with China Nixon’s visit to China was also meant to exploit a growing rift between USSR & China; Now the USSR had to cooperate with the U.S.

13. Richard Nixon & Foreign Policy Nixon’s détente policy was aimed at easing Cold War tensions with the USSR By visiting China, Nixon pressured Soviet leader Brezhnev to negotiate with the United States Strategic Arms Limitation Talks In 1972, Nixon became the 1 st president to visit Moscow; His visit led to the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) to limit ICBMs

14. The Presidency of Richard Nixon ■ Nixon was a popular president by the end of his 1 st term – His domestic policies reduced gov’t spending & revitalized middle-class, conservative, & Southern voters – His foreign policies led to the end of an unpopular war in Vietnam & eased tensions with America’s two biggest Cold War rivals ■ In 1972, Nixon won one of the biggest landslide victories in presidential history But after Nixon’s re-election in 1972, the Watergate scandal broke; President Nixon resigned in 1974 rather than face impeachment

15. Closure Activity: Reviewing U.S. Containment Policy ■ Review the Cold War containment policies of the United States from 1945 to 1973 ■ List the Cold War events of each president – Harry Truman (1945-1953) – Dwight Eisenhower (1953-1961) – John F Kennedy (1961-1963) – Lyndon Johnson (1963-1969) – Richard Nixon (1969-1974) ■ Rank these presidents from most effective (#1) “Cold Warrior” to least effective (#5)

16. The Cold War: 1948-1975 The Cold War under Truman: 1945-1953 Containment Policy: Truman Doctrine Marshall Plan NATO

17. The Cold War: 1948-1975 The Cold War under Eisenhower: 1953-1961

18. The Cold War: 1948-1975 The Cold War under Kennedy: 1961-1963

19. The Cold War: 1948-1975 The Cold War under Johnson: 1963-1969 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Escalation (Troops in 1965) Tet Offensive

20. The Cold War: 1948-1975 The Cold War under Nixon: 1969-1974

21. ■Essential Question: –What was the Watergate scandal & how did it change American politics in the 1970s? ■Warm-Up Question: –What was Nixon’s greatest feat in foreign policy: Vietnam, China, or the Soviet Union? Explain

22. Quick Review: Why was Nixon overwhelmingly re-elected as president in 1972? Why was Nixon so popular? Conservative domestic policy: Lowered gov’t spending Reduced social programs Active foreign policy: Ended the war in Vietnam “Opened” China Détente with the USSR

23. Nixon was insecure & paranoid about power: He kept an “enemies list” of people he suspected were out to undermine his policies “Tricky Dick” used his position as president to spy on, infiltrate, & sabotage his “enemies” These tactics & fears were the reasons for the Watergate scandal that ended his presidency In what ways might Nixon have been “his own worst enemy”? What do you see in this image?

24. The Watergate Scandal Video Washington Post Overview Stop at 13:40 (“The Tale of Tape 342”)

25. Watergate Inquiry Activity ■ Student Handout A: THE BREAK-IN – Read the background information – With your partners, discuss “Critical Thinking Question A” – After a brief class discussion, fill in the missing information on your cartoon from the image on the next slide

27. The Watergate Scandal: A Visual Review Gordon Liddy & the “Plumbers”

28. Watergate Inquiry Activity ■ Student Handout B: INVESTIGATION – Read the background information – With your partners, discuss “Critical Thinking Question B” – After a brief class discussion, fill in the missing information on your cartoon from the image on the next slide

30. The Watergate Scandal: A Visual Review

31. Watergate Inquiry Activity ■ Student Handout C: CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS – Read the background information – With your partners, discuss “Critical Thinking Question C” – After a brief class discussion, fill in the missing information on your cartoon from the image on the next slide

33. The Watergate Scandal: A Visual Review

34. Watergate Inquiry Activity ■ Student Handout D: THE SECRET TAPES – Read the background information – With your partners, discuss “Critical Thinking Question D” – After a brief class discussion, fill in the missing information on your cartoon from the image on the next slide

36. The Watergate Scandal: A Visual Review

37. Watergate Inquiry Activity ■ Student Handout E: NIXON RESIGNS – Read the background information – With your partners, discuss “Critical Thinking Question E” – After a brief class discussion, fill in the missing information on your cartoon from the image on the next slide

39. The Watergate Scandal: A Visual Review

40. Why is Watergate such an important event in U.S. history? How did Watergate change the way Americans perceive their political leaders? Do you think Nixon’s actions were different from most politicians? Should Nixon’s presidency be judged more in his foreign policy successes or the Watergate scandal? Why?

41. Effects of Watergate ■ The Watergate scandal changed America: – The scandal eroded public trust in their political leaders; Added to the distrust created by the Vietnam War – Revealed the importance of the media in serving as a “watchdog” of the gov’t – Congress assumed more leadership – Uncertainty whether prosecutors would charge Nixon with crimes

42. ■Essential Question ■Essential Question: –In what ways did Presidents Ford & Carter fail to meet the needs of America in the late 1970s? ■Warm-Up Question ■Warm-Up Question: –?

43. America from 1974 to 1980 ■ In the late 70s, the U.S. was “overextended” – Americans distrusted their government as a result of Vietnam & Watergate – The economy had entered a recession with high unemployment & inflation – A decline in America’s status in the world – A series of presidents (Ford & Carter) that failed to inspire a sense of hope among the American people

44. President Gerald Ford When Nixon resigned in 1974, VP Gerald Ford became president Ford was seen as an “honest man” & hoped to move America past the Watergate scandal But, Ford was unable to move forward due to constant questions about a potential criminal trial of Nixon In September 1974, Ford pardoned Nixon of any crimes related to Watergate; Ford lost popular support

45. Another issue during Ford’s presidency was a growing economic recession Since the early 1970s, the economy had grown stagnant with few new jobs or business profits Inflation, interest rates, & unemployment were all on the rise Stagnant economyHigh inflation Together, a stagnant economy & high inflation are known as: STAGFLATION

46. President Gerald Ford Making the economic situation worse was the oil crisis of the 1970s Since “automania” of the 1950s, U.S. use of oil was on the rise In 1960, the oil rich nations in the Middle East & Latin America formed the Org of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

47. President Gerald Ford Making the economic situation worse was the oil crisis of the 1970s In retaliation for American support of Israel, OPEC cut off oil to the U.S. in 1973 As a result, gas prices soared & shortages led to long lines for gasoline

48. President Jimmy Carter Ford had no answer for stagflation or the gas crisis & was challenged by Georgia Democrat Jimmy Carter in the 1976 election Carter ran as an “outsider” who played no part in Vietnam, Watergate, or the recession

49. President Jimmy Carter In the 1976 election, Carter beat Ford

50. Carter & Domestic Policy As president, Carter tried to attack the energy crisis, stagflation, & the recession None of his efforts worked: Inflation hit 14%, interest rates neared 20%, & a new oil embargo in 1979 increased gas prices Lower speed limited did not reduce U.S. oil consumption

51. Carter & Foreign Policy Carter entered office committed to making “human rights” the basis of U.S. foreign policy Carter stopped supporting foreign governments that violated human rights In 1977, Carter agreed that the U.S. would return the Panama Canal in Dec 1999 Carter hoped to gain peace in the Middle East between Israel & the Muslim nations

52. 1973 Yom Kippur War between Egypt and Syria against Israel Since its creation in 1947, Israel was attacked by its Muslim neighbors in the 1940s, 1960s, & 1970s By the 1970s, Egypt appeared ready to recognize Israel in exchange for the return of land in the Sinai Peninsula

53. Carter & Foreign Policy Carter brought Egyptian leader Anwar el-Sadat & Israeli leader Menachem Begin to the U.S. for the Camp David Accords in 1977 ? ? Israel agreed to leave the Sinai Peninsula Egypt recognized Israel’s right to Egypt recognized Israel’s right to exist Carter did the impossible

54. Carter & Foreign Policy But, the situation in the Middle East got worse in 1979 when fundamentalist Islamic cleric Ayatollah Khomeini led the Iranian Revolution Iran’s shah was overthrown & was granted asylum in the U.S.

55. Carter & Foreign Policy Iranians seized the U.S. embassy & captured 52 American hostages (Iranian Hostage Crisis) rescue mission Carter tried negotiation, economic threats, & a rescue mission to return the hostages but all efforts failed The 52 hostages were held for 444 days rescue mission

56. Carter & Foreign Policy To make matters worse, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979 to defeat an anti-communist uprising The invasion signaled an end to Nixon’s détente with the USSR as the United States sent aid to the Afghan rebels

57. The Election of 1980 By 1980, Carter had been unable to end stagflation, free the U.S. hostages in Iran, or restore America’s place in the world In the election of 1980, Americans in search of answers elected Ronald Reagan as president

58. Conclusions ■ By 1980, the USA seemed to be losing its place as the top nation in the world: – The 1970s presented failures in the Cold War & new problems in the Middle East – The social protests & counter culture seemed to divide liberals & conservatives – Stagflation & the economic recession were growing worse, not better – The failures of Johnson, Nixon, Ford, & Carter left citizens in search of optimism, strong leadership, & conservative policies

59. Closure Activity? ■ ??