2. The Nixon Presidency 1969 to 1974

3. Nixon promises to bring Americans together but... n Vice President Spiro Agnew- attacks the media and the left –The Press: – “Nattering naybobs of negativism –The Democrats: –“Sniveling hand-wringers” n Nixon thought both were out to get him n Media is off balance afraid to be critical of Nixon

4. Democrats control Congress. n Hard for Nixon to pass legislation n Nixon’s long term goal - make Republicans the majority party.

5. Nixon’s “Southern Strategy” n Turns back on black vote & courts Southern Whites –against extending Voting Rights Act, sought to slow desegregation, filed suits to end busing to deseg. schools n Attacks liberal Warren Supreme Court n Appoints conservative Federal judges. –Senate twice rejected nominees they considered too conservative

6. Nixon appoints n Warren Burger (conserv. to replace retiring Earl Warren) n Harry Blackmun (Roe v Wade) n Lewis Powell n William Rehnquist (current CJ) n Shifts court to center-right

7. Nixon’s Vietnam Policy n Vietnamization- gradual withdrawal of U.S forces n Replaced by So. Vietnamese troops. n The Nixon Doctrine- We will assist, but not send troops.

8. Campus Deaths and Leaking Files n Protests at Kent State and Jackson State results in student deaths. n June 1971 “The Pentagon Papers” published in NY Times – Leaked by Daniel Ellsberg - fmr Dept. of Defense analyst –Documentary history of U.S. involvement in Vietnam –Not damaging to Nixon but reveals string of U.S. govt. lies that could undermine public trust

9. Nixon goes to China - July 1971 n Ping Pong Diplomacy of 4/71 n Henry Kissinger arranges trip n Nixon 1st sitting President to visit PRC n Nixon plays China off against Soviet Union n Historic opening of relations w/ China

10. Left - Nixon tours Great Wall Right - Nixon and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai toast to improved Sino-American relations

11. Nixon in the USSR n Nixon visits Moscow in 1972 n Concludes agreements on trade (ag.), technological cooperation, and nuclear weapons n SALT I (ratified 10/72) limits defensive missiles & freezes new offensive missile production for 5 years n Less defense = MAD

12. Nixonomics n Inherits cost of Vietnam War & Great Society n Stagflation (inflation combined w/ high unemployment) n Fed raises rate to reduce $ in circulation n Inflation hits 5.6% - Nixon imposes wage/price freeze n Devalues the dollar internationally to encourage purchase of U.S. goods n Problems persist throughout 70s

13. 1972 Election nNnNnNnNixon expected to win on Diplomatic Success, Law & Order policies & Southern strategy nRnRnRnRan against George McGovern (D-SD) nNnNnNnNixon painted him as New Left radical nCnCnCnCREEP formed to raise $ & spy on Dems. nWnWnWnWatergate break-in (June 17, 1972) nFnFnFnFoiled but temp. covered up by POTUS

14. n Nixon n Nixon wins with 61% of pop vote n 520 n 520 to 17 n Low n Low voter turnout (55%) n Dems n Dems hold Congress

15. Yom Kippur War 1973 n Arabs attack Israel n Nixon sends aid n OPEC imposes oil embargo 1974 n Gas lines & high inflation

16. The Watergate Scandal Grows nCnCnCnConspirators began talking - word of WH coercion spreading nWnWnWnWoodward & Bernstein - Washington Post nNnNnNnNixon aide John Dean implicated Nixon in Cover-up nSnSnSnSenate investigation lead by Sam Irvin (D- NC) nWnWnWnWhite House tapes subpoenaed - Nixon refuses

17. Watergate n7n7n7n7/30/74 - House voted for 3 Articles of Impeachment –O–O–O–Obstruction, abuse of pwr, subverting const. n8n8n8n8/5/74 - Nixon releases tapes by order of S.Court - reveals his participation n8n8n8n8/9/74 - Nixon resigns rather than face impeachment nFnFnFnFord takes his place - pardons him a month later