Nixon #1
Review
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1. Describe how US involvement in Vietnam changed
over time?
2. How did the war in Vietnam lead to social tension in
America?
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3. What factors led to the birth of the counterculture?
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4. Describe the counterculture?
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5. What was significant about 1968?
Nixon’s Victory in 1968
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Many whites blame liberal Democratic
policies for social upheaval of 1960s.
Nixon claims to represent the “Silent
Majority”
“Law & Order”
Nixon and the Vietnam War
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When he’s running for president, Nixon claims to
have a secret plan to end the Vietnam war.
Says he will get “peace with honor.”
Meanwhile, Nixon calls for major bombing of
N.Vietnam
To force them to negotiate a peace treaty before
the U.S. withdraws completely.
Nixon’s Plan
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Once elected, Nixon unveils his plan.
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Calls it “Vietnamization.”
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Vietnamization = gradually pulling U.S.
troops out and while turning over more
responsibility to the South Vietnamese.
Nixon’s Bombing Campaign
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Besides increased bombing of North Viet.,
Nixon calls for bombing & sending troops
into Cambodia to stop supplies going to
Viet Cong.
Reaction to the Invasion of
Cambodia
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1970--Nixon ordered the invasion of
Cambodia.
Led to massive protests across the
country.
A protest took place at Kent State
University in Ohio.
Kent State
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Students pelt ROTC building with rocks & firecrackers and then burn it to
the ground.
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Ohio Gov. James Rhodes calls out the National Guard.
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On May 3, 600 students were holding a peaceful protest.
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They were ordered to disperse.
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The students refused and then began to throw stones at the guardsmen.
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Nat. Guard responded with tear gas and then some fired into the crowd.
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9 students were wounded and 4 killed.
Jackson State
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All-African American college in Mississippi.
Outbreak of vandalism had prompted the national guard
to be called to the town.
May 14—after vandalism downtown, police, highway
patrol, and nat. guard go to the campus.
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A bottle was thrown at an officer.
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Cops opened fire—12 students wounded & 2 killed.
Peace Settlement
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Nixon’s Sec. of State—
Henry Kissinger -finally agrees to a
peace treaty with the
North in 1973 in Paris.
U.S. pledges that it will
return to protect the
South if necessary.
War Powers Act
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1973
Congress does not want to ever make the
mistake again of allowing a president to send
troops somewhere for as long as he likes.
Passed the War Powers Act which limits to
60-days the time a president can send troops
somewhere without consulting congress.
Fall of Saigon
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In 1975, the North captures the southern
capital of Saigon.
Communists control the whole country.
Final Points on Vietnam.
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1st war U.S. lost
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Greatly divided American society.
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Helped lead to people having less faith in
the leaders.
New Federalism
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Series of programs designed to shift power away
from federal government in Washington to the
state govts.
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Revenue Sharing —some federal tax $ goes to
states.
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Reduces federal $ for urban renewal, job
training, & education.
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Abolishes Office of Economic Opportunity (1973)
Not a total conservative
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Creates Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) & Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA).
Accepts Keynesian Economics.
1969--Family Assistance Plan (FAP)—
would provide poor families a guaranteed
income (passes House but not Senate).
Dealing with Radicals and
Opposition
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Uses FBI and Internal Revenue Service
FBI uses undercover agents to infiltrate
organizations like SDS and the Black
Panthers.
The Warren Court
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Viewed by most as liberal (Rulings upset
conservatives).
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Engel v. Vitale (1962)—Outlaws prayer in public
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Gideon v. Wainright (1963)—everyone entitled
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Miranda v. Arizona (1966)—criminal suspects
schools.
to a lawyer.
must be informed of their rights.
The Issue of Busing
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1971 (Swann v.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg)—
Supreme Court rules that
it is ok to use forced
busing to achieve racial
integration.
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Causes violent reactions
(especially in Boston).
Increases “White Flight”
The Issue of Affirmative Action
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Affirmative Action = programs to make-up for past
inequalities due to racism and gender biases.
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Set quotas for hiring minorities (and sometimes
women).
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Also used to try to get more minorities into college.
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Bakke v. U. of Ca. Regents. Supreme court rules
whites can’t be excluded from positions. But race can
be one of the factors when choosing students.
Election of 1972—The Southern
Strategy
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Nixon wants to appeal directly to white
southerners who had voted for George
Wallace in 1968.
Needs to appeal to their discontent with
racial integration, the liberal Supreme
Court (Warren Court), Eastern liberals &
federal government (vs. states).
Opposes Civil Rights
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Delays desegregation efforts in some Southern
states.
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Urges Congress to prohibit forced busing.
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Opposes extension of Voting Rights Act (Still
passed by Congress).
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Tries to appoint 2 Southerners who were against
Civil Rights to the Supreme Court (does appoint
the conservative Warren Burger to replace Earl
Warren).
Stagflation
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By the end of 1960s, US economy starts to decline.
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Deficit spending (social programs and Vietnam War).
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Foreign Competition in manufacturing (Japan)
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Dependency of foreign oil.
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High inflation & unemployment = “Stagflation.”
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For most of 1970s.
Nixon’s Foreign Policy
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Foreign Affairs were
Nixon’s top priority.
Top foreign policy
advisor was Henry
Kissinger.
Detente
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Abandoned cold war policy of
confrontation and initiated the policy of
détente towards China and Russia.
Détente = Relaxing of diplomatic tension.
Nixon/Kissinger Philosophy
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Nixon & Kissinger based their foreign policy
decisions on the belief in realpolitik.
Realpolitik= A nation should pursue policies and
alliances based solely on its interests rather than
a particular view of the world.
Thus OK to cooperate with communist countries
if it is going to benefit the US.
Relations with China
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Since Communists won Chinese civil war
in 1949, US had only officially recognized
Taiwan.
US had trade embargo and would not let
join the UN.
But by 1970s, there were reasons for
opening relations.
Reasons for Relations with China
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A. Help to end war in Vietnam.
B. Would help to force Russia to
cooperate.
Ping Pong Diplomacy
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1971 Chinese host US ping Pong team.
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1-week later, US ends trade embargo.
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Nixon then sends Kissinger on secret mission to
arrange a visit.
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US allows China to join United Nations.
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1972 Nixon goes to China.
More Stuff About Clinton
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“Slick Willie”
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“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Nixon & Russia
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3-months after his visit to China, Nixon
visits Russia.
Agrees on trade and technology exchange
and to sell Russia grain.
Signs landmark arms agreement—
Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT).
Yom Kippur War
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1973—Arab countries try to attack Israel.
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U.S. gives Israel help.
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Arab countries (OPEC) stop selling oil to the
U.S. and gas prices get really high.
U.S. forces Israel to negotiate a peace with
Arabs.