Nixon to Carter
Nixon, Ford, & Carter
• Took office in 69 & determined conservative
• New Federalism: give back some of the power &
responsibilities to states & localities (downsize
federal gov’t)
• Had to negotiate w/
democrat controlled
Congress
• Increased spending
for Social Security,
Medicare, food
stamps
• Nixon impounded funds for some programs (later
unconstitutional)
• Late 60s & early 70s US faced stagflation: high
inflation & unemployment
• Caused by deficit spending (war & new programs),
increased international competition, new workers
(baby boomers), dependence on foreign oil
• Nixon focused more
on foreign affairs
(Vietnam, China,
USSR)
• Change from
containment to
realpolitik (more
flexible approach to
communism)
• Détente: easing of
Cold War tensions
• Nixon recognized China &
visited (wanted to take
advantage of rift
between USSR & China)
• visited Moscow & signed
SALT I (limit # of missiles)
• End of Vietnam, détente,
USSR & Chinese relations
helped him win election
of 72
• Watergate scandal led to
his downfall, resigned
before impeachment
began (74), Ford sworn in
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Ford pardoned Nixon Sep 1974 (bad PR move)
Inflation, unemployment, energy prices (OPEC) rise
Ford called on a citizen led program: WIN but failed
Cut spending, raised interest rates (worst recession
in 40 yrs)
• Battled democratic controlled Congress, vetoed 50
bills in 2 yrs
• Continued Nixon’s foreign policy w/ Kissinger’s help
• Helsinki Accords: cooperation between nations
• Cease fire ended in Vietnam (Saigon falls), problems
in Cambodia
• Carter narrowly won
election over Ford
• Used fireside chats &
honest, down to earth
style
• #1 problem: OPEC energy
crisis, 100 proposals to
Congress
• passed National Energy
Act: tax on gas-guzzling
cars, removed price
controls on oil & natural
gas, tax credit for
alternative energy
• OPEC passed another price hike & inflation soared
• Economy changing from manufacture to service
• Booming economies of W. Germany & Asian tigers
cut into US markets
• Carter promoted human rights over realpolitik, cut
nations off for human rights abuses
• Gave up control of Panama Canal to improve
relations in Latin America
• Détente ended when USSR invaded Afghanistan
• Helped to create Camp David Accords: peace
between Egypt & Israel
• Iranian students seized US embassy in Theran &
took 52 hostages , finally released in 1981 after
Reagan was sworn in (444 days)
Image Sources (in order)
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http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://cacpeaceday.wikispaces.com/file/view/RichardNixonHelic
opter.jpg/31296833/RichardNixonHelicopter.jpg&imgrefur
lhttp://www.historycentral.com/elections/1968PresElect.jpg
csmonitor.com
asiatravel.org
http://www.ibhistorytopics.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/2007-06-11-nixon_detente1.jpg
http://www.history.com/images/media/slideshow/gerald-ford/gerald-ford-salt.jpg
http://www.historycommons.org/events-images/b274_jimmy_carter_2050081722-23075.jpg
http://media.cnbc.com/i/CNBC/Sections/News_And_Analysis/_News/_SLIDESHOWS/AutoMilestones/SS_
milestones_energycrisis.jpg
http://www.dailyhistory.net/images/panama-canal-handover-jimmy-carter-mireya-moscoso.jpg
http://www.britannica.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/0000078620-cartej008-004.jpg
http://www.thinktankprm.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/iran-hostage-crisis.jpg