Chapter 39 notes
The Stalemated Seventies
Nixon and Foreign Policy
Russia and China were clashing over their different
ideas of communism.
Nixon tries to play off one against the other in Vietnam
Kissinger National Sec Adv. Agrees
Kissinger met secretly with the N. Vietnamese in Paris
Mr. Anti communist goes to communist China in Feb. 1972 which
paved the way for normalizing relations with China first recognition
of the Chinese Government in 30 years.
Nixon then visits Russia and ushers in detente
– Russia negotiates a grain deal
– ABM treaty made
Salt treaty freezes the numbers of long range missiles
Secret bombing of Cambodia
1973 Americans were shocked that Nixon had
ordered the bombing the neutral country of
Cambodia
Even after we had ended the war with Vietnam to help the
rightist government of Cambodia
Congress tries to stop the bombing by cutting off funds but
Nixon vetoes them but he does agree to stop in July 1973
and get approval from congress for any future action
Congress passes the war Powers Act in Nov. 1973
– Passed over Nixon veto
– Pres. Must report to congress within 48 hours after committing
troops or enlarging combat units in a foreign country
– 60 days unless congress extends it 30 days at a time
October war 1973 in middle East
Syrians and Egyptians attack Israel
Kissinger goes to Moscow to keep the Soviets
form supporting the Egyptians
Americas nuclear forces put on alert
Two billion in war goods sent to Israel which helps
them win
Arabs place an oil embargo on U.S.
Embargo ends in March 1974 but it had sent a
message we were too dependent
Nixon Domestically
Stagflation of the Seventies – high
unemployment and inflation
–
Sudden slump in productivity
increasing amount of women and teens in the workforce
declining investment in new machinery
– Vietnam – Military spending and welfare spending are
inherently inflationary (in the absence of offsetting tax
collections), because they put dollars in people’s
hands without adding to the supply of goods that
those dollars can buy
Warren court
Appointed by Eisenhower but extremely liberal
Looks at individual rights
Gideon v. Wainwright
Escoedo v. Illinois
– Supreme court says that even a voluntary confession was
inadmissible as evidence it was obtained after denying the
defendant’s request to talk with an attorney.
Miranda v. Arizona
– Court accused as crook coddling
Separation of church and state and prayer
– Engle v. Vitale 1962
Also looks at Gerrymandering one man one vote
Nixon expands the power of the
Presidency
When Nixon did not like the way funds
were appropriated he simply impounded
them
Nixon was often expanding presidential
power over the power of congress
Election of 1972
Nixon as the Republican
– Vietnamization
McGovern as the Democrat (peace now
candidate)
– Counted on 18 – 25 year old vote
Landslide 520 – 17 in the electoral college
Watergate
Occurred in the Watergate office complex in the
Demo. National Headquarters.
CREEP organizes break in
White house aids and then the pres. Orders a
cover-up
Nixon white house was often involved in dirty
tricks
Plummer unit created to plug leaks
CIA and FBI and IRS used to audit wire tap and otherwise
harass political opponents
Watergate continued
Agnew Resigns for taking Kickbacks
Ford made VP
Saturday Night Massacre fires Archibald Cox
because he tries to get Watergate tape this
causes attorney general to resign
Nixon claims executive privilege to stop the
release of the tapes
In U.S. v. Nixon supreme courts said tape must
be given
Gaps found in tapes but also smoking gun
Nixon resigns
Fords Presidency
Ford pardons Nixon
– Ford tries to stop inflation voluntary with WIN
– Ford Continue detente with Helsinki accords
Pledges signature countries to Human Rights
Carters Presidency
Humanitarian diplomacy
Human rights
Cut foreign aid to repressive governments.
Negotiates Salt II
Congress never acts on it
dies when soviets invade Afghanistan
Agrees with panama to give back the Canal by 2000.
Camp David agreements with Egypt and Israel.
OPEC helps to fuel inflation
Carter tries to end dependence on foreign oil.
Soviets attack Afghanistan
Destroys Salt II
Causes Olympic boycott 1980
Causes a cancellations of Grain
Iranians Take American Hostages