Matthew Richardson
APUSH
President
George
Washington
Years
1789-1797
Accomplishments/Problems/Events
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John Adams
1797-1801
 Federalist
 Signed Declaration of Independence, first Vice President, part of Continental Congress
 XYZ Affair: Adams sent delegation to Paris to quell tensions and they were required to pay a
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Thomas
Jefferson
1801-1809
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James
Madison
1809-1817
Embodied the American Revolution and the New Republic
Only unanimously elected President
Federalist from Virginia
Inaugurated on April 30, 1789
Almost died. If he did, it would have ruined the new America.
Brought dignity, integrity, and honesty to the position.
Deliberately visited every state in the new Union
Good judge of character and people’s talents.
Hired trusted men (Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson; Secretary of the Treasury Alexander
Hamilton; Secretary of War Henry Knox; and Attorney General Edmund Randolph)
1793: America had to choose between England and France but Washington chose neutrality.
Whisky Rebellion: 1794. Pennsylvania farmers mad about excise tax on liquor. He put down the
rebellion by sending troops to Pennsylvania.
Set the precedent for a 2-term Presidency.
bribe. American heard about the bribe and the three men were known as XYZ. Many wanted to
go to war. He wanted a peaceful solution (reached in 1800 with a treaty) but many in his party
disagreed with him.
He is the father of the American navy. He saw that if America needed to defend its shores, a
navy would be needed. He made the Department of the Navy and was the first President to create
a new Cabinet Secretary.
Lost bid for 2nd term to Jefferson
Presidency was the low point his political career
1800 Election: 1st election with peaceful shift of power and media role
Federalists defeated and leader of the opposing party elected
Democratic Republican
Man of the people
He didn’t like to give public speeches
Louisiana Purchase: more than doubled size of US for $15 million. He didn’t know if it was
constitutional (thought it wasn’t) and used Hamilton’s finance system to fund it. He did a
political 180 and Federalists attacked him for having the government do too much. He wanted to
rule the new lands with military governors. He organized a secret exploration of the land (Louis
and Clark Exploration).
1804: overwhelmingly reelected but did not have a good 2 nd term
He could not deal with the rising international crisis.
American merchants were trading with England and France that angered both sides so Jefferson
pass the Embargo Act of 1807 that stopped trade with both. It was disastrous for New England
trade and sank his 2nd term.
 Secretary of State for Jefferson and friend of Jefferson
 Democratic Republican from Virginia
 Veteran of the Revolution and father of the Constitution
Matthew Richardson
 Wife was Dolly Madison and brought the First Lady to the position
 Had lavish parties with oyster ice cream, Dolly’s favorite
 War of 1812 defined his Presidency. It was sparked by British seizing of American ships.
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Diplomatic efforts went nowhere. He was the 1st President to ask Congress for war declaration.
The British military was much stronger than the American one.
Sent Monroe to negotiate peace with England (Treaty of Ghent) that ended 1812 War
Battle of New Orleans: (Andrew Jackson was a general) was after treaty
1812 War brought American Presidency to international affairs
James Monroe 1817-1825
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1816: harmonious election. Party politics seemingly vanished
Democratic Republican from Virginia
Last of the Revolutionary generation to hold office and last of Virginia dynasty
Hands off executive that hired great people to cabinet and delegated authority
Missouri petitioned to statehood but would it be free or slave?
Would veto anything that prevented states from self-determination
Missouri Compromise of 1820: Missouri enters as slave state and Maine enters as free state.
American Colonization Society: wanted to ship slaves back to Liberia
Monroe Doctrine (1823): American continents are not to be invaded by foreign powers. Written
by John Quincy Adams (Secretary of State)
John Quincy
Adams
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Secretary of State for Monroe
Jackson, Crawford, Clay, and Calhoun also wanted the job
1st election where states counted popular vote
Jackson won popular vote but did not get majority of popular vote and it was between Jackson
and Adams with Clay as Speaker of House.
Corrupt Bargain: Adams won election and Clay was Secretary of State
political demons and put his dad’s Presidency in a better light. He wanted to prove Adams was
right.
He wanted to show that he could do a good job despite the corrupt bargain.
He didn’t play the patronage game (fire people against him and hire people for him).
Later elected to the House. He was outspoken in the fight against slavery. LEGACY
1825-1829
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Andrew
Jackson
Martin Van
Buren
1829-1837
1837-1841
 Election of 1828: dirtiest campaign in history. Adams said that he was a gambler. Adams
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attacked Jackson and Rachel (married Jackson before a divorce was final). Jackson said that
Adams lived with his wife before marriage and provided a virgin for a Russian tsar. The election
was about character
Old Hickory, hero of New Orleans and conqueror of Florida
Democrat from Tennessee
Hero of the Common Man
After the Eaton affair, he no longer trusted his cabinet members and fired and hired many.
Bank War: began in 1832 when Congress renewed the Bank Charter early. Clay wanted the
Bank re-chartered and Jackson hated Clay so he didn’t support the bank. Clay was running for
reelection and was supported by the bank President so they tried to force Jackson to sign an act
or Jackson would lose his reelection bid but Jackson did not agree. Jackson vetoed the bank bill.
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Jackson’s hand-picked heir
Democrat from New York
Father of Democrat Party
Acted like an aristocrat
Matthew Richardson
 Inherited financial ruins of Jackson’s Bank War
 Panic of 1837, 1939 (worse than 1837) caused by collapse in cotton prices
 Did not want to address annexation of Texas out of fear to ignite slavery discussion
William H.
Harrison
1841 (died)
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John Tyler
1841-1845
 Thought there was too much power in federal government but expanded it
 Whig from Virginia
 Webster told him that cabinet would make all decision by consensus and Tyler said that they
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James Polk
1845-1849
Chosen by new Whig Party because he resembled Jackson
Supported rechartering of Bank of US
1st election with open public rallies, songs, and slogans
Tippecanoe and Tyler Too
War Hero (Battle of Tippecanoe)
Symbolized by log cabin
Economy decided the election but his old age worried people
Whig from Ohio
would work with him or resign. The Whigs were worried that the Whig legislation that Harrison
promised would not be passed.
Tyler did not share Whig view
Tyler vetoed 2 laws rechartering the bank. The Whigs kicked Tyler out of their party.
Webster-Ashburton Treaty: settled northern border between US and Canada
Annexation of Texas (passed through joint resolution)
Not trusted by Democrats so he did not run for reelection
 Dark horse candidate but embraced because he wanted to continue Jackson’s work
 Democrat
 He was one of the most accessible Presidents. He was the 1st servant of the people and the
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“hardest-working President”. He had gas lights installed in the White House so he could work
overnight and he was the 1st to work deeply in the budget and wanted budget requests sent to him
first.
Manifest destiny was his Presidential mandate
4 Goals: settle Oregon battle between Britain and the US, bring California into US, independent
treasury to fix credit mess of Jackson, lower tariffs on imports into country.
He threatened war with UK to settle Oregon battle. (54 40 or fight) and fought with Mexico to
settle Texas, California, and SW.
Zachary
Taylor
1849-1850
(died)
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Milliard
Fillmore
1850-1853
 Whig from New York
 Unremarkable
Both the North and South wanted to settle the West with their own ideals.
Whig from Louisiana
War hero (appealed to North) and Louisiana landholder and slaveholder (appealed to South)
“Old Rough and Ready”
Would go along with whatever Congress proposed
Southern extremists threatened succession if Congress did not agree with them
Compromise of 1850
Taylor threatened to veto Compromise of 1850
Became an ardent unionist
Matthew Richardson
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“Accidental President”
Fired all of the cabinet
Signed Compromise of 1850
Supported slavery because he thought without it the Southern economy would collapse and
thought it was protected by the Constitution
Franklin Pierce 1853-1857
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Northern Democrat with strong ties to South
People thought he would bring balance and peace to the US
Offensive to no one but left office reviled by all
Participated in the large drinking culture of the time but was mainly sober during his Presidency
Vice President King died
Kansas-Nebraska Act designed to repeal Missouri Compromise of 1820 and let Kansas and
Nebraska (both north of line) to decide for themselves if they wanted slavery or not
James
Buchanan
1857-1861
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Democrat from Pennsylvania
America’s only Bachelor President
1st Homosexual President with Pierce’s VP King
Pro-Southern
Brought nation to Civil War
Near treasonous (supported Southern Constitution)
Abraham
Lincoln
1861-1865
(died)
 Created the Republican Party against the expansion of slavery spurred by Kansas-Nebraska Acts
 South lost its ally in the White House
 8 states were Border States and 6 were the Deep South. 7 Southern states elected Jefferson Davis
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Andrew
Johnson
1865-1869
their President.
American icon (Lincoln logs, etc)
Republican from Illinois
Wanted to restore union like it was before they succeeded
Drew people to him, especially young people
Compelled to seek the truth, Honest Abe
Northern troops needed supplies and Lincoln told Davis if the South attacked their supply boats
they would be responsible for starting the war. They fired on Fort Sumter and 4 states joined the
South. The Civil War began.
Presidency defined by the Civil War.
Nullified Emancipation Proclamation
He later wanted to abolish slavery in the South to hurt their economy and end it in America. He
then delivered the Emancipation Proclamation.
Lee’s rebel army was marching to Pennsylvania and the Battle of Gettysburg occurred.
The Gettysburg address rallied support for the Union.
Visited soldiers to encourage them in their fights
Laid out roadmap for peace and reconstruction in the states (malice for none, etc) in 2 nd
inauguration
Lee surrendered to Grant so war was almost over but Lincoln was not vindictive
Shot on Good Friday by John Wilkes Booth
 Democrat-Union from Tennessee
 Southerner and a Democrat. Once owned a few slaves but remained with Union despite being
from the South. He was chosen to broaden the ticket’s appeal.
Matthew Richardson
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Ulysses
1869-1877
Simpson Grant
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Rutherford B.
Hayes
1877-1881
Wanted to preserve the Federal Union
“Last Jacksonian”
Voice of Common White Man
Most racist President
Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner wanted the South to be punished
Congress extended the Freedman’s Bureau started by Lincoln but Johnson vetoed it
Congress and Johnson were at odds; Johnson vetoed many Congressional acts (29 vetoes to 12
of Jackson)
Civil Rights Bill of 1866: could be passed without Johnson. It was a federal law in the United
States that made everyone born in the U.S full citizens. It was aimed at the Freedmen (freed
slaves) and was a major policy during Reconstruction.
Tenure of Congress Act: passed despite Johnson’s veto. It denied the President the power to
remove from office anyone who had been appointed by a past President without the advice and
consent of the United States Senate, unless the Senate approved the removal during the next full
session of Congress.
Congress prepared to impeach him, mostly motivated by political reasons. He avoided
impeachment by 1 vote and continued the rest of his term quietly.
Popular in the North
Republican from Ohio
Elected without majority of white vote (Blacks in South voted for him; 12% of total vote)
Got a $20 speeding ticket for driving a horse drawn carriage too fast
“Let us have peace”
KKK began to act against Blacks so Grant launched a “war on terror” by sending troops to round
up Klan’s men
1872: most peaceful year since the Civil war due to Grant’s leadership
Grant became synonymous for corruption (Credit Moblier, Whisky Ring, etc)
Despite scandals, his popularity won him reelection in 1872
Southern states began to be recaptured by the Democrats
1873: economic depression in the North
Southern governments are beginning to be overthrown by terrorist groups but Grant did nothing.
His presidency marked the end of Reconstruction.
He had problems with Indians: Custer annihilated at Battle of Little Big Horn.
He is remembered more for his magnificent failures than his well-intentioned efforts.
 Republican Ohio governor
 Would appoint people based on merit not spoil system
 He thought he lost the election to Tilden. Hayes lost the popular vote and several results from
states were in dispute.
 Specially appointed committee voted on party lines to give 3 states in dispute to Hayes. The
Great Compromise won him the election but he had to do certain things (unknown).
 It is suspected that he had to end Reconstruction by withdrawing the last federal troops from the
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South.
He also attempted to reestablish honest government after the corrupt Grant administration.
“Lemonade Lucy”: his wife banned liquor from the White House.
He ordered the removal of troops from state houses.
He felt betrayed by former Confederate leaders.
The window closed on Reconstruction and doomed Blacks a lower class for 100 years.
The New York Custom House was run by a corrupt man. The leader of the house was often rich
because the person controlled much trade and thus going money from the tariffs (no income tax).
Matthew Richardson
James A.
Garfield
1881 (died)
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Wanted civil rights for Black Americans and worked on education reform
He was the 1st president to go the West and would not run for reelection.
Vetoed efforts to restrict Chinese immigration
Reflected political stalemate and patronage problems of the Gilded Age
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Republican from Ohio
He tried to make everybody happy but made nobody happy.
He was expected to address civil service reform.
Killed by an insane man named Charles Guiteau barely a month into his presidency. No major
accomplishments.
Overwhelmed in first weeks in office by Republicans seeking ~100,000 federal jobs. Garfield’s
choice of Halfbreeds (led by James G. Blaine) for most offices provoked a bitter contest with
Senator Roscoe Conkling and his Stawarts. Republicans who were not Halfbreeds or Stalwarts
were Mugwumps.
A “Halfbreed”
Reflected political stalemate and patronage problems of the Gilded Age
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Chester Arthur 1881-1885
 Republican from New York
 Although he was a “Stalwart”, he tried to distance himself from them.
 He supported a bill reforming the civil service and approved the development of a modern
American navy.
 He began to question the high protective tariff and thus was denied re-nomination by the
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Grover
Cleveland
1885-1889
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Benjamin
Harrison
1889-1893
Republican Party in 1884.
Lived a Gilded Age life and did not want to work hard
He had to break from his party and his old friend Conkling
Signed the Pendleton Act which broke the back of corrupt political machines.
Upgraded the US Navy
Much executive power had been ceded to Congress (in the era from Johnson to Arthur)
Reflected political stalemate and patronage problems of the Gilded Age
Presidential power was largely shadowed by Carnegie, Rockefeller, and JP Morgan
Democrat and New York governor
Devoted his life to cleaning up corrupt government
Republicans pointed out that Cleveland had an illegitimate child. He took full responsibility and
Americans forgave him.
Cleveland won over Blaine
He saw his job as to stop bad things from happening so he vetoed many acts that he saw as
unwarranted drains on federal money.
He did not think he could enact change.
“People should support government but government should not support people.”
Objected pensions for Civil War veterans.
He did not want to financially support the people in an era where they needed it.
Lost veteran vote in 1888 election
 Republican-backed high tariff determined the 1888 election. Democrats campaigned for
Cleveland and a lower tariff. Republicans campaigned for Benjamin Harrison and a high tariff.
Republicans agreed that a lower tariff would wreck business prosperity. They used this fear to
raise campaign funds from big business and to rally workers in the North, whose jobs depended
on the success of the US industry. The Republicans also attacked Cleveland’s vetoes of pension
Matthew Richardson
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Grover
Cleveland
1893-1897
 Election of 1892: James Weaver was a Populist candidate and was relatively successful (22
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William
McKinley
1897-1901
(died)
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Theodore
Roosevelt
1901-1909
bills to bring out the veteran vote.
Cleveland received more popular votes but ended up losing because Harrison swept the North.
Republican from Indiana
Civil War veteran
Lost the support of those around him because he was indifferent about things
Alienated political bosses in the Republican party
Nearly bankrupted the National Treasury
1st Billion Dollar Congress through McKinley Tariff of 1890, increases in monthly pensions to
Civil War veterans, widows, and children, Sherman Antitrust Act, Sherman Silver Purchase Act
of 1890, and a bill protecting the voting rights of African Americans (passed in House but
defeated in Senate).
electoral votes). The Populist ticket lost badly in the South and failed to attract urban workers in
the North. The fear of Populists uniting poor blacks and whites drove conservative Southern
Democrats to use every technique to disfranchise African Americans. Between Harrison and
Cleveland, the unpopularity of the high-tax McKinley Tariff cost Harrison part of the election
and Cleveland won.
Democrat from New York
Returned to Presidency
Panic of 1893: great industrial bubble of 19 th century burst. Cleveland championed the gold
standard but otherwise had a hands-off policy toward the economy. It was a result of over
speculation and dozens of railroads went into bankruptcy as a result of overbuilding.
Unemployment and farm foreclosures rose.
As the depression worsened and unemployment rose, conservatives feared class war between
capital and labor. They were alarmed by Coxey’s Army – a march to Washington in 1894 by
thousands of unemployed people led by Populist Jacob Coxey of Ohio. The army demanded that
the federal government spend $500 million in pubic works programs to create jobs. Coxey and
other protesters were arrested for trespassing and the dejected army left for home.
Coin’s Financial School by William Harvey in 1894 taught Americans that their troubles were
caused by a conspiracy of rich bankers and that prosperity would return only if the government
coined silver in unlimited quantities.
Last of laid-back 19th century presidents
Could not deal with changing tides
Last Civil War veteran to be President
Republican from Ohio
1st President to modernly manage the media
Cubans suffering under Spanish regime and rebels were put into concentration camps
Foreign nations were taking land and there was a fear that if the US did not take land, they would
be overshadowed. They began to expand American military power in the Caribbean and Pacific.
Americans also needed natural resources.
Sent a warship to Cuba to protect American interests
USS Maine exploded and American outcry made him go to war with Spain. Roosevelt resigned
his executive position and organized the volunteer Rough Riders.
It was an easy victory over Spain and the US became an imperial power.
Roosevelt was Assistant Secretary of the Navy and wanted war with Spain
 Republican from New York
 He went after America’s greatest evil: too much power in the hands of business. He sued JP
Matthew Richardson
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William
Howard Taft
1909-1913
Morgan’s Northern Securities Corporation and Morgan’s monopoly was crushed. Thus, he was
known as a trustbuster but really was a trust regulator.
He feared that if he couldn’t get corporate America to let steam out of the pot, it would blow up.
Many were poor. America had poor infrastructure and sanitation and working conditions for
people (particularly coal miners) were miserable. Coal miners went on strike and without coal,
the country would freeze. He threatened to nationalize the coal industry and got employees and
employers to compromise on a way that favored labor. His resolution paved the way to better
working conditions.
He thought that the President needed to watch out for the American people.
Square Deal: social and economic reforms. It had 3 C’s: control of the corporations, consumer
protection, and conservation of natural resources.
He thought Americans had a duty to civilize the rest of the world and that we were a world
leader.
Increased immigration worsened already poor working conditions. Working class and immigrant
working conditions worsened.
Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle exposed poor working conditions.
He passed the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act.
He wanted to promote conservation because he feared that if the frontier disappeared, so would
the American identity.
He created better labor conditions and business regulation.
He chose Taft to be his successor since he said he would not run again for reelection.
 Republican from Ohio
 He was overall reluctant to be President but his wife pushed him. He was a lawyer and wanted to
be a Supreme Court judge.
 He delegated responsibility and let his Cabinet members do as they please. He thought the
President should merely uphold the Constitution.
 Roosevelt and Taft battled for the Republican nomination but they chose Taft for his
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Woodrow
Wilson
1913-1921
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Warren G.
1921-1923
conservative politics. Roosevelt joined the Progressive Bull Moose. The division in the
Republican Party let the Democratic Wilson win. Taft came in 3 rd.
He later became Chief Justice of the US, a job he did well and liked.
He regulated more trusts than Roosevelt and saw the 20 th century imperial Presidency that would
abuse the position that might emerge.
Election of 1912: between Taft, Wilson, and Roosevelt.
Democrat from New Jersey (Governor before Presidency)
New Freedom
Create federal reserve to manage national currency
Most Americans wanted nothing to do with WWI so he pledged neutrality but events such as the
Lusitania, etc dragged the US into the war.
1st Democratic incumbent to win reelection since Jackson
“The world must be made safe for democracy”
Central to his idea of peace was the League of Nations that would be able to end war and
connect countries. He obsessed over it. He let Pershing control America’s military. He wanted to
keep the American army separate to show that the American motives were different than that of
Europe.
Congress passed the Sedition and Espionage Acts of 1918 made it a crime to criticize the
government.
 Americans were tired of war abroad and Progressive reforms domestically. They wanted a
Matthew Richardson
Harding
(died)
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Calvin
Coolidge
1923-1929
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Herbert
Hoover
Franklin
Delano
Roosevelt
1929-1933
1933-1945
(died)
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conservative President.
Republican from Ohio
Former Newspaper man
He tried to surround himself with the best people for his Cabinet.
His most important achievement was Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 gave the executive
branch greater control over federal spending. It required the President for the first time in history
to submit a federal budget to Congress.
He arranged a conference in Washington with Britain, Japan, France, and Italy to set a limit on
arms. Washington Naval Conference was the only serious arms limitation in the 1920s and 30s.
He was the first sitting President to go to Alaska.
After his death, scandals were revealed. Albert Fall (Secretary of Interior) illegally leased oil
lands in America to oil businesses for a financial kickback (Teapot Dome).
He was also accused of cheating on his wife.
Although he was good with Congress and the budget, the scandals tainted his Presidency.
Republican from Massachusetts
Mean-spirited and not social
Previously a lawyer and governor
Believed in limited government and delegated power to his Cabinet
He was elected to a full term of his own
He kept a tight reign on the federal budget and killed pensions for postal workers and WWI
soldiers and lowered taxes.
Small government, booming business
Business = American life
Presided over era of prosperity but could not foresee the Great Depression
Andrew Miller – Secretary of the Treasury did not understand the financial situation and
Coolidge trusted him.
Did not run for 2nd term and Hoover won
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Hoover = presidential failure
Organized relief effort after WWI to save starving people in Belgium
Food administrator under Wilson
Secretary of Commerce for Harding and Coolidge
Elected because he was a large public figure in the years before
Republican from California
First president born West of Mississippi River
Managed like a CEO. Successful millionaire before Presidency
Invented Hooverball
Big business Republican who didn’t relate to common man
“Only trouble with capitalism is capitalists”
Hooverhotel, Hooverville, Hoover flag began in summer of 1932
Bonus Army: WWI veterans marched on Washington demanding pensions from the war early
and he sent troops to control them.
FDR offered hope for tomorrow but under Hoover it looked like nothing was getting better.
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Crippled by polio at 39
Political flexibility and charisma helped him the Presidency
New Deal: series of initiatives that tried to stabilize American life in all parts of America
Democrat from New York
Matthew Richardson
 Eleanor Roosevelt: partner in New Deal. She helped him with his polio and toured the country
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Harry S.
Truman
1945-1953
 Democrat from Missouri
 He was informed of the Manhattan Project after he became President and had to decide whether
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they were going to drop the atomic bomb.
1 million-500000 casualties if Japan was invaded
Potsdam Conference: unconditional surrender of Japan or destruction
August 15, 1945: Japanese surrendered
“The buck stops here”
US vs USSR: Acheson and Marshall helped him make decisions
Containment Policy = Truman Doctrine: asserted US right to help nations fend off Communist
aggression
Marshall Plan: US spent $12-14 billion to reconstruct Europe. SUCCESS
NATO
Role model of Democracy
Jan 1948: executive order ended segregation in military
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Republican from Kansas
He was reluctant to let the country go in the wrong direction so he ran for President.
Mastermind of D-Day
Rather play golf than govern
His hero was George Washington
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Dwight D.
Eisenhower
1953-1961
for him and connected him to the country. She supported social welfare and was the conscience
of the New Deal.
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”
Hundred Days Congress
Letter Legislation
Social Security Act of 1935: unemployment, old-age, survivors, disability, and retirement
He showed the American people that he was doing something and cared
“Happy days are here again”
He was losing his appeal but WWII helped his Presidency pick up speed again.
1937: he began to see war and began to convince isolationists that it might be necessary to
intervene in the future
Summer of 1940: France fell to Nazis
November 1940: broke George Washington’s precedent and was elected to 3 rd term
1940-41: aided Allies but proclaimed neutrality
Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941) started his role as a war President.
He picked great generals for WWII.
He ordered the internment of Japanese on February 19, 1942 to please anti-Japanese chaos. They
believed the Japanese couldn’t be trusted.
He was criticized for his failure to respond to the plight of European Jews that were in
concentration camps. Although he knew about the camps, he didn’t act on it much.
He thought the most important thing to do was win the war and that if they won it would help the
Jews, etc.
D-Day (June 6, 1944): attack on the beaches of Normandy to get a hold on mainland Europe
1944: ran for a 4th term 5 months after D-Day
Yalta: meeting of Allies to discuss shape of New World Order. FDR and Churchill convinced
Stalin to agree to the UN.
1945: he died
Matthew Richardson
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John F.
Kennedy
1961-1963
(died)
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Lyndon Baines 1963-1969
Johnson
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Richard Nixon 1969-1974
(resigned)
“I Like Ike”
Ended Korean War with armistice still used today
Wanted to pursue peace by downsizing military
Spent less on defense and used the money for to improve infrastructure and quality of life
World’s largest public works bill: Federal Highway Act
1954: Brown v. Board of Education banned segregation in schools
Chief Justice Earl Warren passed it. Eisenhower distanced himself from the decision because he
thought it wasn’t time for desegregation and thought it wasn’t his place.
S Vietnam would be democratic. Supported creation of the Bank of Vietnam, etc
Democrat from Massachusetts
“1000 Days” in office
Role model for American men
Health problems and sex scandals made him lose popularity
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Advertised capitalism in the Cold War
“Open Door” policy
Was his own Chief of Staff
Wanted people to come directly to come to him with bad news
Bay of Pigs: group of Cuban exiles would go to overthrow Castro’s regime. It was a disaster but
he took complete responsibility and America liked him.
Peace Corps created
“War on Poverty”
Challenged America to reach for unimaginable (go to moon, etc)
Cuban Missile Crisis: Oct 16, 1962. CIA told Kennedy that aerial photographs placed/were
placing bases for nuclear missiles in Cuba capable of delivering nuclear attack anywhere in the
US. CLOSE TO THERMONUCLEAR WAR
Democrat from Texas
Wanted to fulfill Kennedy’s legacy
Wanted to be greatest President in history
Rose from poverty and was larger than life. He was cunning and aware of people and their
actions. He could analyze people.
In-your-face management style
Johnson treatment: overwhelmed people to get what he wanted. Get in your face, bribe, shout,
etc to get your own way.
6’ 2” scared people
Great Society
Wanted to raise the discriminated and the underprivileged to new heights
Voting rights Act of 1965
Civil Rights of 1964 and 1968
Medicaid, Medicare
Federal funding for education
 1968 ran on platform with secret plan to end war but he wanted to keep the war going. He didn’t
want the Democrats to win anything that would prevent him from passing legislation.
 Republican from California
 Congressman, US Senator, and Vice President
 Presidency was vehicle for punishing enemies and promoting friends.
Matthew Richardson
 He had a desperate need to prove himself.
 Obsessed with power and had to be in control at all times
 Bypassed Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense so that Kissinger (National Security
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Gerald Ford
1974-1977
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Adviser and Secretary of State in Nixon’s 2nd term) and Nixon could control foreign policy.
Publicly endorsed plan to end the war but privately escalated war by bombing Cambodia and
invading Laos
When the news came out about Cambodia and Laos, he ordered widespread wiretapping to trace
the leak.
Nixon and Kissinger came up with the Triangular Diplomacy to end Vietnam War. They wanted
to disengage from Vietnam while playing USSR and China against each other. Key to peace was
good relations with China (Vietnam’s ally). They formed a diplomatic relationship with Chinese
(Nixon recognized the Communist government in 1979) and then reached an agreement with
Hanoi. Nixon used his relationship with China to put pressure on the USSR to reach a treaty
limiting antiballistic missiles (would have expanded arms race). The Strategic Arms Limitation
Talks (SALT I) secured this agreement.
“Peace with honor” in Vietnam
Could exert leverage with USSR
Played both sides of the fence (China and USSR)
Visit to China in 1972
Strategic arms limitation treaty
Breakthroughs with communist world led to reelection
Ceasefire with Vietnam in 1973
Promised S Vietnam President that US would bomb N if the N president did not follow ceasefire
Watergate: Nixon’s associates broke into the offices of the Democratic national headquarters in
the Watergate complex in DC. The break-in and attempted bugging were only a part of illegal
activities and “dirty tricks” conducted by the Nixon administration and the Committee to ReElect the President (CREEP). Previously, Nixon wiretapped government employees to stop news
leaks. Presidential aides created a group (the “plumbers”) to stop leaks and discredit opponents.
The “plumbers” burglarized Daniel Ellsberg’s office (he leaked the Pentagon Papers) to discredit
Ellsberg. The White House also created an “enemies list” of prominent Americans who opposed
Nixon and/or the Vietnam War. People on the list were investigated by government agencies
(IRS, etc).
Watergate, etc reflected the Nixon administration’s attitude to do anything to promote national
security.
Republican from Michigan
Walked into White House full of turmoil
America felt betrayed of Washington
Congress wanted to regain power they felt was stolen from them
Consensus building history
Ford was needed after Nixon
Frustrated with inability to preside over business of the nation
Spent more than ½ of his time dealing with Watergate aftermath and then cut it off to deal with
internal improvements (inflation, etc)
Gave Nixon pardon to prevent Watergate from consuming his term
N Vietnam broke peace accord and Ford requested help to help S Vietnamese but Congress
refused. Congress did not know that Nixon had promised aid. This prompted S Vietnamese to try
to escape using drastic measures. Saigon fell to the Communists.
Did not have support of the nation
Wanted his legacy to be “leave the country better than the way I found it”
Matthew Richardson
 Wanted to forget about Vietnam and Watergate so turned to Carter.
Jimmy Carter
1977-1981
 Peanut farmer and 1-term governor
 Promised never to tell a lie
 Inspired confidence and optimism in the country (needed after Watergate and various
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Ronald Reagan 1981-1989
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assassinations)
Was selling the fact that he was not a Washington outsider
Homespun image
Democrat from Georgia
Wanted to be a different kind of President
Walked inaugural route
Family was a part of his campaign
Micromanager
Deeply religious and Southern Baptist
Protestant work ethic
Added posts for energy and education to Cabinet
President who made human rights central to foreign policy
1978: Camp David Accords between Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister
Menachem Begin. The two leaders first met in Jerusalem and Carter then invited both to meet at
Camp David, Maryland. After 13 days, the three negotiated the Camp David Accords
(September 1978) that provided a framework for a peace settlement between Egypt and Israel.
Egypt later became the first Arab nation to recognize Israel and Israel withdrew its troops from
the Sinai territory taken from Egypt in the Six-Day War of 1967. Carter tried to bring peace
between Israel and Egypt and address problems of the Palestinians. The treaty was opposed by
the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and most of the Arab world, but it proved the 1 st
step to a negotiated peace in the Middle East.
The signing of the Camp David accords were the high marks of his Presidency.
Conservative rhetoric
Republican from California
Previously an actor
“Teflon President”
Nancy Reagan
Disengaged manager
“Great Communicator”
Challenger Disaster: Challenger shuttle exploded while leaving
Iran Contra Affair: Since 1980, Iran and Iraq had been feuding. Reagan aides proposed
(Americans didn’t know) that the US government sell antitank and antiaircraft missiles to Iran
for its help in freeing the Americans held hostage by a radical Arab group. In 1986, another aide
proposed that the profits of the arms deal with Iran should fund the contras in Nicaragua. Reagan
denied the knowledge of the illegal diversion of funds (illegal because it violated the Boland
Amendment and the congressional budget authority). This led to images of an uninformed,
hands-off president who was easily manipulated by advisers. He avoided criminal charges but
partially accepted responsibility.
Core Beliefs: government is the problem not the solution to our problem
Wanted to shrink government
Supply-side economics: tax cuts reduced government spending, would increase investment by
private sector, and lead to increased production, jobs, and prosperity. Supply-side economics
reminded some of the “trickle-down” economics of the 1920s in which the wealthy prospered
and some of their increased spending helped the middle class and the poor. This contrasts with
Keynesian economics favored by Democrats with relied on government spending to boost
Matthew Richardson
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George
Herbert
Walker Bush
1989-1993
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Republican from Texas
VP for Reagan
Won the election with bold campaign of READ MY LIPS NO NEW TAXES
Decisive
1st sitting VP to win since Van Buren
Formerly 2 term Congressman from Texas, head of CIA
Yale graduate
Preppy image allowed him to be characterized as a wimp by opponents
WWII hero
Wanted to show he was more engaged than Reagan
Wanted to govern country based off of consensus
End of Cold War and Gulf War against Hussein defined his Presidency
Needed Gorbachev’s help
Did not celebrate fall of Berlin Wall to fizzle out relations with Gorbachev. He did not want the
Cold War to end with a BANG.
Most difficult test of Presidency: Hussein of Iraq invaded Kuwait (naked aggression)
Would go to war to protect Persian energy reserves for West (1991) so he went to war
Got support of the UN, European nations, and Middle Eastern countries
Cared about support of other countries
Iraqi army surrendered from Kuwait and Bush could have send troops into Baghdad to topple
Hussein from power but he didn’t. He let Hussein stay in power since he said he only wanted to
get him out of Kuwait.
After the war, his approval rating shot up and he was expected to be reelected. HOWEVER,
Reagan’s deficit made him raise taxes and cost him the election.
Legacy of political moderation
Inadequate salesman of his policies but good overall strategist, etc
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Charismatic
Democrat from Arkansas
1st Rock ‘n Roll President (played saxophone)
Ran youthful campaign (went on MTV and told America what type of underwear he wore, etc)
Natural politician
Seductive and charming
Famous for his handshake
Rhodes scholar
Empathetic “I feel your pain”
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William
Clinton
1993-2001
consumer income and demand.
Deregulation led to more money in the hands of investors and higher income Americans
Build military
Lower taxes
Led to huge deficits
Overwhelmingly reelected and trumpeted return of prosperity
Overlooked AIDS, homelessness, and women’s rights
Did not want to use government for social engineering
His leadership won the Cold War for America
Strong rhetoric was his political cover so he could take soft stance on Soviet counterpart
(Gorbachev). The 2 had summit meetings. The two became fast friends but Reagan’s aids were
worried that Gorbachev would overpower Reagan
Matthew Richardson
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George W.
Bush
2001-2009
Chaotic management style
Wanted to listen to different opinions and viewpoints
Valued Hilary Clinton’s opinion
1st First Lady to have an office in the West Wing
Republican party gained control of both Houses
There was a surplus of revenues. Republicans wanted tax revenue cuts (elimination of estate
taxes and taxes on 2-income families). Clinton wanted to use the projected surplus to support
Social Security, expand Medicare, and reduce national debt.
Newt Gingrich (Republican Speaker of the House) led attack on federal programs and spending.
Clinton and moderates agreed with the goal of a balanced budget but Clinton wanted a “leaner
not meaner” budget. This confrontation resulted in 2 shutdowns of the federal government in late
1995, which many American blamed on an overzealous Congress. Clinton refused to
compromise on Medicare, Social Security, and the national debt.
 Republican from Texas
 2000: Al Gore v George W Bush. Gore won popular vote but neither won electoral vote. Florida
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needed to be decided on to know the winner. Whoever won Florida won the position. A 5-4
partisan Supreme Court decision halted the recounts and gave the position to Bush.
Bush tried to avenge his father.
Only Presidential son to win office along with John Q. Adams
More conservative than Bush Sr.
America is the good force
Took policy steps to ensure that good would triumph over evil
National sheriff, “protecting the homeland”
One of the most decisive Presidents in history
Delegates to advisors
Inarticulate speaking
Lack of curiosity for details
Ran a tight ship. Was early for everything. Wanted brief things, salute Commander in Chief
9/11 made it so he couldn’t have a leisurely Presidency
Launched military campaign to rid Afghanistan of Taliban. Was supported by Americans
Department of Homeland Security
2002 State of the Union address widened enemies to N Korea and Iraq (AXIS OF EVIL). This
allowed him to invade Iraq.
He cited preemptive unilateral war as a reason to invade Iraq though it was not favored
internationally
2004: reelected to 2nd term