Gerald Ford & Jimmy Carter
Ch. 32, Sec 3, p. 963-969
Q: What problems did Gerald Ford
deal with as President?
Q: What major world conflicts did
Jimmy Carter deal with as President?
Q: Compare the 1970s to today.
Gerald Ford
Born:
Leslie Lynch King, Jr
September 1974 =
Ford becomes new
President…
ONLY president to
not be voted into
office?
Gerald Ford
Issues he will have to deal with:
1.) The Watergate Scandal
2.) 1970s Economic Recession & Gas crisis
3.) Genocide in the World
Gerald Ford took over the White
House during a very “crazy”
time in American history
September 5, 1975
Lynette “Squeaky”
Fromme
"I stood up and waved a gun
(at Ford)
for a reason,"
said Fromme. "I was so
relieved not
to have to shoot it,
but, in truth,
I came to get life. Not just my
life but clean air,
healthy water and respect for
creatures and creation."
September 22, 1975
Sara Jane Moore
"Am I sorry I tried?
Yes and no.
Yes, because it
accomplished little
except to throw
away the rest of my
life.
And, no, I'm not
sorry I tried,
because at the
time it seemed a
correct expression
of my anger."
Besides almost being killed
twice…what else did Ford have to
deal with as President?
Ford
#1.) Deal with the Watergate Scandal
Walter Cronkite
Nixon Resigns
Ford Pardons
Nixon
Should Ford have pardoned
Nixon?
“It is believed that a trial of Richard Nixon, if it became necessary, could
not fairly begin until a year or more has elapsed. In the meantime,
the tranquility to which this nation has been restored by the events
of recent weeks could be irreparably lost by the prospects of
bringing to trial a former President of the United States. The
prospects of such trial will cause prolonged and divisive debate over
the propriety of exposing to further punishment and degradation a
man who has already paid the unprecedented penalty of
relinquishing the highest elective office of the United States.
Now, therefore, I, Gerald R. Ford, President of the United States….do
grant a full, free, and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon for all
offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has
committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period
from January 20, 1969 through August 9, 1974.”
Should Ford have pardoned
Nixon?
1) What reasons could Ford have for
pardoning Nixon?
2) Do you agree with Ford’s decision to
pardon Nixon? Why/why not?
3) Are pardons acts of justice for righting
wrongs and healing a nation's wounds?
Or do they turn justice on its head by
giving special favors to a few?
Ford
#2.) Fix the Economic Recession
Do you remember inflation?
_____ demand _____ supply ______prices
Rising costs due to greater competition between goods
AND rising costs of OIL
Economic Crisis
• Started with LBJ and deficit funding
(spending more money than you earn)
He’s paying for both the Vietnam War
and Great Society programs without raising
taxes
Economic Situation in 1970
STAGFLATION:
(Combination of no economic growth and rising prices)
Why is this happening?
•Shift in American jobs: Manufacturing  Service
We’re not making any products…so when we buy
something where is our money going?
Another Problem? Who needs
Manufacturing Jobs?
FORD’s Solution for Stagflation?
WIN (Whip Inflation Now)
Tried to tell people to save
and spend wisely.
Ford increased
interest rates
= no one could borrow $
= no one has $
= no one spending $
= worst recession in 40
years!
Another Economic Issue for FORD:
1970s = Gas Shortage, caused gas
prices to increase!
Algeria
Angola
Ecuador
OPEC = Organization of
Petroleum Exporting
Countries
Iran
Iraq
Kuwait
•Oil = political power
•OPEC was angered by USA
policies in the Middle East, so they
raised oil prices by 70%
•They also decided to embargo
(stop shipping) oil to the US
because the US supported Israel
Libya
Nigeria
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
United Arab
Emirates
Venezuela
1st fuel shortage in the US
since WWII
Ford
#3.) Deal with World Conflict
Ford will continue to use Détente
Ford & The World
Helsinki Accords =
35 nations (including the
USSR) meet in Finland
Goal = increase cooperation,
spread Human Rights and try to stop
genocide
Test on Friday on Ch 32:
Friday’s test will Cover
Nixon & Watergate
Gerald Ford
Jimmy Carter
The 1976 Election
Jimmy Carter
1976 Election = Ford (R) vs. Carter (D)
“I will never tell a lie to the American
People”
Carter = a White House
“outsider”
-former governor of Georgia
-no national political
experience
Jimmy Carter: Foreign Policy
#1.) Gave up ownership of the Panama Canal
•
US had owned canal since 1914
•
Helped strengthen “good feelings” between the
US and Latin America
#2.) Détente:
•
Salt II: (Salt I with Nixon) = Negotiate with the
Soviet Union to limit the number of nuclear missile
launchers built
•
Congress did not agree with SALT II because they
thought it put the U.S. at a disadvantage
Jimmy Carter: Foreign Policy
#3.) Camp David Accords (1978)
Agreement: 1) Israel would withdraw troops from land it had taken from
Egypt. 2.) Egypt would recognize Israel as a nation.
Got Israel and Egypt to agree to
work with one another!
This man is Israeli
prime minister
Menachem Begin.
This man is Egyptian
president Anwar el-Sadat.
1. Notice the caption, Jimmy Kissinger. Why would the artist refer to
President Jimmy Carter as Jimmy Kissinger?
2. Why is President Carter pulling on the ties of Anwar Sadat and
Menachem Begin?
Malaise Speech
Did Jimmy Carter just
YELL at us??
As you watch:
1.) What kind of mood is
Carter in?
2.) Do you feel confident
that he can solve the
economic recession?
3.) What does he want
Americans to do?
4.) Does he give a reason
for why the gas crisis is
happening?
Jimmy Carter
#4.) Iran Hostage Crisis (1979)
Background Story:
• Iranian people were upset with current leader = Shah
Pahlavi
• Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini = Muslim leader.
Organized revolution against Iran’s government and
Shah Pahlavi
• Ayatollah = everyone should live by the word of the Qur’an (sacred
book of Islam)
Issue: Ayatollah wants Shah Pahlavi to be
executed…however, Pahlavi is in the U.S. being treated
for cancer. This angers Ayatollah
Jimmy Carter
Iran Hostage Crisis ** (1979)
Incident
•
•
•
Nov. 4, 1979 = armed
Iranian students take
over U.S. Embassy
Held 52 U.S. diplomats
hostage.
Held hostage for 444
days! It isn’t until
Ronald Reagan becomes
president that the
hostages are released.
Failed Rescue
Attempt
ARGO
• Based on real events during
the 1979 Iran Hostage
Crisis
• The film stars Ben Affleck
as Tony Mendez, a CIA
operative who leads the
rescue of six U.S. diplomats
from Tehran, Iran
• Details of the mission not
made public until 1997
While the Iran Hostage Crisis
is distracting Carter…
The Soviets invade Afghanistan!
Communism is
spreading…again!?
Carter boycotts the
1980 Olympics
Being held in
Moscow Russia
Jimmy Carter: Domestic Policy
Dealing with the Economic Recession
Gas Crisis
National Energy Act =
•
tax on gas guzzling cars
•
tax credits for companies that create
alternative fuels
GOAL: Americans cut back on oil
consumption = decrease impact of gas
shortage.
Some 1970s Firsts
Cable TV
1970s: The “Me” Decade
• Fads and Fashions
– Skateboards
– Mood rings
– “CB” (citizens band) radios  let drivers talk to each
other over a two-way frequency in a range of a few
miles
– Button craze  most popular: smiley face
1970s: The “Me” Decade
• Movies
1970s: The “Me” Decade
• TV shows
– The Mary Tyler Moore Show
• Featured an unmarried woman with a meaningful career
• Had adventures with friends, went on dates, but never married
– All in the Family
• Featuring blue-collar and bigot Archie Bunker
• Called his wife Edith “Dingbat” and liberal son-in-law “Meathead”
• Gave viewers a way to examine their own feelings (ex. Racism)
– The Jeffersons
• Portrayed African Americans as successful and respected
• (Archie Bunker’s neighbors)
• George Jefferson like Archie (opinionated and prejudiced but
likeable)
1970s: The “Me” Decade
• Music
– More reflective and less political than music of the 1960s
“These days, nobody wants to hear songs that have a message” - from
the rock group Chicago
• Disco becomes popular in the 1970s
– “Do the Hustle!”
Popular Artists of the 1970s
•
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•
•
•
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Barry Manilow
John Denver
Elton John
James Brown
Aretha Franklin
John Lennon
Peter Frampton
Donna Summer
Paul Simon
•
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Chicago
ABBA
The Eagles
Earth, Wind & Fire
The Beach Boys
Queen
Boston
Bee Gees
Jackson 5
ABBA
• Famous hits include:
– Mamma Mia
– Dancing Queen
– Gimme Gimme Gimme!
– Take a Chance on Me
• Songs from ABBA made
into the musical “Mamma Mia”
Boston
• Famous hits include:
– More Than a Feeling
– Long Time
– Peace of Mind
Jackson 5
• Famous hits include:
– I Want You Back
– ABC
– I’ll Be There
– Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)
Earth, Wind & Fire
• Disco band
• Famous hits include:
– September
– Boogie Woogie Wonderland
Chicago
• Famous hits include:
– 25 or 6 to 4
– Saturday in the Park
– Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?
Queen
• Famous hits include:
– Bohemian Rhapsody
– Somebody to Love
– We Are the Champions
– Another One Bites the Dust