Richard Nixon and the Rise of
Conservatism
 Kennedy -Nixon:
1960
 1968- Richard Nixon back again!
 Vietnamization of the War in SE Asia
 Supressing the Left
 Watergate and the end of the Imperial
Presidency
Kennedy-Nixon debates
1960 election
The Election of 1968
 Republican:
Richard M. Nixon
 Democrat: Hubert H. Humphrey
 Independent: George Wallace
Secret Plan to End the War
Secret Plan to End the War
 Paris Peace Talks
Secret Plan to End the War
 Paris Peace Talks
 Vietnamization of the War:
Reduce US
troops and turn over responsibility for the
fighting to the S. Vietnamese
Secret Plan to End the War
 Paris Peace Talks
 Vietnamization of the War:
Reduce US
troops and turn over responsibility for the
fighting to the S. Vietnamese
 Escalation of the Air War
Kent State University
The Pentagon Papers
 Daniel Ellsberg’s book about the War in
Vietnam that indicated Johnson
administration had lied about the Gulf of
Tonkin incident and other things.
Watergate-1972
Watergate-1972
 1970- Secret bombings in Cambodia
Watergate-1972
 Plumbers- Dirty Tricks Squad under
direction of Nixon: plug leaks in White
house.
Watergate-1972
 Plumbers- Dirty Tricks Squad under
direction of Nixon: plug leaks in White
house.
 1971-Pentagon Papers published and
Plumbers break into Ellsberg’s
Psychiatrist’s office.
Watergate-1972
 Plumbers- Dirty Tricks Squad under
direction of Nixon: plug leaks in White
house.
 1971-Pentagon Papers published and
Plumbers break into Ellsberg’s
Psychiatrist’s office.
 1972- CREEP- Committee to Re-elect the
President formed under John Mitchell.
Watergate
 1972: Plumbers plant wiretaps in
Democratic National Headquarters at
Watergate Hotel.
Watergate
 1972: Plumbers plant wiretaps in
Democratic National Headquarters at
Watergate Hotel.
 Washington Post investigates
Woodward and Bernstein
Watergate
 1972: Plumbers plant wiretaps in
Democratic National Headquarters at
Watergate Hotel.
 Washington Post investigates
 1974: Special Prosecutor appointed and
Senate Hearing begins
John Dean testifies
Watergate
 1972: Plumbers plant wiretaps in
Democratic National Headquarters at
Watergate Hotel.
 1973: Washington Post investigates
 1974: Special Prosecutor appointed and
Senate Hearing begin
 9 August 1974: Nixon resigns under threat
of Impeachment
Nixon after resignation
New President– Gerald Ford
Effects of Watergate
 The people became more cynical
Effects of Watergate
 The people became more cynical
 Office of the President badly tarnished
Effects of Watergate
 The people became more cynical
 Office of the President badly tarnished
 Congress passes War Powers Act
Effects of Watergate
 The people became more cynical
 Office of the President badly tarnished
 Congress passes War Powers Act
 Congress strengthens Freedom of
Information Act
Effects of Watergate
 The people became more cynical
 Office of the President badly tarnished
 Congress passes War Powers Act
 Congress strengthens Freedom of
Information Act
 Divisions in society were deepened