TO A NEW CONSERVATISM, TO A NEW CONSERVATISM, 1969-19881969-1988
America: Past and Present
Chapter 31
Nixon in PowerNixon in Power
• Apparent success in first term
• Triumphs in foreign affairs
• Nixon cuts himself off from Congress, his own cabinet, and the nation
Reshaping the Great Reshaping the Great SocietySociety
• Nixon and the Great Society• more efficient administration• shift responsibility to the states• shift school desegregation to the courts
• Shift to conservative Supreme Court• appointment of conservatives and
moderates• Burger Court similar to Warren Court
• Pace of change slows but continues
NixonomicsNixonomics
• Nixon and inflation• inflation spurred by Vietnam • federal spending cuts• interest rates forced up
• 1970--Nixon-induced recession
• 1971--wage and price controls
• Economy revives
Building a Republican Building a Republican MajorityMajority
• Nixon obsessed about reelection
• Inactive on desegregation to win South
• Attack cultural revolution to win “middle America”
• Democrats retain majority by joining crusade against drugs, crime
In Search of DIn Search of Déétentetente
• Foreign-policy assumptions• Cold War to be managed, not won• America must make a strategic retreat• improve relations with China to neutralize
Russia
• February 1972--Nixon visits China
In Search of DIn Search of Déétente:tente:Outcome of China VisitOutcome of China Visit
• February 1972--U.S. recognition of Communist China set in motion
• May 1972--Russians sign SALT I
• Apparent mutual desire to reduce Cold War tensions
Ending the Vietnam WarEnding the Vietnam War
• Nixon’s plan• gradual reduction of American troops• intensify American bombing • hard line at the peace talks
• 1970--invasion of Cambodia
• January, 1973--peace talks conclude with disguised American surrender
The Crisis of DemocracyThe Crisis of Democracy
• June, 1972--Nixon agents arrested for attempted Watergate break-in
• Nixon stonewalled the press about White House involvement• even instructed aides to lie under oath
The Election of 1972The Election of 1972
• Nixon’s opponents• American Independent George Wallace--
shot and disabled, followers vote for Nixon• Democrat George McGovern--nomination
alienates middle class
• Nixon landslide suggests new alignment• middle class shifting to Republicans• African Americans, Jews, the poor remain
strongly Democratic
The Watergate ScandalThe Watergate Scandal
• Summer 1973--Senate investigation• damaging Senate hearings on cover-up• White House tapes discovered
• Summer 1974• Nixon must relinquish tapes• House Judiciary committee recommends
impeachment
• August 9, 1974--Nixon resigns
The Watergate Scandal: The Watergate Scandal: ConsequencesConsequences
• Demonstrates growing power of the executive branch
• Illustrates vitality of institutions• the press• the federal judiciary• Congress
Energy and the Energy and the EconomyEconomy
• U.S. way of life based on cheap energy
• 1970s energy crisis sparks inflation
The October WarThe October War
• October, 1973--Yom Kippur War pits Egypt, Syria against Israel
• U.S. supplies weapons to Israel
• Arab oil nations retaliate with boycott• prices of gasoline and home heating fuel
rose sharply
The Oil ShocksThe Oil Shocks
• Effects of soaring oil prices • consumer spending plunges• recession by 1974• inflation persists through 1970s
• Tax cut aids recovery
• 1979--Iranian Revolution causes second surge in oil prices
The Oil Shocks: Price Increases The Oil Shocks: Price Increases of Crude Oil and Gasoline, of Crude Oil and Gasoline, 1973-19851973-1985
The Search for an The Search for an Energy PolicyEnergy Policy
• Ford tries to encourage production
• Carter tries to encourage conservation
• Congressional legislation to• encourage production, e.g. Alaska pipeline• encourage conservation, e.g. gas rationing
• Energy problem persists
The Great InflationThe Great Inflation
• Oil prices drive inflation• price of goods soars• real income declines
• Attempted government controls result in record high interest rates
The Shifting American The Shifting American EconomyEconomy
• U.S. share of world markets declines
• U.S. heavy industry declines
• High technology prospers
• Businesses tend to diversify
Private Lives—Public Private Lives—Public IssuesIssues
• Traditional American family gives way to more diverse living arrangements
• Number of working women increases sharply
• Gay rights movement emerges
The Changing American The Changing American Family: Family Life by Family: Family Life by 19901990
• 21% of women solely in childrearing
• 30% of married coupes without children
• 25% of households consist of one adult
• Birthrate begins to climb after 15-year fall
• Divorce rate levels and drops slightly
The Changing American The Changing American Family: New Family Family: New Family StructureStructure
• Many never marry or postpone marriage
• Most mothers work outside the home
• Proportion of single-parent households doubled
• Women without partners head 1/3 of impoverished families
• Children comprise 40% of the poor
Gains and Setbacks for Gains and Setbacks for WomenWomen
• Rapid movement of women into work force• Breakthroughs for women
• leaders in industry, higher education• Roe v. Wade strengthens reproductive rights• women appointed to Supreme Court
• Resistance• most women remain in female-dominated jobs• wages only 77.5% of men’s earnings• Equal Rights Amendment fails • abortion widely stigmatized
The Gay Liberation The Gay Liberation MovementMovement
• 1969--Stonewall Riot sparks gay rights movement• 1980--Democrats include gay rights plank• 1980s--AIDS activism• 1987--600,000 march on Washington• 1993--“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy a setback• 1996--Defense of Marriage Act prohibits state
recognition of same-sex unions• 2000--Vermont legalizes same-sex “civil unions”
Politics After WatergatePolitics After Watergate
• Watergate erodes public trust
• Confrontation leaves nation leaderless
The Ford AdministrationThe Ford Administration
• Pardon of Nixon unpopular
• Democratic Congress alienated• disclosure of illegal CIA activities under
Kennedy and Johnson• opposes Democratic bills protecting the
environment and civil rights
The 1976 CampaignThe 1976 Campaign
• Ford damaged by Watergate
• Democrat Jimmy Carter wins close vote• former governor of Georgia• campaigns as outsider• calls for decency, morality in government
Disenchantment with Disenchantment with CarterCarter
• Carter displays lack of political vision
• Outsider status hampers effectiveness
• 1979--Carter blames American people for "national malaise"
From Détente to From Détente to Renewed Cold WarRenewed Cold War
• U.S. international dominance declined sharply in the 1970s
• Internal and external events weakened foreign policy
Retreat in AsiaRetreat in Asia
• April 1975--North Vietnam captures Saigon
• U.S. response--evacuation, no aid
• Subsequent incidents met with caution, restraint
Accommodation in Latin Accommodation in Latin AmericaAmerica
• 1977--treaty returns Panama Canal to Panama
• 1979--U.S. refuses aid to Nicaraguan government against Sandinistas
• Carter assists El Salvador against Marxist rebels
The Quest for Peace in The Quest for Peace in the Middle Eastthe Middle East
• Carter’s success• 1978--Camp David Accords • 1979--Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty
• Carter’s failure• 1979--Iranian Revolution • November--U.S. embassy in Teheran
invaded, 58 Americans taken hostage• Carter fails to secure hostages’ release
The Cold War ResumesThe Cold War Resumes
• Carter, Brzezinski shift from Détente• condemn Soviet human rights abuses• new missile systems deployed• increased aid to China
• December, 1979--Russians invade Afghanistan
A Failed PresidencyA Failed Presidency
• Carter lost public confidence during the Iranian hostage crisis
• Double-digit inflation also contributed to voter disappointment
Reagan in PowerReagan in Power
• Roosevelt coalition continues to splinter
• Republican party picks up pieces
The Reagan VictoryThe Reagan Victory
• Carter’s negatives• Iranian hostage crisis• economic ills
• Reagan’s positives win the election• warm telegenic personality• optimistic message• draws Jewish, working class vote
• Republicans win majority in the Senate
Cutting Spending and Cutting Spending and TaxesTaxes
• Reagan’s premise: cut spending to encourage private investment
• Reagan cuts over three years• federal spending by more than $40 billion• social services included in cuts • taxes cut by 25%
Limiting the Role of Limiting the Role of GovernmentGovernment
• Environmental regulations relaxed
• Attempted cuts in Social Security
• Neglect of interest-group opponents• labor hurt in air traffic control firings• lack of support for civil rights legislation• women ignored in judicial appointments
ReaganomicsReaganomics
• Reagan’s reductions in spending and taxes prompt conflicting expectations
• Supply-side economists expect economic growth
• Reagan’s critics expect massive deficits, economic stagnation
Recession and RecoveryRecession and Recovery
• 1981-1982--unemployment hits 10%
• 1983--economic recovery• rise in consumer spending • prices remain level• worldwide decline in energy prices
The Growing DeficitThe Growing Deficit
• Basis for the Reagan prosperity includes• massive deficit spending • massive inflows of foreign investment
• 1983--federal budget deficit $200 billion
• Spending caps on defense, services
• 1985--U.S. becomes a debtor nation
The Rich Grow RicherThe Rich Grow Richer• Gains of Reaganomics
• inflation reduced to 4%• employment grows after 1982• growth in service sector jobs
• Losses of Reaganomics• high-paying manufacturing jobs decline• increasing social inequality
• wealthy benefit• poor left in poverty• middle class hurt
Share of Aggregate Share of Aggregate Household Income by Household Income by Quintiles, 1975-1995Quintiles, 1975-1995
Reagan AffirmedReagan Affirmed
• Perception of improving economy
• 1984 election• Reagan trounces Walter Mondale• Republicans lose seats in Congress
Reagan and the WorldReagan and the World
• Reagan determined to restore America's international position
• Steep increase in military spending
• Aggressive foreign policy
Challenging the "Evil Challenging the "Evil Empire"Empire"
• Reagan: Soviet Union the "focus of evil in the modern world"
• Unfavorable deals on arms reductions
• U.S. response to Russian refusal• deployment of cruise missiles in Europe• development of anti-missile system
• Russians build up nuclear arsenal
Turmoil in the Middle Turmoil in the Middle EastEast
• 1982--Israeli invasion of Lebanon
• International response• U.S., France send troops to maintain order • PLO evacuates Beirut
• 1984--200 U.S. Marines killed in terrorist bombing
• U.S. evacuation of Lebanon
Confrontation in Central Confrontation in Central AmericaAmerica
• Intervention against Latin American leftist insurgents
• Covert subversion of Sandinistas
• October, 1983--invasion of Grenada
Trouble Spots in Central Trouble Spots in Central America and the CaribbeanAmerica and the Caribbean
Trading Arms for Trading Arms for HostagesHostages
• Advanced weapons sold to Iran for influence in freeing American hostages
• November, 1986--Iran-Contra scandal• profit from Iran arms sales to Contras• funding violates Congressional prohibition• Reagan escapes impeachment
Reagan the PeacemakerReagan the Peacemaker
• 1985--Mikhail Gorbachev assumes power in Russia
• 1985-88--Reagan-Gorbachev summits• 1987--destroy intermediate range missiles• 1988--Afghanistan evacuated
• Foreign policy triumphs restore Reagan’s popularity
The AIDS EpidemicThe AIDS Epidemic
• 1981--AIDS first detected • apparent confinement to homosexual men
results in early public inaction • spread to drug users, recipients of blood
transfusions prompts panic
• Reagan Administration’s response• fund research• little funding for education, prevention• 1987--appointment of AIDS commissioner
The AIDS Epidemic (2)The AIDS Epidemic (2)
• 1996--500,000 infected• majority homosexuals, drug users• 15% heterosexual, non-drug abusers
• 1996--AIDS death rate begins dropping • new drugs• safer sexual practices
The War on DrugsThe War on Drugs
• Mid-1980's--crack cocaine introduced• addiction spread through all classes• exploding crime rate
• Reagan attempts interdiction of supply
• Bush, Clinton continue Reagan policy
• At the end of the century there seemed to be no end to the war on drugs
Passing the Torch to Passing the Torch to BushBush
• Republicans hope for major political realignment
• Factors reinforcing trend• 1980s economic boom• promise of the end of the Cold War