Nixon Agonistes

Focus Question:

When, if ever, should a president be impeached?

Richard M. Nixon

Hard-nosed politicianHighly suspicious of othersEarned a reputation as a staunch anti-

Communist

Nixon’s Political Career

Elected to Congress as a Red-Baiter Leading member of HUAC Led investigation of Alger Hiss

Served as Eisenhower’s Vice-PresidentNarrowly lost to Kennedy in 1960Lost California governor’s race in 1962

“Retired from politics”

Election of 1968

Democrats in disarrayRace riots throughout American citiesStalemate in VietnamThe Republicans campaigned as the Law and

Order Party“Secret Plan to end the war in Vietnam”

Nixon’s First Term

Governed as a moderate Expanded Social Security Expanded “Affirmative Action” policies Established federal protection agencies

OHSA Environmental Protection Agency Established price controls

Utilized Detente

Nixon negotiated with the Soviets and China Pushed strategic arms limitations Used talks to forge links

Practiced “Vietnamization” Turned war in Vietnam over to the Vietnamese

“Southern Strategy”

Adopted a cynical political policyPry white conservatives from the Democratic

Party Appoint conservative judges Promote grassroots political organizations Weaken enforcement of various Civil Rights policies

Election of 1972

Democrats imploded Leading candidate had to pull out First Vice-Presidential nominee had to remove himself

War in Vietnam winding down

However Nixon laid the seeds of his downfall

Watergate Break-In

Attempted break-in of the Democratic National Headquarters in Washington DC Five burglars “White House Plumbers” attempted to

bug the Democrats All five were employed by CREEP Story pursued by the Washington Post

Investigation Cover-Up

Nixon put up blocks on any official investigation Similar actions carried out by the Administration “Dirty Tricks” approach to politics

Patterns Discovered

Secret tapes revealed Nixon refused to honor a Senate subpoena “Saturday Night Massacre” October 20, 1973

United States v. Nixon Tapes revealed to have massive gaps One did have him order a cover-up

Resignation

The House drew up three articles of impeachment

Senior advisers informed Nixon he would be removed from office

Nixon resigned, August 8, 1974

Impact on the U.S.

Increased distrust of the national government

Deepening sense of the Southern Strategy

Democratic Party maintained a false sense of popular support

Assignment

Identify the main charge against the President

Why would this charge be seen as intolerable to Congress and the people?

Select three passages which stand out.Identify two questions which may arise from

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