Nixon and the Nixon and the ’70s’70s

By Brad Harris,By Brad Harris,Grand Prairie HSGrand Prairie HS

The Election of 1968The Election of 1968

The 1968 presidential election marked a shift to The 1968 presidential election marked a shift to the right in American politicsthe right in American politics. .

The 1960's began as an era of optimism but the The 1960's began as an era of optimism but the events of the decade led to public trust in the events of the decade led to public trust in the government and produced a backlash against government and produced a backlash against liberal movements and the Democratic party. liberal movements and the Democratic party.

The Election of 1968The Election of 1968

The “Silent Majority” were Americans who paid taxes, did not demonstrate, and desired a restoration of "law and

order.”

Nixon campaigned as a champion of the “Silent Majority"

The Southern Strategy

An important reason for Nixon’s victory An important reason for Nixon’s victory was the support he received in the was the support he received in the

SouthSouthThe effort to sway southern voters to the The effort to sway southern voters to the Republicans was known as the Southern Republicans was known as the Southern

StrategyStrategyNixon gained the South’s support by promising several things:Nixon gained the South’s support by promising several things:To oppose court-ordered busing of students to integrate To oppose court-ordered busing of students to integrate schoolsschoolsTo choose a vice-presidential candidate who was from the To choose a vice-presidential candidate who was from the SouthSouthTo only appoint conservatives to federal courtsTo only appoint conservatives to federal courtsTo appoint a Southerner to the Supreme CourtTo appoint a Southerner to the Supreme CourtSince the Election of 1968, the South has Since the Election of 1968, the South has

been a Republican stronghold in been a Republican stronghold in electionselections

New Federalism Nixon’s domestic policies became Nixon’s domestic policies became

known as “New Federalism”known as “New Federalism” It called for eliminating several It called for eliminating several

federal programs and giving more federal programs and giving more control to state and local control to state and local governmentsgovernments

Nixon claimed that this would give Nixon claimed that this would give the government agencies that were the government agencies that were the closest to the people the the closest to the people the opportunity to address problemsopportunity to address problems

Although “revenue sharing” was Although “revenue sharing” was suppose to give state and local suppose to give state and local governments more power, the governments more power, the federal government became more federal government became more powerfulpowerful

Crisis in the Middle EastTensions in the Tensions in the

Middle East Middle East escalated in 1956 escalated in 1956

when Egypt when Egypt nationalized the nationalized the

Suez CanalSuez Canal

This led to a war over control of the This led to a war over control of the canal between Egypt, Israel, the UK canal between Egypt, Israel, the UK

and Franceand France

Middle East ConflictsTensions in the Middle Tensions in the Middle

East escalated during the East escalated during the Nixon administrationNixon administration

Fighting broke out on Fighting broke out on two occasions two occasions

between Israel and between Israel and Arab countriesArab countries

The Six-Day WarThe Six-Day War was The Six-Day War was

fought in 1967 between fought in 1967 between Israel, Egypt, Jordan Israel, Egypt, Jordan

and Syria over control and Syria over control of land in the Middle of land in the Middle

EastEast

The conflict led to Israel The conflict led to Israel taking control over the taking control over the

Sinai Peninsula, the Golan Sinai Peninsula, the Golan Heights, the West Bank Heights, the West Bank

and the Gaza Stripand the Gaza Strip

Yom Kippur WarIn 1973, Egypt and In 1973, Egypt and

Syria retaliated Syria retaliated against Israel in a against Israel in a

conflict known as the conflict known as the Yom Kippur WarYom Kippur War

In this conflict, Egypt In this conflict, Egypt regained control of the regained control of the

Sinai Peninsula and Syria Sinai Peninsula and Syria reclaimed parts of the reclaimed parts of the

Golan HeightsGolan Heights

U.S.-Israeli allianceThe conflicts in the The conflicts in the

Middle East Middle East strengthened the ties strengthened the ties between the U.S. and between the U.S. and

IsraelIsrael

These ties have led to These ties have led to tensions between the tensions between the U.S. and some Arab U.S. and some Arab

nationsnations

Vietnam WarVietnam War

The biggest foreign policy issues The biggest foreign policy issues Nixon had to deal with during his Nixon had to deal with during his presidency was dealing with the presidency was dealing with the

Vietnam War Vietnam War

Nixon and Foreign Affairs

President Nixon President Nixon was hailed for his was hailed for his

foreign affairs foreign affairs savvysavvy One key reason for One key reason for

this was his this was his Secretary of State, Secretary of State,

Henry KissingerHenry Kissinger

Détente with Russia, China

President Nixon tours the Great Wall of ChinaPresident Nixon tours the Great Wall of China

One of Nixon’s foreign One of Nixon’s foreign affairs goals was affairs goals was

friendlier relations with friendlier relations with China and the Soviet China and the Soviet

UnionUnion

Nixon and Kissinger Nixon and Kissinger developed a foreign developed a foreign

affairs policy known as affairs policy known as détentedétente, which means , which means

cooperationcooperation

Mao Tse-tung greets Nixon

Nixon opened U.S. relations with Nixon opened U.S. relations with China and became the first U.S. China and became the first U.S.

president to visit Chinapresident to visit China

Strategic Arms Limitations Talks

Summit meeting between U.S. and Soviet Summit meeting between U.S. and Soviet Union when the two countries agreed to Union when the two countries agreed to

limit nuclear armslimit nuclear arms

Nixon also strengthened relations with Nixon also strengthened relations with the Soviet Union, including holding a the Soviet Union, including holding a

historic meeting -- SALThistoric meeting -- SALT

Détente with Russia

From 1972 to 1974, From 1972 to 1974, tensions between the U.S. tensions between the U.S.

and the Soviet Union and the Soviet Union easedeased

Election of 1972

Nixon re-elected in Nixon re-elected in a routa rout

Middle East TurmoilMiddle East Turmoil Trouble began in the Middle East Trouble began in the Middle East

following World War II with the following World War II with the creation of Israel.creation of Israel.

During the wars, the During the wars, the United States supported United States supported Israel due to our close Israel due to our close Judea-Christian ties.Judea-Christian ties.

The conflict led to two wars The conflict led to two wars between Israel and numerous between Israel and numerous

Muslim-dominated Arab countriesMuslim-dominated Arab countries

OPEC oil embargoOPEC oil embargoOPEC is the Organization of OPEC is the Organization of

Petroleum Exporting Countries and it Petroleum Exporting Countries and it was founded in 1960 by five founding was founded in 1960 by five founding

members: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi members: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.Arabia and Venezuela.

In response to the U.S. In response to the U.S. support of Israel, in support of Israel, in

1973 OPEC placed an 1973 OPEC placed an oil embargo on the oil embargo on the

U.S.U.S.

Gas ShortagesGas ShortagesThe OPEC oil embargo The OPEC oil embargo led to gas shortages in led to gas shortages in the United States and the United States and throughout the world.throughout the world.

Gas prices skyrocketed and Gas prices skyrocketed and people were limited to the amount people were limited to the amount

of gasoline they could buy.of gasoline they could buy.

Gas ShortagesGas Shortages

Long lines and hours of waiting to get gas were common Long lines and hours of waiting to get gas were common sights in the 1970s.sights in the 1970s.

The Pentagon PapersIn 1971, a former Defense In 1971, a former Defense Department worker leaked Department worker leaked what were known as the what were known as the Pentagon Papers to the Pentagon Papers to the New York TimesNew York Times

The documents The documents showed how showed how

our leaders had our leaders had deceived deceived

Congress, the Congress, the media, and the media, and the

public about public about how the war how the war was goingwas going

The The government government had not been had not been honest with honest with the American the American peoplepeople

Roots of Watergate

The release of the Pentagon Papers The release of the Pentagon Papers to the New York Times angered to the New York Times angered

NixonNixonHe thought others were out to He thought others were out to sabotage his presidency and sabotage his presidency and undermine him, leading to…undermine him, leading to…

Nixon and Nixon and WatergateWatergate

By Brad Harris, Grand Prairie HS

What was What was Watergate?Watergate?Watergate was one Watergate was one

of the largest of the largest political scandals political scandals in the history of in the history of

the United Statesthe United States

What was What was Watergate?Watergate?

The Watergate scandal occurred The Watergate scandal occurred when the Republicans were caught when the Republicans were caught

spying on the Democrats at the spying on the Democrats at the Democratic HeadquartersDemocratic Headquarters

What was What was Watergate?Watergate?

Watergate became a major scandal Watergate became a major scandal when President Nixon lied about when President Nixon lied about

his role in the break-in and tried to his role in the break-in and tried to cover it up cover it up

Roots of WatergateRoots of Watergate

When the When the New York Times New York Times and and Washington PostWashington Post began to publish began to publish the Pentagon Papers, the Nixon the Pentagon Papers, the Nixon

Administration sued them.Administration sued them.

Roots of WatergateRoots of Watergate

It was Richard Nixon’s paranoia that It was Richard Nixon’s paranoia that his enemies wanted to ruin his his enemies wanted to ruin his

presidency that was at the root of presidency that was at the root of the Watergate scandalthe Watergate scandal

The White House The White House PlumbersPlumbers

Howard HuntHoward Hunt G. Gordon LiddyG. Gordon LiddyJames McCordJames McCord Chuck ColsonChuck Colson

This unit was called the “Plumbers” This unit was called the “Plumbers” because they were put in charge of because they were put in charge of

stopping information “leaks”.stopping information “leaks”.

After the release of the Pentagon Papers, After the release of the Pentagon Papers, the White House created a unit to ensure the White House created a unit to ensure

internal security. internal security.

When initial polls showed Nixon only When initial polls showed Nixon only slightly ahead in the Election of 1972, slightly ahead in the Election of 1972, the Plumbers turned their activities to the Plumbers turned their activities to

political espionage.political espionage.

The Watergate The Watergate Break-inBreak-in

The Watergate The Watergate Break-inBreak-in

On June 17, 1972, 5 men were arrested On June 17, 1972, 5 men were arrested attempting to bug Democratic attempting to bug Democratic

headquarters inside the Watergate headquarters inside the Watergate building in Washington D.C. building in Washington D.C.

The Washington The Washington Post Post

Watergate came to public attention largely Watergate came to public attention largely through the work of Bob Woodward and through the work of Bob Woodward and

Carl Bernstein, investigative reporters from Carl Bernstein, investigative reporters from the the Washington PostWashington Post

Sirica’s investigation Sirica’s investigation transformed Watergate from transformed Watergate from

a “third-rate burglary” to a a “third-rate burglary” to a major scandal.major scandal.

Watergate Watergate InvestigationsInvestigations

In March 1973, defendant In March 1973, defendant James McCord informed James McCord informed

Judge John Sirica that Judge John Sirica that Watergate was a conspiracy. Watergate was a conspiracy.

Congressional Congressional HearingsHearings

Congress began hearings to investigate the Congress began hearings to investigate the scandal and found that Nixon’s Attorney scandal and found that Nixon’s Attorney

General, John Mitchell, controlled a fund to General, John Mitchell, controlled a fund to pay for espionage operationspay for espionage operations

In June 1973, former White House legal counsel John Dean delivered

testimony that implicated Nixon from the earliest days of Watergate

Congressional Congressional HearingsHearings

The Oval Office The Oval Office TapesTapes

In an effort to discredit Dean’s testimony, the White In an effort to discredit Dean’s testimony, the White House announced that Nixon had secretly been House announced that Nixon had secretly been

tape-recording conversations. These tapes would tape-recording conversations. These tapes would become the focus of the investigation.become the focus of the investigation.

When the Supreme Court forced Nixon When the Supreme Court forced Nixon to surrender the tapes, he refused to surrender the tapes, he refused

invoking “executive privilege”invoking “executive privilege”

The Smoking Gun The Smoking Gun TapesTapes

The Saturday Night The Saturday Night Massacre Massacre The Administration reached The Administration reached

an agreement with the an agreement with the Senate Watergate Senate Watergate Committee that its Chairman Committee that its Chairman would be allowed to listen to would be allowed to listen to tapes and provide a tapes and provide a transcript to the Committee transcript to the Committee and to Special Prosecutor and to Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox. Archibald Cox.

The deal broke down when The deal broke down when Cox refused to accept the Cox refused to accept the transcripts in place of the transcripts in place of the tapes. tapes.

Since the Special Prosecutor Since the Special Prosecutor is an employee of the Justice is an employee of the Justice Department, Nixon ordered Department, Nixon ordered Attorney General Elliot Attorney General Elliot Richardson to fire Cox. Richardson to fire Cox.

Archibald Cox

The Saturday Night The Saturday Night MassacreMassacre When Richardson refused, When Richardson refused,

he was fired. he was fired. Nixon ordered Deputy Nixon ordered Deputy

Attorney General William Attorney General William D. Ruckelshaus to fire Cox.D. Ruckelshaus to fire Cox.

When he refused, he was When he refused, he was fired. fired.

Nixon then ordered Nixon then ordered Solicitor General Robert Solicitor General Robert Bork (who was later Bork (who was later nominated for the Supreme nominated for the Supreme Court by Reagan) to fire Court by Reagan) to fire Cox and he complied.Cox and he complied.

The The Washington PostWashington Post reported on the “Saturday reported on the “Saturday Night Massacre.”Night Massacre.”

Robert Bork

The Oval Office The Oval Office TapesTapes

On October 23, 1973 Nixon agreed to On October 23, 1973 Nixon agreed to turn over White House tape recordings turn over White House tape recordings

requested by the Watergate special requested by the Watergate special prosecutor to Judge Sirica.prosecutor to Judge Sirica.

Many of the conversations on the tapes indicate Nixon’s knowledge of

the Watergate break in and the following cover-up. One tape had an

18½ -minute gap that people questioned.

The Smoking Gun The Smoking Gun TapesTapes

On July 27, 1974, the House Judiciary Committee approved Articles of

Impeachment against Nixon. The House was set to vote on the matter.

Nixon’s Final DaysNixon’s Final Days

On August 9, 1974, Richard Nixon became the first American

president to resign

Nixon ResignsNixon Resigns