nixon, ford, & carter (1969-1981)
TRANSCRIPT
+25.1: Nixon’s Domestic Policy
1. How did Nixon’s personality affect his relationship with his staff, and his presidency overall?
2. Why was the U.S. vulnerable to OPEC? How did the 1973 oil embargo affect the U.S.?
3. Describe the first manned moon landing. Complete chart on top of p. 826
+25.1: Nixon’s Domestic Policy(pp. 826-831) Nixon Biography Born to modest family in California Lawyer Member of Congress ‘47-53
Hard on communism, tough on Cold War Eisenhower’s VP (they didn’t get along real
well) Lost close election of ’60 Lost gubernatorial election in CA in ‘62
+Nixon in Person
Reserved & remote Lacked charm & humor Not a “people person”
Few close friends Found security w/ his family: wife Pat & two daughters Enjoyed time away to his estates in FL & CA
Experienced politician Willing to win at any cost Anti-East coast, anti-establishment Believed in strong executive branch
“Imperial presidency”
+Nixon’s Staff
Nixon avoided his Cabinet Instead relied on his White House staff Staffers gave extreme loyalty H R Haldeman (top left)—”I get done what
he wants done and I take the heat instead of him.”
John Ehrlichman (bottom left)—Nixon’s personal lawyer
The two acted as Nixon’s “Berlin Wall” Had to pass them before speaking w/ the
President
+Nixon’s Staff
John Mitchell (top right)—managed Nixon’s presidential campaign—became Attorney General Spoke w/ Nixon multiple
times/day Henry Kissinger (bottom
right)—former Harvard government professor—national security advisor and then Sec. of State Shaped foreign policy
+Domestic Policy
Vietnam War & domestic policy were key issues of ‘68 election
In domestic policy, Nixon broke from JFK & LBJ
As Nixon took office: Inflation had doubled
between ‘65 & ‘68 Deficit was growing Unemployment on the
rise 1st priority=halting inflation Hoped to get gov’t
spending under control Wanted to avoid price &
wage controls *See inflation chart on p.
828
+Domestic Policy
During 1st term, Nixon struggled to curb spending
Additionally, unemployment & inflation continued to rise
Nixon was OK w/ deficit spending; he thought it would stimulate the economy
Keynesian approach “I am now a Keynesian in
economics” (1971)
Tried a 90-day freeze on wages, prices, & rents in ‘71 Tried a 60-day general price freeze in ‘73 Lifted both after pressure from business world Inflation soared
John Maynard Keynes, British economist (1883-1946)
+Oil Crisis Factors leading U.S. toward
energy crisis in ’70s: Growing
population=increased need for energy
Environmental concerns w/ coal
Gas prices had been kept low w/ gov’t regulations
Oil output in U.S. declined in ’72
When Nixon implemented price freezes, oil refineries let supplies run low
When freezes lifted, demand could not be met
In ’73 Israel went to war w/ Egypt & Syria
U.S. supported its ally, Israel
Arab members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) responded by banning all oil trade to U.S. Embargo lasted from
10/1973 to 3/1974 OPEC quadrupled prices
$3/barrel to $12 Higher prices worsened
inflation Consumers spent less & a
recession ensued
+Social Programs Hoped to cut gov’t spending by cutting back or shutting
down social programs According to Nixon, programs were wasteful & encouraged
“welfare cheaters”
Called for a new partnership between state & federal governments=“New Federalism” States would assume greater responsibility for well-being of
citizens Congress passed a series of bills that granted fed. Funds to
state & local gov’ts
+The “Southern Strategy” Nixon felt he had little to gain by supporting civil rights
Very few African Americans voted for him in ‘60 & ‘68 Didn’t want to lose white southern voters
Promoted a slowdown in desegregation Wanted to find the proper “southern strategy” to win over
white southern Democrats Gained support from Strom Thurmond of S. Carolina Cut funding to enforcement of fair housing laws Attempted to end certain provisions of Voting Rights Act
in 1970 Openly opposed busing to end segregation in public
schools
+Nixon’s Supreme Court
Warren Court of ‘53 to ‘69 had been criticized for being too liberal & easy on criminals
During Nixon’s 1st term, 4 of the 9 justices on SC retired or died
Warren Burger, a conservative, replaced Earl Warren in 69; served from ‘69 to ‘86 Easily approved by Senate
Appointed 3 other conservative justices: Harry a. Blackmun; Lewis F. Powell, Jr.; William
H. Rehnquist
+The First Moon Landing Kennedy promised a man on
the moon by the end of the ‘60s July 20, 1969—Neil Armstrong
accomplished that mission “That’s one small step for man,
one giant leap for mankind.” Watch on TV worldwide Apollo 11 Crew=Armstrong,
Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Colins Aldrin joined Armstrong on 2
hour moon walk
+Nixon’s Foreign Policy
Define: realpolitik, détente, SALT I, ping pong diplomacy
Complete bubble chart on p. 832 Answer following Qs:
What role did Henry Kissinger play in relaxing tensions between the U.S. & major communist power?
How did Nixon reach an agreement w/ the Soviet Union on limiting nuclear arms?
+Setting the Scene
Nixon set the tone for a new direction for foreign policy in his 1st inaugural address on Jan. 20, 1969
He was able to ease Cold War tensions
Aided by Kissinger he est. ties w/ China & built better relations w/ the Soviet Union
+Henry Kissinger Gained President’s confidence Appointed Sec. of State in ’73 Helped end U.S. involvement in
Vietnam Nobel Peace Prize in ‘73 Dominant figure in Nixon
Administration Talked w/ Nixon daily Not afraid of tough talk He & Nixon were both suspicious &
secretive
*Read his bio in the sidebar on p. 833
+Practical Politics
Realpolitik=German term meaning “practical politics” Making decisions based on maintaining a country’s own
strengths rather than following moral principles Applied to China & Soviet Union How does this compare to the policy of containment?
+Kissinger Continued
Ability to use media to shape public opinion
One of the most popular public figures of the ‘70s; became a celebrity
Appeared on 21 Time magazine covers
Gallup poll in ‘73 made him the most-admired American
+Relaxing Tensions
Détente=relaxation in tensions Nixon’s willingness to hold talks w/ China & Soviet
Union shocked many Nixon had been bitter opponent of Communism in 50s Bypassing Congress, and sometimes his own advisors,
Nixon & Kissinger reversed the direction of postwar American foreign policy
Foreign affairs were more complex than a simple standoff between the U.S. & communism
+Relaxing Tensions China & the Soviet Union were once allies but had
become enemies The Communist Party of China denounced the
Soviet variety of Communism Different interpretations of Marxism Disagreements between Mao Zedong & Nikita
Khrushchev
+A New Approach to China
Since Communist takeover in ‘49, the U.S. had not recognized the Chinese government
Politically, the U.S. acted as if China did not exist Instead the U.S. dealt w/ the government of Taiwan Nixon looked for a way to better relations w/
Communist China; esp. since China’s relations w/ the Soviet Union had soured
+A New Approach to China
Nixon’s foreign policy report to Congress in 1970: “The Chinese are a great and vital people who should
not remain isolated from the international community….U.S. policy is not likely soon to have much impact on China’s behavior, let alone its ideological outlook. But it is certainly in our interest, and in the interest of peace and stability in Asia and the world, that we take what steps we can toward improved practical relations with Peking (Beijing).”
+A New Approach to China Moves designed to improve relations w/ China: 1.Feb. 1970—American & Chinese ambassadors met in Warsaw,
Poland 2. Oct. 1970—Nixon was the first American President to refer to
China by its proper name, the People’s Republic of China 3. March 1971—U.S. gov’t lifted restrictions on travel to China 4. April 1971—An American table-tennis team accepted an
invitation to visit the mainland; “ping-pong diplomacy”
5. June 1971—U.S. ended its 21 year embargo on trade w/ China 6. July 1971—Nixon announced that he planned to travel to
China
+A New Approach to China Other nations were also officially recognizing the
People’s Republic of China In October of ’71, Taiwan lost its seat in the United
Nations to the People’s Republic of China Nixon realized that he could use Chinese friendship in
his dealings w/ the Soviets Nixon also knew his trip to China would boost his public
support at home He also thought the trip/friendly relations wouldn’t
harm his political career b/c of his reputation as a strong anti-Communist
+Nixon Goes to China
Feb. 1972 Met w/ Mao Zedong Spoke w/ premier Zhou Enlai about international problems Went to Great Wall & other tourist sites TV cameras chronicled it all Basis for diplomatic ties had been established Most members of Congress & most Americans supported
the trip & Nixon’s efforts in China
+Nixon Goes to the Soviet Union
In ’72, after trip to China, Nixon went to Moscow
Received a warm welcome Met w/ Premier Leonid I.
Brezhnev Several decisions made:
Space exploration, eased trade limits, & a weapons pact
+Balancing the Superpowers
Limited Test Ban Treaty of ‘63 had ended above-ground bomb testing
Arms race continued Nixon hoped to end nuclear
threat & move away from arms race
Both U.S. & S.U. had more than enough weapons to destroy one another
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT I)—started in 1969
In ’72, a treaty to limit nuclear weapons
5 year agreement to freeze ICBMs & submarine missiles at ‘72 levels
Also included an agreement restricting missile defense systems
+Balancing the Superpowers
SALT I was a triumph for the Nixon administration
Eased concerns of nuclear war
But did not reduce # of weapons each nation possessed
Paved the way for future talks Nixon— “Perhaps for the first time,
the evolving strategic balance allows a Soviet-American agreement which yields no unilateral advantages. The fact that we have begun to discuss strategic arms with the USSR is in itself important. Agreement in such a vital area could create a new commitment to stability, and influence attitudes toward other issues.”