RICHARD NIXON

37th President of the U.S. 1969-1974

Buschistory Presents – The Presidentswww.buschistory.net

The Election• 1.President: Richard Nixon Number 37 Vice Presidents: Spiro Agnew,

Gerald Ford• 2. Political Party – Republican

• 3. Term of Office 1969-1974

• 4. Who came before and after him, and what were their Political parties? • Lyndon Johnson (Democrat) preceded him and Gerald Ford (Republican)

followed him

• 5. Were there any unusual circumstances surrounding his ascent to the

presidency? If so, describe the situation in specific detail.• He became president in “the year that everything went wrong” – 1968.

Following the decision not to run by LBJ, Bobby Kennedy was the likely victor in the 1968 contest. With the assassination of Kennedy in June Nixon became the front runner and defeated LBJ’s Vice President Hubert Humphrey.

The Office• 6. Are there any catch phrases or terms specifically

associated with this president? If so, list and explain them. Law and Order Presidency, Imperial Presidency, ‘Peace with Honor”, Détente, Ping Pong Diplomacy, CREEP, Watergate, Dirty Tricks, Enemies List, The Tapes

• 7. When he left office, was it by: choice, defeat, natural death, assassination, or resignation. Explain your answer.

• Embroiled in the Watergate cover up scandal and facing likely impeachment and trial, Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974

 

Domestic Issues and Events• 1969 – Apollo 11 lands on the Moon (July 20), Woodstock• 1970 – Inflation 4.5% (highest since Korean War), Earth

Day, EPA, Clean Air Act, OSHA, Busing and forced integration spread North, Apollo 13, begins NASA cut backs

• 1971 – Pentagon Papers, New Federalism (More Power to State Govts), Wage –Price Controls, Ended Gold Standard, War on Drugs, 26th Amendment

• 1972 – Clean Water Act, Watergate Break In (June 17), Special Prosecutor appointed, Final Lunar mission (Apollo 17 12/7/72)

• 1973 – HMOs (Health Maintenance Organization) begin, Spiro Agnew resigns, Tapes revealed, Saturday Night Massacre, “I am not a crook” (Nixon 11/17/73), Roe V. Wade

• 1974 – Battle over tapes continues, Nixon Resigns 8/9/74

• Click for Watergate explanation

• Nixon says goodbye to the Whitehouse Staff

Foreign Policy and Events• 1969 – Secret Bombing of N. Vietnam

and Cambodia ( Operation Menu), Vietnamization, Nixon Doctrine (Nuclear Umbrella for allies)

• 1970 – Began troop withdrawals from Vietnam while authorizing a ground invasion of Cambodia, Beatles Breakup

• 1972 – Ping Pong Diplomacy - Visit to China, Visit to the USSR, SALT 1

• 1973 – Paris Peace Accords, Nixon’s Secret deal, Yom Kippur War, OPEC Oil Embargo

• 1974 – Visit to USSR• Nixon on ending the Vietnam War