The Rise of Richard NixonUnit 5Lesson 8(Sections 32.1 & 32.2)

Objectives•Identify how Nixon’s personality impacted

his administration.•Explain how Nixon’s domestic policies

differed from his Democratic predecessors.

•Analyze Nixon’s role in reducing Cold War tensions.

Warm Up:

•What was Nixon’s campaign promise?

•Peace w/honor abroad

•Law & order at home Click to play

The Nixon Administration

• “Imperial presidency”

• The President’s Men▫ HR Haldeman- Chief of Staff▫ John Erlichman- Domestic

Advisor▫ John Mitchell- Attorney

General▫ John Dean- Presidential

Counsel▫ Henry Kissinger- Secretary of

State

Domestic Agenda– “New Conservatism”

•Problem 1: Economy▫Inflation and unemployment on rise▫Dependence on foreign oil (prices ↑)

•Solutions▫Raise taxes and cut budget▫Deficit spending▫Price & wage controls

•OPEC Oil Embargo results in recession… unavoidable!

Problem 2:•Size of Federal Government

▫Great Society- Too much fed responsibility Did increase Soc Sec, Medicare, and Medicaid!

▫Welfare inefficient•Solutions

▫New Federalism- share certain responsibilities w/states Revenue Sharing

▫Impoundment- Withheld fed $ for programs he didn’t like (unconstitutional)

Problem 3:•Domestic Upheaval

▫Antiwar Protestors, Student Radicals, Counterculture

▫Press leaks ▫Rising crime, growing drug use▫Liberal Ct and Brown II – speedy desegregation

•Solutions▫ Justice Dept Wiretaps, FBI investigations, IRS

audits, “Enemies List”▫VP Spiro Agnew- Vocal lashings of media and

liberals▫“Southern Strategy” – opposed extending VRA,

interfered w/desegregation via busing▫Appointed 4 conservative SC justices (Warren

Burger)

A New Foreign Policy

•Henry Kissinger▫Realpolitik –

evaluate nation’s power, not political ideals

•Détente▫Relaxing tension

w/Communist nations

                                           

Ping Pong Diplomacy & China

•’70 shouldn’t isolate China

•‘71 end travel ban & trade embargo

•’72 Visit (1st Pres ever)Click to play

Détente with the Soviet Union

•’72 Visit to Moscow

•Brezhnev▫Explore space▫Ease trade limits▫Nuclear weapons

pact SALT I

Peace With Honor in Vietnam

•Vietnamization▫Gradual withdraw

US troops

• Increased scope▫Laos & Cambodia

= protest at home

•Paris Peace Accords Jan 1973 Click for video

Activity

•32.1 & 32.2 Quizzes

Closure• How did Nixon’s

personality impact his administration? • Withdrawn, Secretive &

Insecure = Small group advisors

• Believed in power of govt, law & order, respect

• Hated to lose = Enemies list, Vietnam, Watergate…