70 s and 80 s Nixon and

70 s and 80 s

Nixon and the Cold War n n Policy of Détente: negotiation and discussion to ease tension or relax strained relations (not demanding or forcing change) Aim for a balance of power Nixon becomes the 1 st U. S. President to visit communist areas in Europe Greatest foreign policy achievement: he improved relations with China and Soviet Union

Reopens relations with China!

U. S. S. R. n n Agree to cooperate and trade goods and ideas n VISITS MOSCOW! Both sides agree to limit nuclear weapons (SALT 1)

Nixon in the Middle East Arab countries get angry for our support of Israel n OPEC places an Embargo, or ban on the shipment, of oil n Oil prices skyrocket Prices on everything rise…. this is known as inflation!

Nixon’s Domestic Policy n Imposed a short-term freeze on wages, prices, and rents to halt inflation

Committee to RE -Elect the President CREEP n n n Nixon was paranoid Created a secret group of former CIA agents to steal secrets from his political opponents Other dirty tricks like heckle other candidates….

1972 election – Nixon wins in a Landslide!

Nixon and Watergate n n n Ordered “plumbers” to break into the Democratic National Committee and “bug” their phone lines They get caught White House involvement unknown

Watergate Scandal n n After the election it is discovered that the “plumbers” were paid by Nixon It is revealed that there is a taping system installed in the White House!

Desperate Moves n n n Nixon denies involvement Nixon fires employees involved Nixon withholds tapes and information from the Senate investigating committee

Nixon finally hands over the tapes but one of them contains an 18 ½ minute gap…. Nixon’s secretary claims it was an accident….

…it didn’t matter though because in a recording from June 23, 1972, six days after the Watergate break-in, Nixon is heard agreeing to efforts aimed at convincing the FBI director to cease its investigation of the Watergate break-in on the grounds that it was a national security matter. The special prosecutor felt that Nixon, in so agreeing, had entered into a criminal conspiracy whose goal was the obstruction of justice.

August 9 th, 1974 – Nixon leaves resigns and leaves the White House

Gerald Ford n n Nixon resigns V. P. Gerald Ford becomes President First act Pardons Richard Nixon of all crimes Public outraged! destroyed any chance of being elected

Jimmy Carter Elected 1976 Democrat Jimmy Carter easily defeats Ford n no national political experience America was trying to move forward after years of scandal and turmoil … almost

Carter’s Presidency n Very informal – outsider n Difficulty working with Congress n Concerns: unemployment, inflation, and energy (like Ford)

Carter’s Mishaps n Failed to reduce unemployment, cut the inflation rate and balance the budget n Failed in dealing with oil shortage -- n Claimed America suffered from a “crisis of confidence”

Jimmy Carter

Three Mile Island Near nuclear reactor meltdown near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1979 n American’s terrified of potential for nuclear disaster! n Nuclear Regulatory Commission was created to ensure that nuclear power plants were operated safely n

Foreign Affairs n Turns over Panama Canal to Panama n Negotiated the Camp David Accords, which spurred an Egypt. Israel peace

Iran Hostage Crisis n Muslim fundamentalists overthrow American favored Shah n Storm American Embassy and take hostage 53 Americans n Carter refuses to buy Iranian Oil…worsens oil crisis

Cold War still in full swing! n Russians invade Afghanistan n U. S. sends weapons and advisors to help the rebels n Becomes a Soviet Vietnam- Soviets don’t leave until 1989 Osama Bin Laden

Election of 1980 § Republican Ronald Reagan easily wins election § signaled a return to Conservatism § Restricted and/or dismantled many New Deal programs § Hostages Released !

Reagan at Home § Less government interference – encouraged the growth business § (Deregulation) § Appoints Sandra Day O’Connor as the first female Supreme Court Justice

Reagonomics § Lower taxes would encourage investment in new businesses § Less government spending on social and welfare programs § Increased military spending § …his policies increased the gap between rich and poor.

Iran-Contra Scandal § American hostages in Lebanon § Sell Iran weapons in exchange for their help to release the hostages § Money from sale used to fund “Contras”/anticommunists in Latin America § Violation of several laws… § Never proved that the President was involved

SDI § Strategic Defense Initiative § “Star Wars” § space-based defensive shield that would use lasers to destroy attacking missiles far above the Earth's surface. § Soviets accuse the U. S of violating the 1972 Antiballistic Missile Treaty. § Soviets forced to spend heavily to match the program causing near economic collapse.

Mikhail Gorbachev § Time for a change! § Perostroika = Restructuring § Glasnost = Opening Up

Ending the Cold War § Challenged then U. S. S. R. leader Mikhail Gorbachev in a speech given at the Berlin Wall § “General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!? ”

Bush Elected President in 1988 l First Major Event: The Fall of Communism l l U. S. S. R. had been bankrupt for over a decade People suffered from food shortages, supply shortages, repression Widespread unrest breaking out by the end of 1989 Leader of U. S. S. R. Gorbachev encourages the unrest, stating that a change is needed

Citizens Tear Down the Berlin Wall

Liberation l On December 25, 1991 Gorbachev dissolves the Soviet Union, granting freedom to its occupied areas – Communism falls!!!

Increase in Technology As throughout history, an increase in new technology has an impact on the economy l More goods can be produced in less time l Prices fall l …but, less workers needed! l l In the 80 s and 90 s, Less newspapers and more computers!

War with Iraq l l Iraq invades Kuwait, which was historically part of Iraq U. S. sends troops to push Iraq back Quick war, nothing changes Bush’s popularity is very high, but due to high unemployment and poor economy he loses 1992 election to Clinton

September 11, 2001 l Anger over American involvement in Middle Eastern Affairs (support of Israel, War in Iraq, etc. ) l Al-Queda Terrorists fly hijacked planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon l Leads to invasion of Afghanistan l

George Bush l Bush and Congress created the Department of Homeland Security. l PATRIOT Act, made it easier for law enforcement to secretly collect information about suspected terrorists. l Critics claimed this act gave law enforcement too much power and posed a threat to basic freedoms.

Barack Obama l l l The “Great Recession”… Still in Iraq and Afghanistan… …how will he be remembered ? (What will be his legacy? )

We are Done • Use this Power. Point to help you answer questions on the review from the chapters that we didn’t get to. • Good Luck on the Final –!!!!!