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The 1970s (Election of 1968 (Nixon returns as Republican candidate; After…
The 1970s
Election of 1968
Nixon returns as Republican candidate; After riots plague the Democratic Convention, VP Hubert Humphrey is the dem candidate; George Wallace runs as third party candidate: American Independent Candidate: ultra conservative: opposed Federal Desegregation, anti-war protests and Great Society programs; Nixon wins as Americans turn against New Deal liberlalism
Nixon and Vietnam
Nixon and Kissinger had promised to end the war in Vietnam: Peace with Honor; appeals to the "Silent Majority" explains that most Americans support the war but you only hear from the protesters; Since the Tet Offensive and the uncovering of the My Lai Massacre, support for the war has been dwindling; Nixon Doctrine states the US will follow its commitments but Asian countries should not expect American ground troops
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Vietnam ends
Nixon's strategy of Vietnamization, widening the war, secret negotiations; Paris Accords: cease fire signed January 1973; US troops withdraw; free elections were supposed to take place; cease fire did not permanently end fighting between north and south; April of 1975, US supported South Vietnamese government falls to communism
Nixon and detente
relaxing of tensions during the Cold War; Nixon and Kissinger sought to take advantage of the distrust and rivalry between China and the Soviet Union, Nixon could because he had the reputation of the Communist fighter so he could negotiate without being accused of being soft on comm.; shocks world by visiting China in 1972; formal relations with China will begin in 1979; puts pressure on Soviets to negotiate with the US; Treaty signed between US and Soviets limiting antiballistic missiles: SALT (strategic arms limitations talks) limited nuclear weapons; Nixon was able to reduce Cold War tensions
Downfall of Nixon
Nixon admin had a group of people called the Committee to Re-Elect the President (CREEP); June 1972, group of men working for Nixon's re-election were caught breaking into Democratic HQ in Watergate hotel; Even before this, Nixon's people had ordered wiretaps on government employees and reporters to stop leaks.
The "Plumbers" were a group of people whose job it was to uncover and stop leaks within the administration. An example of their handiwork was Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office was broken into to try and dig up dirt to discredit Ellsberg; Government agencies such as the IRS were used to investigate critics of Nixon or the Vietnam War.
At this point, there is no proof that Nixon ordered the illegal activities.
Watergate Investigation
Investigation revealed that Nixon did participate in the cover-up of these illegal activities; It was discovered that Nixon had secretly recorded conversations in the Oval Office; investigators wanted access to the tapes; Nixon claimed executive privilege in not handing them over, but ultimately does when the Supreme Court rules against him; VP Agnew removed from office for tax evasion and accepting Bribes; Ford to VP; gap in tapes when talking about Watergate
Prior to this in October of 1973, Nixon fired the special prosecutor in charge of investigating the crime; Attorney General and Deputy AG resign in what is called Saturday Night Massacre; 3 Impeachment charges: 1) obstruction of justice; 2) abuse of power 3) contempt of Congress; Nixon resigns on August 1974 and Gerald Ford becomes first ever President without being elected; People lose even more faith in government
Politics of 1970s
Nixon/Ford wanted to limit size of government; 1970s saw a combination of economic slowdown (stagnation) combined with high inflation = stagflation
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Jimmy Carter wins in 1976: sought to pursue a humanitarian foreign policy; Soviet invasion of Afghanistan ruins improved relations between super powers, US boycotts Moscow olympics.
Middle East Drama
During Yom Kippur War Syria and Egypt suddenly attacked Israel in 1973; The US provides their ally Israel with economic and military aid; Israel successfully defended itself; Oil Embargo is imposed upon the US by the oil rich Arab nations in OPEC; gas shortages and speed limits reduced on American highways to save on gas.
In 1978, President Carter helped negotiate the Camp David Accords
Israel and Egypt sign a peace agreement with each other
US supported Shah of Iran was overthrown by Islamic Fundamentalists in 1979 Anti-American sentiment: another oil shortage and price increases; situation gets worse when in 1979 more than 50 people are taken hostage at the American embassy in Tehran. Carter tries a rescue mission that is a disaster.
Civil Rights
1972 Congress Passes Title IX which sought to end sex discrimination in schools: Schools had to provide girls with equal athletic opportunities; Roe v. Wade struck down abortion on the grounds that they were a violation of a women's right to privacy (legalized abortion); Equal rights amendment was passed by Congress but fell short of ratification by 3 states, Phyllis Schlafly led the opposition to the ERA: American Indian Movement formed in 1968, sought to address past injustices and demand social and economic equality; University of California V. Bakke upheld affirmative action: race could be one of several factors considered in admission to college
Warren Court
Liberal ideas such as expanding democracy and individual freedoms were realized in the decisions of the Supreme Court under Chief Justice Earl EWarren
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Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) citizen has right to privacy, thus birth control cannot be prohibited
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