1970’s-Today

1970’sI. Richard Nixon (R) (1968-74)A. Domestic Policy1. oil crisisa. OPEC – embargo on oil shipped to US2. Swan v. CMS Board of Ed.a. allowed busing of students to speed up school desegregation3. appointed four justices to Supreme Court4. Apollo 11 – landed on the moona. “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

1970’sB. Foreign Policy1. Henry Kissinger (Sec.of State)2. negotiated end of Vietnam War3. Détentea. thaw in Cold War; decrease in tension b/t US-USSRb. SALT I i. treaty to limit nuclear weapons b/t US-USSR ii. effort to work together

1970’s

4. Chinaa. Nixon was first US president to visit Communist Chinab. “Ping-Pong” diplomacy

1970’s

C. Watergate Scandal1. Committee to Re-elect the Presidenta. wanted to make sure Nixon wonb. broke into Dem.Party headquarters at Watergate Hotel to bug phones; got caught2. Nixon did not know about break-in, but helped in cover up afterwards3. won re-election in landslide4. Washington Post reporters followed storya. Woodward, Bernstein

1970’s5. House of Rep. started impeachment investigationa. Oval Office tape recordings discoveredb. Nixon refused to turn over tapes => claimed executive privilegec. US v. Nixoni. Supreme Court ordered Nixon to give up tapes6. House ready to vote to impeach7. Nixon resigned; VP Ford sworn in as President 8. low point in history => loss of trust in government

1970’s

II. Gerald Ford (R) (1974- 76)A. Non-elected President1. congressman chosen as VP after Nixon’s VP resigned2. became Pres. after Nixon resigned3. pardoned Nixon; huge negative reaction

1970’sB. Domestic Policy1. economic troublesa. unemployment, inflationC. Foreign Policy1. War Powers Acta. law passed by Congress to limit power of President to make war/send troops2. South VN fell to communist North VN3. US celebrated Bicentennial

1970’sIII. Jimmy Carter (D) (1976-80)A. Washington “outsider”a. election was partly a reaction to WatergateB. Domestic Policy1. economic problemsa. gas shortages2. Three Mile Islanda. nuclear power plant accident

1970’s

3. pardoned persons who had left country to avoid draft during VN4. Regents of Univ. of Cal. v. Bakkea. Supreme Court case dealing w/affirmative actionb. “reverse discrimination” case

1970’s

C. Foreign Policy1. Camp David Accordsa. Carter helped negotiate peace treaty b/t Egypt-Israelb. Egypt became first Arab country to recognize Israel

1970’s

2. Détente continued w/ USSR until Carter pushed human rights abuses by USSR