Presidents of the 70s and 80s

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Presidents of the 70s and 80s
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Nixon Foreign policy

• National security adviser Henry Kissinger
• Realpolitik
• Achieve détente (w/ both China and Soviets)
• Reduction of Cold War tensions
• Take advantage of rivalry between China and the
  Soviets
• 1972 trip to China, ending hostility
• China 1 trade partner
• Soviets meet with U.S (1972)
• Sell 750 million a yr worth of wheat, corn, and
  other cereals over 3 yrs
• Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT I)
• Limit antiballistic missiles production not need
  to reduce already have
• Chile 1970
• Oppose Prez Allende (communist) who is chosen by
  the people legally
• CIA intervention
• Support dictator Augusto Pinochet

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Nixon Domestic policy

• Imperial Presidency
• Revenue sharing
• Social programs shifted to locals but funds from
  feds
• Expand Welfare (so Nixon not very conservative)
• Food Stamps
• Supplemental Security Income(SSI) assist aged,
  blind and disabled
• Affirmative Action (Philly Plan)LIBERAL
• Reverse discrimination by executive order
• Created
• DEA (Drug Enforcement Admin.)
• EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) LIBERAL

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Economy

• Issues (stagflation)
• 1970-2 recession
• LBJ fought two wars w/ no tax increase
• U.S in debt
• More imports than exports
• More service jobs than manufacturing
• Nixonomics
• 90 day wage and price freeze (71)
• 10 surtax on imports
• End of gold standard, devalues the dollar
• Automatic increase in Social Security benefits
  based on cost of living increase (protect from
  inflation)

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the election of 1972

• Nixon minority Prez
• Appeal to silent majority
• VP Spiro Agnew blamed all the U.S problems on
  liberals and media
• Southern strategy 68
• Appt conservative court
• Chose Warren E Burger to replace Earl Warren
  (1969)
• But Burger not overturn Warren rulings
• Delay integration (busing)
• Nixon wins election of 1972
• Populist George Wallace paralyzed
• Democrat McGovern too liberal

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Oil

• October 1973, Syrians and Egyptians surprise
  attacked Israel (Yom Kippur War)
• Recover lands lost in Six Day War in 1967
• U.S supports Israel
• 2 bill in war materials
• Arab nations of Organization of Petroleum
  Exporting Countries (OPEC) placed oil embargo on
  Israel supporters
• Lifts in 1974, but raises oil prices 4x
• Results
• Long lines at gas station
• Recession inflation
• Buy fuel efficient Japanese car
• Hurt American car industry loss of jobs
• 55 mph speed limit
• Alaska pipeline

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Watergate scandal

• Used the plumbers to stop leaks
• Wire taps on Nixons staff
• Discredit opponents (had a list of names)
• 1972, men hired by Nixons reelection committee
  (CREEP) caught breaking into offices of Democrats
  at Watergate complex to bug
• No proof Nixon part of illegal activities
• 26 presidential aides sentenced to jail
• Investigation shows Nixon part of cover up
• Didnt want to release Oval Office tapes
• House voted 3 articles of impeachment
• Charged with obstruction of justice, abuse of
  power, and contempt of Congress
• Nixon resigned Aug. 9th 1974
• Results
• Increased the publics feelings that govt corrupt
• Proved strength of constitutional sys, esp. its
  balance of powers
• Import of media

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Gerald ford

• VP first unelected President
• Agnew had to resign in 1973 (bribes)
• Pardoned Nixon
• Congress investigates the CIA
• George Bush called to reform the CIA
•   Helsinki Accords 1975
• 30 nations including Soviets
• Cooperate economically, respect existing national
  boundaries, and promote human rights
• 1975 Cambodia falls to Communists (Khmer Rouge)
• U.S attacks a Cambodia naval base that had
  captured the U.S merchant ship Mayaguez
• Freed 39, 38 Marines died

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Jimmy carter

• Carter wins election of 1976
• 97 African Americans vote for Carter
• Success because Washington outsider, also his
  downfall
• Human Rights
• Appt Andrew Young- African American as UN
  ambassador
• Call for end of black oppression in Zimbabwe and
  South Africa
• End aid to Argentina and Chile
• Camp David Accords (1978) Peace between Israel
  and Egypt (BIGGEST SUCCESS!!)
• Israel withdrew from Sinai Peninsula
• Egypt 1st Arab nation to recognize Israel
• Panama Canal (1978)
• Return to Panama in 2000

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Carter II

• Shah of Iran overthrown by Khomeini. Oil
  shortage(1979)
• Leads to national malaise speech that upset
  Americans
• Inflation at 13 (1979-80)
• Three Mile Island (1979)
• Power plant failure emits radiation in
  Pennsylvania
• SALT II (1979)
• Not ratified b/c of Soviets in Afghanistan
• Dont want Soviets to control oil rich Persian
  Gulf
• Even, boycotted 1980 Olympics
• U.S creates Rapid Deployment Force
• American embassy (Tehran) taken hostage
• Carters rescue mission fails (1980)

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Return to conservatism

• Old Right
• Southerners and Westerners for States rights
• New Right
• Support
• Religious and family values
• Denounced
• Abortion
• Affirmative action
• Gay rights
• Feminism
• Big govt
• New Deal liberalism
• Gun control
• Welfare

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Reagan

• Won Election of 1980
• Republicans control Senate
• Joined w/ conservative Demo. in House
• New budget, cuts 40 bill in social programs
• Supply side economics aka. Trickle down
• Cut taxes, reduces govt spending, allows ppl to
  invest, which helps all
• 25 decrease in income taxes
• Small investors tax free savings (IRAs)
• Tax breaks for upper income taxpayers
• Deregulation (less govt restrictions)
• Tough on labor unions
• Fired federal air traffic controllers for
  violating contract b/c of strike. Decertified
  their union

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Reality of reaganomics

• 1982, recession
• Unemployment at 11
• Banks failed, businesses bankrupt
• Economy Recovered. Reagan vindicated?
• Reality
• Income gaps widened
• Yuppies- young urban pros with high incomes
• Middle class stagnant and declined
• Budget deficits
• Debtor nation
• Massive govt borrowing
• Nat.l debt 2 trill.
• Military spending
• Trade deficit 150 bill
• Loan Scandal/ Black Monday (1987)

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social Issues

• Court
• Sandra Day OConnor
• First woman on the Court (1981)
• Restrictions on abortion and affirmative action
• Regents of Univ. of Cali v Bakke (1978)
• College admissions cant use strict racial quotas
• Religious Right
• Rev. Jerry Falwell (Moral Majority) 1979
• Finances campaigns to unseat liberal members of
  Congress
• Right to Life
• Election of 1984
• Jesse Jacksons Democratic nominee
• Rainbow Coalition- all minorities together

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Foreign policy

• Called Soviets evil empire
• Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) aka Star Wars
• battle stations in space that could fire laser
  beams to vaporize missiles
• Central America/Caribbean Cold War
• Nicaragua Sandinistas regime (1979)
• Support contras, right wing rebels
• Boland Amendment- no more aid
• El Salvador
• U.S support govt against leftist guerillas
• Grenada
• Coup led to pro-Cuban regime
• 1983 marines invaded the island to stop Communist
  base from being est.

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Foreign policy II

• Iran Contra Affair (1985-6)
• Admin. secretly sold arms to Iranians
• Use profits to fund contras in Nicaragua
• Ignored the Boland Amendment
• Reagan said unaware looked incompetent
• Lebanon (1982)
• Israel invaded to attack Palestinian guerilla
  bases
• Left Lebanon in chaos. Already was in civil war
• Reagan sent troops to help with peace
• Terrorist killed 241 marines by driving bomb
  filled truck into barracks
• Terrorist bomb embassy in Beirut, killing 63
• Gave Palestinians a home and Arafat recognize
  Israel (1988)

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Foreign Policy III

• Soviets
• Gorbachev willing to compromise (1985)
• Glasnost openness, more political freedom of
  citizens
• Perestroika restructure econ. using free market
  practices
• Need to free up money for economy
• INF treaty 1987
• banning all intermediate-range nuclear missiles