Presidents Ford

1
Presidents Ford Carter

• Economic Despair

2
Ford Becomes President

• Appointed VP when Spiro Agnew resigned
• Believed in hard-work and self-reliance
• Described as conservative in fiscal affairs,
  moderate in domestic affairs, and an
  internationalist in foreign affairs.
• Became the first non-elected President

3
Economic Problems

• Inflation was high and unemployment was rising.
• Economists call the condition stagflation.
• Created the WIN or Whip Inflation Now program
• Based on voluntary actions
• Supported an increase in unemployment benefits
  only helped slightly.

4
Foreign Policy

• War Powers Act, 1973
• President must notify Congress with 48 hours of
  sending troops overseas.
• Troops may not stay more than 60 days without
  Congressional Approval
• Congress can demand that troops return home
• Helsinki Accords
• European security agreements
• Pledged economic cooperation, respect for borders
  and promote human rights

5
Carter Presidency

• Supported spending cuts
• Broke away from traditional Democrats and lost
  some support from his party
• Considered a Washington Outsider

6
Foreign Policy

• Middle East Peace
• Camp David Accords framework for peace between
  Israel and Egypt
• Did not solve all Mid-East problems
• Breakdown of Détente
• 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan cools warm
  relations with the Soviets
• US halted shipments of grain to Soviet Union
• Boycotted 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow

7
Domestic Issues

• Economic Instability
• Cut government spending
• Increased unemployment
• Interest rates soared
• Affirmative Action gave special consideration
  to minorities to makeup for past discrimination
• University of CA vs. Bakke Court case that
  upheld the use of affirmative action in college
  admissions.