Richard Nixon

Lack of self worth and felt inadequate

led to the watergate scandal

Always well prepared when meeting with foreign leaders

Meetings with Chinese leaders and was able to build good relationships with Brezhnev

Reputation for foreign policy expertise

lef to his pledge of achieving “peace and honour” in Vietnam

Special Investigations Unit (The “plumbers”)

employed to stop leak of some of his most damaging foreign policy secrets. Acted effectively as a secret police and brought Nixon’s democratic credentials into question.

Committee for the reelection of the president (CREEP)

authorised to use whatever methods it saw fit

Watergate Break in

Washington post discovered the break in at watergate was CREEP which was controlled by white house. Nixon denied any involvement with CREEP even after the 5 burglars were convicted

The Senate Watergate Hearings

The hearings unveiled the presidential impoundment of funds authorized for expenditure by congress, Nixon’s continuation of the bombing in Cambodia even after a cease fire. In 1971 Nixon installed tape

Nixon’s resignation

Public outrage at his desperate measures to cover his tracks put him under pressure. Congress wanted to impeach Nixon. House Judiciary Committee in House of representatives promised if he resigned there would be no further charges.

Significance of Watergate

It was a turning point in the way it undermined the presidency in the eyes of Americans.

Vietnamisation

significant in reducing military intervention in Vietnam, wanted to reduce troops from 500,000 to 30,000 and escelate air strikes in his first year

Opening to China

publicly reffered to China by its official name, First President to visit China in 1972. This was widely televised and seen as a decisive first step in the reapproachment between the two states.

Detente with USSR

Nixon became first president to visit Moscow. Both signed two treaties to control growth of nuclear arms.

SALT 1

Paved the way for future agreements which sought to reduce and eliminate nuclear weapons. This was strong evidence that Nixon’s triangulation policy was working

Helsinki Agreements

USA secured an acceptence from USSR that human rights were universal and there should be free movement of people’s and ideas across Europe. Arguably this was seen as progress towards opening the “Iron Curtain”

Nixon Doctrine

Declared that USA expected their allies to take responsibility for their own defence. A turning point as it made military intervention across the world by USA less likely.