Challenges to the Post War Order

Flashcards about the Nixon Presidency, Detente with China and the USSR, Supreme Court, Nixon's Home Front, Middle America, Environmentalism, Election of 1972, Arab Oil Embargo & Energy Crisis, Watergate, Ford Presidency, the 70's, Feminism and Roe v Wade

The Nixon Presidency

Nixon's administration was determined to turn back the clock and his character was full of extremes.

Nixon’s Détente w/China & the USSR

Nixon and Kissinger shared the same view of foreign affairs; Balancing power while also securing the most advantageous agreements. Their diplomatic style disturbed many b/c they thought Kissinger went through back channels to make negotiations.

Nixon's Three Main Goals

Recognize the People’s Republic of China, Reduce rivalry with USSR, Stabilize relations w/Communist world by withdrawing from Vietnam.

The People’s Republic of China

US relations w/ China had been poor since 1949. US refused to recognize the Chinese mainland regime, either politically or economically & insisted the Nationalist regime on Taiwan was the legitimate Chinese gov’t. US vetoed every attempt to allow them into the UN.

Easing Relations w/the USSR

Playing the “China Card” helped improve relations w/the USSR

SALT-Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty

Treaty that helped to slow the nuclear arms race by freezing the number of long range nuclear missiles for 5 years

ABM Treaty

Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty

Détente

Meaning to ease tensions not friendship or alliance

Other Accomplishments

Space race ended when US landed on the moon, Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, Berlin Accords.

Mapp v. Ohio

Ruled that evidence collected illegally couldn’t be used against an accused criminal.

Gideon v. Wainwright

Suspects in criminal cases who couldn’t afford a lawyer had the right to free legal aid.

Escobedo & Miranda

Cases that ensured the right of the accused to remain silent & other protections.

Engel v. Vitale

Forbade prayer in public school.

Griswold v. Connecticut

Struck down state laws that prohibited the use of contraceptives

A New Team on the Supreme Bench

Nixon appointed justices who he felt would strictly interpret the Constitution-Warren E. Burger & 3 others by 1972

Nixon on the Home Front

Nixon was worried about inflation & imposed a 90 day wage & price freeze. To stimulate sagging exports he took the nation off of the gold standard & devalued the dollar. This ended the Bretton Woods system.

Philadelphia Plan

Program that required construction trade unions to work towards hiring more black apprentices which altered LBJ’s concept of affirmative action to focus on groups rather than individuals.

Griggs v Duke Power Company

Prohibited intelligence tests or other devices that had the effect of excluding minorities or women from certain jobs. This decision ensured that the only way to avoid charges of discrimination was to hire or admit minorities to your job or school.

Southern Strategy

Deliberately seeking to convert white Southern Dems into Rep. by promising conservative social measures.

Middle America

Suburban blue collar voters who were unhappy w/Democrats.

New Federalism

Nixon ignored troubles cities & tilted federal assistance to suburbs

Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg B of E

SC upheld cross city busing to achieve racial integration of public schools

Enviromental Protection Agency (EPA)

Oversees all gov’t environmental programs.

Clean Air Act

Imposed tighter emission standards on cars.

Occupational Safety & Health Act (OSHA)

Oversees new standards of health & safety for workers on the job.

Water Quality Improvement Act

Imposing penalties for pollution of ocean & inland waters (after oil spill)

Rachel Carson-Silent Spring

Described the side effects of DDT (pesticides) & many now worried about the effect on human health.

Endangered Species Act of 1973

Program for the conservation of threatened & endangered plants & animals in the habitats which they’re found.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

Holding companies accountable for selling dangerous products

Nixon Landslide of 1972

Republicans-Nixon/Agnew, Democrats-McGovern/Shriver. Primaries began replacing the elite dominated nominating system. By 1972, both parties had 20 primaries

Yom Kippur War

Syria & Egypt unleashed surprise attacks on Israel. Nixon ordered $2 billion airlift support for Israel which helped them turn the tide & threaten Cairo before the US helped bring about a cease fire. Our aid to Israel left us w/a heavy penalty.

Arab Oil Embargo

OPEC nations announced they would cut oil production & placed an embargo on oil to the any nation supporting Israel. This led to long lines at the gas station, rationing gas, & lowering thermostats.

International Energy Agency

Formed to counter OPEC & set a national speed limit & encouraged fuel efficiency from various sectors of the economy

Stagflation

Combination of stagnant economic growth, high unemployment & inflation

Watergate

7 men are arrested at the Washington D.C. headquarters of the Democratic National Committee in the Watergate housing complex. 3 of the burglars are connected to the White House or Committee to Reelect the President (CREEP)

Senate Select Committee on President Campaign activities

Senate est. a Select Committee on President Campaign activities under Senator Sam Ervin.

Taping System

Alexander Butterfield reveals that all conversation in the Oval & Executive Office building are taped

Spiro Agnew Resigns

VP Spiro Agnew resigns due to tax evasion & accepting payoffs for favors, only adding to the public’s distrust of the administration

Saturday Night Massacre

Nixon orders the Attorney General to fire Cox, both he & his deputy resign, Nixon finally finds Richard Bork to accept the job & fire Cox

“Smoking Gun” tape

Nixon released transcripts of 3 conversations b/w himself & Haldeman on June 23rd 1972, clearly showing his knowledge of the break-in & his attempt to stop the investigation & obstruct justice

Resignation

Nixon resigns knowing he faces certain impeachment

The First Unelected President

Ford granted Nixon a pardon, which created controversy & rumors of a secret deal

Helsinki Accords

US, USSR & 33 other nations OFFICIALLY recognized European national boundaries as set after WWII.In return, USSR signed agreements, guaranteeing more liberal exchanges b/w East & West which allowed small movement in Eastern Europe & USSR, but nothing really materialized from it

The Me Generation

A period when people place personal fulfillment & pleasure before other considerations

Sun Belt vs. Snow Belt

There was a shift in population, industry & leadership from the Snow Belt to the Sun Belt in the 1970s.

Feminist Victories & Defeats

Women should be allowed to choose roles besides “homemaker”

Title IX of the Educational Amendment

Prohibiting sex discrimination in any federally assisted educational program or activity, including sports & faculty positions

Equal Rights Amendment-(ERA)

“Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied on account of sex”

Phyllis Schlafly

Led the “Stop ERA” movement.

Roe v. Wade

Legalizing abortion during the 1st trimester

Milliken v. Bradley

SC ruled that desegregation plans couldn’t require students to move across school district lines

University of California v Bakke

SC declared that preference in admissions couldn’t be given to anyone on the basis of ethnic or racial identity ALONE, but racial factors could be taken into account in a schools overall admission policy for the purpose of assembling a diverse student body

The Bicentennial Campaign (1976)

Carter won w/old & new support & w/hefty control of both Houses of Congress

Jimmy Carter

People loved Carter’s down home sincerity. Most effective campaign pitch “I’ll never lie to you”

Panama Canal

Treaty turning over the canal back to Panama by 2000-Improving sore spot w/L.A.

Camp David Accords

Israel & Egypt signed a peace treaty that bound the 2 countries to full diplomatic relations. Israel agreed to withdraw from territorial gains from the 1967 war & Egypt agreed to respect Israel’s borders

Deindustrialization

Economic change involving the disappearance of outmoded industries & the transfer of factories to new low wage locations

Dept. of Energy

Dept. of Energy-created to ensure the nation’s energy security & to govern policies regarding nuclear weapons & domestic energy production

Energy Policy & Conservation Act

Encouraged alternative energy sources to replace foreign petroleum

Malaise Speech

Carter spoke to the American public about needing to get our swagger or “can do” American attitude back

SALT II

Limiting the levels of lethal strategic weapons in both countries–reduced both the US & USSR nuclear arsenals

Iranian Revolution

US backed Shah-Reza Pahlevi who modernized Iran’s economy, but also had secret police who jailed & tortured opponents. Revolutionaries toppled the Shah & supported Muslim fundamentalist Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeni