key topic 3 social and political change 1973-1980

Watergate

Nixon’s reelection campaign - CREEP - organised 2 break ins at the Watergate Building - the DNC HQ - June 1972 - attempted cover up and buying burglars silence - attempted hire of CIA to stop FBI investigation - refused - obstruction of justice

Aftermath of watergate:

Burglars convicted January 1973 - senate investigation into events - Nixon’s approval rate 17% - VP Agnew forced to resign over tax evasion

The water gate tapes

Nixons taped conversations in the White House - congress and press pressure + SC ruling led to release in July 1974 - revealed Nixon ordered cover up - HoR moved to impeach him

Impeachment charges against Nixon

Obstruction of justice + abuse of power

Nixon resigns + successor:

Aug 1974 - succeeded by VP Gerald Ford

War powers act 1973

Designed to limit presidential power to enter wars

Ethics in govt act 1978

Made it easier for a special prosecutor to investigate alleged presidential wrongdoings

Gerald Fords appeal:

‘Ford not a Lincoln’ - a ‘regular’ guy - relatable to Americans

Jimmy Carters appeal:

Rejected excessive formality: walked down Pennsylvania Ave after being sworn in, sold the presidential yacht

What plummeted Fords popularity?

Pardoning Nixon

Why was Ford disliked by the media

His informality, fact he wasn’t elected and the loss of respect for the presidency after watergate

EXP: clip of him stumbling on a plane ramp showed 11 times in one news cast

1976 presidential election

Ford defeated by Dem Jimmy Carter - crisis of poltiical leadership? Carter as an outsider not been in Washington helped him win

BUT 76% beloved Ford lacked ‘presidential quality’ 80% said the same of 80%

Criticism of President Carter

Micromanagement - reviewed all requests to use WH tennis courts for 6 months

Poor relations with Congress ‘didn’t seem to understand’ legislative process

Wife referred to as ‘Mrs President’

Public opinion of Carter:

By Dec 1977 only 18% of Americans had ‘a lot’ of confidence in carter - 1980 lowest ever approval rating of a Pres

Iranian hostage crisis:

1979 Iranian militants took 60 American embassy workers hostage

Carter sent 3 helicopters: 1 broke down, 1 got lost, 1 crashed into a transport aircraft - 8 Americans died

Turnout in 1980 election

47% of registered voters stayed home

Percentage of Americans who felt that govt will do what is right most of the time

1969 56% - 1979 29%

Federal govt deficit in 1965 vs 1968

$1.6billion in 1965 to $25.3billion in 1968 - inflation and weakened the dollar

Inflation in 1980:

14%

During July 1974 prices rose by:

3.7%

Unemployment in 1974-75

December 1974 6.5% - May 1975 8.9%

Causes of rising unemployment:

Other countries produced goods at lower prices + higher quality

Mechanisation in American industry = men replaced by machines

The service industry:

Service jobs were 60% of employment opportunities in 1970 - 70% in 1980 BUT low paid

Federal minimum wage:

$3.35 in 1981 BUT failed to increase with rising prices

Proportion of Americans living below poverty line:

Rose from 11: in 1974 to 12.5% in 1976

50% Of all black female heads of household

Food stamps:

Grew from 18.5million eligible in 1976 to 20 million in 1980

Reasons for Increase in homelessness:

• institutions for the mentally ill decreased - unpaid labour illegalised but had kept institutions running - forced to close

• Urban renewal policies = skid row hotels demolished

• Unemployment

• Declining marriage rate + increased single mothers = more Homeless women

• Crack cocaine

American oil consumption:

6% of the worlds population but 1/3rd of worlds oil

Yom Kippur war

30% of oil imported from Middle East - Nixon supports Isreal in war 1973 - OPEC embargo on the US - led to 387% increase in price of oil - Americans paid 30% more for oil

Events in 70’s energy crisis

• 1974 100,000 truckers strike For 11 days for lower fuel prices

• Harsh winter 1976-77 + gas shortage = closed schools - energy riot in Levittown = 170 arrests

• 1977 UMW 3 month strike - coal shortage meant school closures