history Nixon

Richard Nixon

35th President of the United States, from California; held offices as Vice President and a Congressman; member of the Republican Party.

Watergate

A major political scandal involving a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and cover-up by Nixon's administration.

Smoking Gun Tape

A tape that revealed Nixon's involvement in the Watergate cover-up, considered critical evidence in the impeachment process.

Gerald Ford

38th President of the United States, from Michigan; profession was lawyer; held office as Vice President and Congressman; member of the Republican Party.

Pardon

Ford granted Nixon a controversial pardon for any crimes he may have committed while in office.

Stagflation

An economic condition characterized by stagnant economic growth, high unemployment, and high inflation, which occurred during Ford and Carter's presidencies.

Jimmy Carter

39th President of the United States, from Georgia; profession was farmer and businessman; held offices as Governor of Georgia and a Congressman; member of the Democratic Party.

Camp David Accords

Peace agreement signed between Israel and Egypt, brokered by President Carter, involving Sadat (Egyptian President) and Begin (Israeli Prime Minister).

Three Mile Island Accident

A partial meltdown of a reactor at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant, raising public concern about nuclear safety.

Iran Hostage Crisis

A diplomatic crisis where 52 American diplomats and citizens were held hostage in Iran for 444 days, significantly affecting Carter's presidency.

Ronald Reagan

40th President of the United States, from Illinois; profession was actor and politician; held offices as Governor of California; member of the Republican Party.

Supply Side Economics

An economic theory advocating lower taxes and deregulation in order to spur economic growth.

Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars)

A proposed missile defense system intended to protect the US from nuclear attack, announced by Reagan.

Mikhail Gorbachev

General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, known for his reforms (Glasnost and Perestroika) that helped end the Cold War.

Iran-Contra Scandal

A political scandal involving the secret sale of arms to Iran to fund Contra rebels in Nicaragua, violating US law.

INF Treaty between US and USSR

A 1987 treaty between the US and Soviet Union to eliminate intermediate-range nuclear missiles.