Study Guide: The Nixon Administration (1969–1974)

1. Richard Nixon’s Rise to Power

• Background: Republican, former Vice President under Eisenhower, elected in 1968.

• Campaign Strategy: Promised “law and order” and to represent the “silent majority” (Americans who didn’t protest or speak out loudly).

• Southern Strategy: Nixon appealed to conservative white voters in the South who were against civil rights changes.

2. Domestic Policies

• New Federalism: Plan to shift power from federal to state governments by giving states block grants.

• Revenue Sharing: Gave states money with fewer restrictions—part of reducing the size of the federal government.

• Environmental Legislation:
  

  • Created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970.

  • Signed laws like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act.

• Economic Struggles:
  

  • Faced stagflation: combo of high inflation and unemployment.

  • Tried wage and price controls in 1971 to control inflation.

  • Took U.S. off the gold standard, leading to floating exchange rates.

3. Foreign Policy: Realpolitik

• Realpolitik: Basing foreign policy on practical objectives rather than ideology.

• Détente with USSR and China:
  

  • Visited China in 1972—opened diplomatic relations after 20+ years.

  • Signed SALT I Treaty (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) with the Soviet Union—limited nuclear weapons.

4. Vietnam War & Nixon

• Vietnamization: Gradually pulled U.S. troops out of Vietnam and trained South Vietnamese to fight.

• Cambodia Bombing & Invasion: Sparked protests; led to Kent State Massacre (4 students killed by National Guard).

• Paris Peace Accords (1973): Ceasefire signed; U.S. pulled out, but fighting continued in Vietnam.

5. The Watergate Scandal

• Break-in: June 1972—men connected to Nixon’s campaign caught breaking into Democratic HQ.

• Cover-up: Nixon denied knowledge but used presidential powers to hide involvement.

• Tapes: Secret recordings revealed Nixon’s attempts to cover up the scandal.

• Resignation: Facing impeachment, Nixon resigned on August 8, 1974. Gerald Ford became president.

Key Terms to Know

• Stagflation

• Vietnamization

• Détente

• SALT I

• New Federalism

• EPA

• Watergate

• Realpolitik