Presidencies of Nixon & Ford

In 1968, Lyndon B. Johnson announced he would not run for re-election.
The election was between Eugene McCarthy and Richard Nixon.
Nixon won with 43% of the popular vote and a landslide victory in the Electoral College.

Vietnamization was Nixon’s policy regarding the Vietnam War.
It involved slowly withdrawing American troops and having the South Vietnamese army replace them.
Nixon was accused of expanding the war, contrary to his promise to end it.

1.5 million college students shut down 1,200 campuses.
Some protests turned deadly.
On May 4, Kent State University students burned down the campus ROTC building and destroyed property.
The Kent State Massacre grabbed the country's attention.
On May 14, Jackson State (Mississippi) students protested, and 2 were killed.

The New York Times published excerpts of the Pentagon Papers.
The Pentagon Papers contained top-secret information about U.S. involvement in Vietnam.
The public learned that the government had lied about the situation in Vietnam and the war.
This revelation caused anger among Americans.

Opened in 1982 in Washington, D.C.
Honors those who fought in the war.
Contains the names of 58,000 American troops who were killed or went missing in action.

The draft was ended.
The War Powers Act was passed in November 1973.- Limited the president’s ability to initiate military action in other countries.
- Required the president to inform Congress within 48 hours of sending troops into a hostile environment without a declaration of war.
- Troops cannot remain in the environment for more than 90 days unless Congress approves the president’s actions or declares war.
Nixon vetoed the act, but Congress overruled him.

The U.S., China, and the USSR.
In February 1972, Nixon traveled to China.- The U.S. agreed to support China’s entry into the United Nations and became open to a diplomatic relationship.
Nixon also made a trip to the USSR in 1972.- Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT): signed SALT 1 Treaty.- A 5-year agreement that limited the number of ballistic missiles and submarine missiles.
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- Agreed to a joint space exploration called Apollo-Soyuz.

Nixon wanted to reduce the power of the federal government and give more power to state and local governments (the opposite of LBJ).
1972- State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act- Allowed state and local governments to decide how to spend federal money with certain guidelines.
Nixon reformed social programs like Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and food stamps.
Used impoundment (delayed funding to programs he believed were unnecessary).
Nixon cut funding for more than 100 federal programs.

Nixon slowed desegregation (opposite of LBJ).- Ordered the Department of Health, Education, & Welfare to delay desegregation in schools in Mississippi & South Carolina in 1969.
- Only 20% of children in the South attended desegregated schools in 1969.
Nixon opposed the extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1965; Congress overruled him.

The Environmental Protection Agency was passed in Dec. 1970.
Protected and conserved the environment and improved the health of people.
Still exists today; monitors and enforces environmental protection laws.
Regulates manufacturing, processing, distribution, & use of chemicals & other pollutants.
Oversees programs that promote energy efficiency, sustainable growth, air & water quality, & pollution prevention.

Nixon resigned in 1974 to prevent impeachment.
Nixon wanted to win the 1972 election at any cost.
June 17, 1972- 5 men broke into the Democratic National Committee Headquarters to place wiretaps.
These men were commanded by Nixon to eavesdrop on the opposition party’s conversation.
The men were arrested, and Nixon paid bribes to prevent being connected.
Nixon asked the FBI to stop the investigation and told White House staffers to lie in court.
Articles of Impeachment were drawn up, but Nixon resigned on Aug. 8, 1974.
Vice President Gerald Ford became president.
Ford immediately pardoned Nixon from any crimes.

Inflation was a major problem.
1967-1973 → stagflation (high inflation & high unemployment).
High inflation was mostly caused by Johnson’s Great Society & funding of the Vietnam War.
The U.S. also relied heavily on oil from other countries.
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) placed an embargo on oil.- The supply of oil dropped & the price rose c.1973

Whip Inflation Now (WIN)- Asked Americans to use less oil & gasoline to conserve energy.
- Decreased government spending.
- Encouraged the Federal Reserve Board to increase interest rates on loans.
Not successful; the U.S. experienced the worst economic recession since the Great Depression.
The U.S. economy struggled into the 1980s.

Ford's support decreased due to economic problems & Nixon's pardon which angered Americans.
Democrat Jimmy Carter beat Ford in the 1976 election.