Chapter 32: An Age of Limits32.1 The Nixon Administration-Read by 1/30

32.2 Watergate: Nixon’s Downfall-Read by 2/3

32.3 The Ford and Carter Years-Read by 2/6

Iran and the Iranian Hostage Crisis -Readings will be posted online 2/11

32.4 Environmental Activism-Read by 2/13

“I am not a crook.”-Richard M. Nixon

Unit Essential QuestionsWhat are the limits to Political Power?

Who ultimately holds the power in a democracy?

32.1 The Nixon Administration

Essential Question:What domestic and foreign policy

accomplishments did Richard Nixon achieve during his administration?

Key Terms

• Richard M. Nixon• New Federalism• Revenue Sharing• Family Assistance Plan (FAP)• Southern Strategy• Stagflation• OPEC• Realpolitik• Détente • SALT I Treaty (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks)

Key Dates• 1968 Nixon Elected President • 1971- Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Bd. Of

Ed. allows school bussing • 1971- Stagflation begins• February 1972- Nixon goes to China• May 1972- Nixon goes to Moscow• 1972- SALT I Treaty signed • 1973- Yom Kippur War• 1973-1974 OPEC Oil Embargo

Nixon’s New Conservatism • Goal was to move country in a more

conservative direction– Decrease power and role of the federal gov.– Stop parts of the Great Society

• New Federalism• Define: distribute power to local and State

governments. – Done by revenue sharing.• Define: allowed state gov. to spend federal money as

they saw fit. • 86 Billion by 1986

Legislative Battles• Congress was controlled by Democrats– First time since 1849

• Family Assistance Plan– Welfare reform meant to make welfare more efficient– Gave people an income of $1,600

• Passed House– Senate rejects Bill

• Attacks from Left and Right

• Increased spending on Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and Food Stamps to earn Democratic Support

• He impounded, or withheld, funds for many Government programs he disagreed with.

Law- and Order Politics• Nixon cracked down on far-

left aspects of society– Used FBI and CIA to go after

groups such as SDS and radical Civil Rights groups

• Used IRS to target political foes

• Nixon saw political opponents as personal foes– “anyone who opposes us

we’ll destroy.”– VP Sipro T. Agnew-

consistently attacked media and anti-war movement

The Southern Strategy• What political party do you associate with the South?– Republicans- Why?

• Nixon wants to win re-election in 1972 begins to go after unhappy Southern Democrats.

• To attract these voters Nixon:– Slowed integration of schools in the South- Supreme Court

forced him to follow laws• 90% of southern schools integrated

– In North Nixon opposed Bussing • Opposition to these integration efforts helped Nixon

win over Southern Whites

Stagflation• Define-• Rising unemployment and inflation

– Caused in part by Deficit spending by Johnson (Great Society/ Vietnam)

– International Competition from West Germany and Japan– Not enough jobs for all the women and Baby-Boomers entering

the workforce• Dependency on Foreign Oil

– OPEC controls production and price– During 1973 Yom Kippur War. US ally Israel against Egypt and

Syria; OPEC starts Oil Embargo in response to US support for Israel.– Lasts from fall 1973 to March 1974- when trade resumed price

had quadrupled

• Nixon could do little to stop stagflation– Wanted to raise taxes and cut spending Congress

would not pass plan– Turned to wage and price controls– Economic recession began– Nixon’s policies did not stop economic slide

• Nixon always preferred foreign policy to domestic

• How did Nixon earn his reputation in Foreign affairs?– Alger Hiss trial – Nixon earned reputation as hardline anti-communist– Used that to his advantage during his presidency

Kissinger and Realpolitik • Define:– German for realistic politics

• More practical and flexible policy • Nation’s power more important that its Philosophy– Confront Powerful : Ignore weak

• End of Containment • Sought to negotiate with Communist China and the

Soviet Union • Détente – Define:

• Nixon wanted to ease Cold War tensions b/t US and Soviets

Nixon in China and Moscow• February 1972 Nixon went to Communist China– Tried to exploit a rift b/t Soviet Union and China– Normalized relations with the Chinese

• Strong anti-communist background convinced American public to support him

• May 1972 Nixon travels to Moscow– Soviet Premier Brezhnev – Signed SALT I Treaty capping Nuclear weapons at 1972

levels• Coupled with the • end of Vietnam war these foreign Policy achievements

helped Nixon win reelection in 1972

Quiz 32.1• What was Nixon’s plan to allow state and local

governments to spend federal money as they saw fit?

• This war in the Middle East caused the Oil Embargo in 1973-74?

• __________ is the Economic conditions with rising inflation and unemployment.

• Nixon visited what country in February 1972?• What treaty was signed by Nixon in Moscow in

1972?