Nixon, Ford, Carter - the 1970sNixon, Ford, Carter - the 1970s

Thinking SkillThinking Skill: Explicitly assess : Explicitly assess information and draw conclusionsinformation and draw conclusionsObjectiveObjective: Understand the major : Understand the major events surrounding the three events surrounding the three presidencies of the decadepresidencies of the decade

DetenteDetente Détente: easing of Cold War tensionDétente: easing of Cold War tension

– Improve relationships with China and Improve relationships with China and USSRUSSR Aid exit of NamAid exit of Nam Reduce Nuclear Weapons (SALT)Reduce Nuclear Weapons (SALT) Pit USSR and China against each other Pit USSR and China against each other Use Communist need for US tradeUse Communist need for US trade

– Nixon goes to Nixon goes to ChinaChina

Nixon on the Home Nixon on the Home FrontFront

Domestic AffairsDomestic Affairs

At Elvis’ request, he met with Nixon to become a "Federal Agent-at-Large" in the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs.

Environmental Concerns Environmental Concerns GrowGrow

““We’ve got Mother Nature on the run in the We’ve got Mother Nature on the run in the nineteen-seventies”nineteen-seventies”

- Neil YoungNeil Young

They’ve paved paradise and put up a parking lot” They’ve paved paradise and put up a parking lot”

– – Joni MitchellJoni Mitchell

Polluted River

Crop Dusting

Traffic Pollution

Oil Slick

US Reliance on Foreign Oil: 1973 Oil Embargo and OPEC

Nixon Domestic PolicyNixon Domestic Policy ProblemsProblems: Stagflation/ Energy/ Pollution : Stagflation/ Energy/ Pollution TargetTarget: Middle America/ Blue Collar/ : Middle America/ Blue Collar/

SouthSouth SolutionsSolutions::

– New Federalism (aid to suburbs)New Federalism (aid to suburbs)– US off Gold StandardUS off Gold Standard– Appoints Conservative JudgesAppoints Conservative Judges

Contradictions:Contradictions:– EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)– Philadelphia Plan (Quotas)Philadelphia Plan (Quotas)– Expansion of Great Society (food stamps)Expansion of Great Society (food stamps)

Ford and Carter Ford and Carter AdministrationsAdministrations

1974-1977 1977-1981

Gerald FordGerald Ford

Only president neverOnly president never elected to officeelected to office Pardoned Nixon “for any Pardoned Nixon “for any

and all crimes”and all crimes” Persistent stagflationPersistent stagflation Continued détente Continued détente Economy gets worseEconomy gets worse Vietnam “finished”Vietnam “finished” (R) candidate in 1976(R) candidate in 1976

– Defeated by Jimmy CarterDefeated by Jimmy Carter

Helsinki AccordsHelsinki AccordsThe document was seen both as a significant step toward reducing The document was seen both as a significant step toward reducing

Cold War tensions and as a major diplomatic boost for the Cold War tensions and as a major diplomatic boost for the Soviet Union at the time Soviet Union at the time

Articles:Articles:I.I. Sovereign equality, respect for the rights inherent in Sovereign equality, respect for the rights inherent in

sovereignty sovereignty II.II. Refraining from the threat or use of force Refraining from the threat or use of force II.II. Inviolability of frontiers Inviolability of frontiers IV.IV. Territorial integrity of States Territorial integrity of States V.V. Peaceful settlement of disputes Peaceful settlement of disputes VI.VI. Non-intervention in internal affairs Non-intervention in internal affairs VII.VII. Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,

including the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief including the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief VIII. Equal rights and self-determination of peoples VIII. Equal rights and self-determination of peoples IX.IX. Co-operation among States Co-operation among States X.X. Fulfillment in good faith of obligations under international law Fulfillment in good faith of obligations under international law

FordFord

A few ill-timed episodes of camera-range clumsiness, like stumbling down the steps of Air Force One in Austria, wiping out on the slopes in Vail, Colo., and getting zonked on the head by a passing chairlift.

Chevy Chase and SNL

Jimmy Jimmy CarterCarter

““Washington Outsider”Washington Outsider”– pros/conspros/cons– one term GA governorone term GA governor– Peanut farmerPeanut farmer– engineerengineer

Devout BaptistDevout Baptist ““I’ll never lie to you”I’ll never lie to you” More StagflationMore Stagflation

– Energy crisisEnergy crisis– Foreign competitionForeign competition

Campaign T-Shirt

Carter’s Foreign Carter’s Foreign PolicyPolicy

Emphasis on human rightsEmphasis on human rights– 1978 Camp David Accords1978 Camp David Accords

Carter Carter AchievementsAchievements Human RightsHuman Rights Camp David Accords Camp David Accords

19781978– Peace agreement Peace agreement

between Egypt and between Egypt and IsraelIsrael

Panama Canal Panama Canal ReturnedReturned

Resumption of full Resumption of full Diplomatic Relations Diplomatic Relations with China, 1979with China, 1979

1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

The SALT II Negotiations

Carter’s Carter’s ProblemsProblems

Energy CrisisOPEC and Rates

Stagflation

Three Mile Island

Carter’sCarter’s DownfallDownfall

Iran-Hostage CrisisIran-Hostage Crisis Context: During Ike’s Admin…Context: During Ike’s Admin…

CIA helped to place Shah Reza Pahlavi back on the CIA helped to place Shah Reza Pahlavi back on the throne after gov attempts to nationalize industrythrone after gov attempts to nationalize industry

• 1979, Rise of Ayatollah Khomeini (militant Islamic

Fundamentalist)• Shah overthrown• American embassy overrun (60 hostages) • Hostages released hours after

Reagan takes office (444 days)

““Nothing much is Nothing much is going to happen in going to happen in the 1970s anyway”the 1970s anyway”

-Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-NY-Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-NY

What do you think are the MOST important

events of the 1970s and why?

The “Loser Decade”?

Social Issues & ReactionSocial Issues & Reaction

Feminist MovementFeminist Movement Gay Rights MovementGay Rights Movement

Drug CultureDrug Culture

1980’s Conservatism1980’s Conservatism

A response to the Malaise of the A response to the Malaise of the 1970’s1970’s

Carter’s “Malaise” Speech 1979 A.K.A. “Crisis in Confidence” Speech

Thinking SkillThinking Skill: Explicitly assess : Explicitly assess information and draw conclusionsinformation and draw conclusionsObjectiveObjective: Understand the major : Understand the major events surrounding the 1970s and to events surrounding the 1970s and to what extent they contributed to a what extent they contributed to a general sense of “malaise”general sense of “malaise”

MalaiseMalaise

Did you ever have the feeling that you were getting sick, but Did you ever have the feeling that you were getting sick, but couldn’t quite put your finger on what it was that made you feel couldn’t quite put your finger on what it was that made you feel so ill?so ill?

That is the condition of malaise (a vague feeling of uneasiness That is the condition of malaise (a vague feeling of uneasiness and discomfort). Historians (and President Carter) have used this and discomfort). Historians (and President Carter) have used this word to describe the general feeling of being an American in the word to describe the general feeling of being an American in the 1970s. The 1950s were, in general, a time of optimism and the 1970s. The 1950s were, in general, a time of optimism and the 1960s a time of idealism. Then, in the 1970s, it has been argued 1960s a time of idealism. Then, in the 1970s, it has been argued that Americans felt a little less certain about their government, that Americans felt a little less certain about their government, their status as a world power, their earth, and each other. their status as a world power, their earth, and each other.

Task --- Identify as many events of the 1970s that contributed to Task --- Identify as many events of the 1970s that contributed to the general feeling of malaise during the decade.the general feeling of malaise during the decade.

Which event made the greatest contribution to the “malaise” of Which event made the greatest contribution to the “malaise” of the 70s? Why?the 70s? Why?

Conclusions:Conclusions:

Which event made the greatest contribution Which event made the greatest contribution

to the “malaise” of the 70s? why?to the “malaise” of the 70s? why? To what extent is your specific event To what extent is your specific event

representative of the general 70s feeling? representative of the general 70s feeling? How is your event similar to the others? How is your event similar to the others?

Different from the others?Different from the others? What exceptions/concessions can be madeWhat exceptions/concessions can be made

in regards to defining the decade as a in regards to defining the decade as a “malaise?” “malaise?”