The End of the Cold The End of the Cold War War

Nixon’s Administration

Cold War Cold War

ReviewReviewWho were the Presidents that were involved in the

Cold War that we have learned about so far?

TrumanEisenhower

JFKLBJ

NixonFord

Carter Reagan

Cold War Cold War

ReviewReviewWho were the Soviet Premiers that were

involved in the Cold War that we have learned about

so far?

StalinKhrushchevBrezhnev

Gorbachev

Cold War Cold War

ReviewReviewWhat was the policy that the United States used during the Cold War?

Containment

What was the theory that the United States believed in that justified the use of

containment?

The Domino Theory

What year did the Cold War begin and when would it

eventually end?

1945 to 1991

Election of 1968Election of 1968

Hubert Humphrey Richard Nixon George Wallace

Richard Nixon & Spiro Agnew win

Nixon & Foreign Nixon & Foreign IssuesIssues

1. Vietnam2. China3. The Soviet Union

What was Nixon’s What was Nixon’s strategy for exiting strategy for exiting

Vietnam?Vietnam?QUESTION.

Ending the War in Ending the War in VietnamVietnam

The United States had a “moral dilemma” on its hands.If the nation stayed in Vietnam?

Loss of American life would continue, people would remain unhappy at home.

If the nation left Vietnam immediately?Breaking a promise to South Vietnam, admitting defeat in the

area, lose respect as a superpower, and soldiers died for nothing.

BUTVietnamization was doomed to fail.

“One North Vietnamese negotiator asked Henry Kissinger how Nixon’s plans for the South Vietnamese to conduct their own defense could

succeed when America had not been able to prevail in the war with a half million of its own troops. This question foreshadowed the inevitable end to

the conflict.”

In 1973:The United States ends military involvement in Vietnam

In 1975:Saigon falls to the North Vietnamese

China & The USSRChina & The USSR

China & The USSRChina & The USSRSince the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the Soviet Union and China did not get along. Why do you believe this would happen despite both being communist and superpowers?

The United States & The United States & ChinaChina

“In spite of its hardline, anti-West posture, China also welcomed opening lines of communication with the United States in order to develop an ally against the Soviet Union, whom [China] had come to distrust as much or more

than it distrusted America.”

Outcome?The United States recognized the government in Peking

(Beijing) and began to trade with each other.

The United States & The United States & ChinaChina

In Feb 1972, President Richard Nixon became the first President to visit the People’s Republic of China.

"The Week That Changed The World"

The United States & The The United States & The USSRUSSR

“In May of 1972, just three months after his China visit, Nixon again had an opportunity to exercise his negotiating

abilities… [The USSR] approached Nixon about nuclear reduction talks, but [their] real agenda was that the USSR needed to purchase U.S. grain, and [they] were deeply

concerned that the new U.S. - China relationship would leave Russia out in the cold.”

Outcome?The United States recognized the government in Peking (Beijing) and

began to trade with each other.

The United States & The The United States & The USSRUSSR

Nixon would fly to Moscow and negotiate on nuclear reduction, trade, and more.

Nixon & Brezhnev

What is the term we use to describe What is the term we use to describe Nixon’s actions resulting in the Nixon’s actions resulting in the relaxation of tension between relaxation of tension between

governments?governments?

QUESTION.

DetenteDetente

The United States & The The United States & The USSRUSSR

What came from Nixon’s trip to Moscow?1.$750 million deal on wheat, corn, and grain.

2.The Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I) was signed. Agreement to stop production on nuclear ballistic missiles.

However, the arms race would NOT end due to SALT I.

By 1974…By 1974…South Vietnam was falling

The Middle East was unstableCommunism was spreading to South America

Soon, the monumental Nixon/Kissinger team would fade from the scene and exit the world stage forever.

Nixon & Domestic Nixon & Domestic IssuesIssues

1. The Government2. The South3. Space4. The Environment5. Stagflation6. Watergate

Nixon & Domestic Nixon & Domestic IssuesIssues

The Government The South

Nixon believed the federal government had too much power

& responsibility.

New Federalism was his answer.

To combat what Nixon believed was a “liberal” Supreme Court, Nixon

appointed new Supreme Court judges.

Consequence?The new judges did not have

to side with Nixon once appointed.

Nixon wanted to tweak Johnson’s Great Society.

How?Nixon’s “Southern Strategy”

His goal?To win over the southern Democrats who voted for

Wallace in the 1968 Election.

Would he succeed?Yes & No.

Examples of the Burger Court’s Rulings?

Ruled that the death penalty was unconstitutional

Upheld the ruling in Roe v. Wade

Nixon & Domestic Nixon & Domestic IssuesIssues

Space The Environment

In 1962, JFK promised to get America on the moon before

the end of the decade.

On July 20th, 1969?Apollo 11 reaches the moon carrying Buzz Aldridge & Neil

Armstrong.

Back on earth…The impact of industrial pollutants

on wild & human life raised concern.

Nixon’s Administration created:Environmental Protection

Agency Clean Air Act of 1970

Endangered Species Act of 1973

Consequences?Without raising taxes the federal deficit grew even

larger.

StagflationStagflationA “shock” to the system in the supply category.

In this case? The Oil Embargo during the 70s.

Inflation rates rose from 9% (1973) to 12% (1974) and would stay in the double digits through the 70s & 80s.

STAGNATION + INFLATION =

STAGFLATIONConsequences?

Well, what do people do when they need more money?

HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT.

What causes it?

WatergateWatergate

A Quick Review