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Richard NixonRichard Nixon

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Richard NixonRichard Nixon• Since 1960, Nixon had been Since 1960, Nixon had been

burning over his incompetent burning over his incompetent use of the media. But he was use of the media. But he was ready to run a strong media ready to run a strong media campaign by 1968. campaign by 1968. – His appearances were now His appearances were now

carefully staged and scripted.carefully staged and scripted.– His platform slogan on Vietnam His platform slogan on Vietnam

was “was “peace with honor.peace with honor.””– Nixon exploited America’s Nixon exploited America’s

resentment against the resentment against the counterculture, portraying counterculture, portraying himself as the spokesperson for himself as the spokesperson for the Silent Majority. the Silent Majority.

• Nixon vowed a “Nixon vowed a “law and law and orderorder” presidency to clean ” presidency to clean the streets of these the streets of these protesters. This vow would be protesters. This vow would be problematic as it later problematic as it later became clear that Nixon became clear that Nixon himself was a law violator. himself was a law violator.

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NixonNixon• Nixon barely won the 1968 election - Nixon barely won the 1968 election -

by just over 500,000 votes. by just over 500,000 votes. • By 1968, a rising percentage of By 1968, a rising percentage of

American whites asserted that blacks American whites asserted that blacks wanted too much too fast and that wanted too much too fast and that the federal government had caved in the federal government had caved in to black demands. to black demands.

• By 1969, student busing epitomized By 1969, student busing epitomized their fears. Here, the federal their fears. Here, the federal government had “intruded” into the government had “intruded” into the local school districts to enforce the local school districts to enforce the integration of schools. integration of schools. – Ironically, Nixon unexpectedly embraced Ironically, Nixon unexpectedly embraced

affirmative action. affirmative action. – Nixon, the military hawk, was generally a Nixon, the military hawk, was generally a

political moderate on economic issues, political moderate on economic issues, and a conservative on social issues, but and a conservative on social issues, but he could be surprising. His racial justice he could be surprising. His racial justice views were largely inconsistent. views were largely inconsistent.

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Nixon’s Social PlatformNixon’s Social Platform• Nixon exploited rising concerns Nixon exploited rising concerns

aboutabout– Violence and crimeViolence and crime– Drug useDrug use– Sexual permissivenessSexual permissiveness– Racial tensionsRacial tensions– The counterculture’s rejection of The counterculture’s rejection of

authorityauthority• In order to solidify the support of In order to solidify the support of

what he called the Silent what he called the Silent Majority, Nixon adopted a social Majority, Nixon adopted a social conservative platform that conservative platform that includedincluded– anti-abortion anti-abortion – pro-censorship pro-censorship – government aid to parochial government aid to parochial

schoolsschools• This platform appealed to the This platform appealed to the

following social conservative following social conservative constituencies constituencies – Urban Catholic (ethnic) votersUrban Catholic (ethnic) voters– Blue collar workersBlue collar workers– White Southerners and some White Southerners and some

suburbanitessuburbanites

Americans were polarized in the late 1960s. Many were fed up with what they perceived to be the extremism of the counterculture, as well as a rise in violent crime, including urban riots. These moderates and conservatives were ready for a “law and order” platform.

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Nixon’s domestic strategyNixon’s domestic strategy• At home, Nixon exploited the At home, Nixon exploited the

polarized themes that polarized themes that differentiated liberals from differentiated liberals from conservatives and further conservatives and further divided the nation. divided the nation.

• Nixon, the “law and order” Nixon, the “law and order” President, came down hard on President, came down hard on the counterculture.the counterculture.

• Nixon began a war on drugs Nixon began a war on drugs that continues to this day. that continues to this day.

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NixonNixon• While he was generally a social While he was generally a social

conservative, Nixon did endorse conservative, Nixon did endorse the Philadelphia Plan (1969), the the Philadelphia Plan (1969), the first major Affirmative Action first major Affirmative Action program. This plan required program. This plan required Philadelphia contractors to hire at Philadelphia contractors to hire at least some African American least some African American workers. By 1970, affirmative workers. By 1970, affirmative action plans began to disturb action plans began to disturb white male workers, and by the white male workers, and by the mid-70s affirmative action was the mid-70s affirmative action was the most polarizing racial issue in most polarizing racial issue in America.America.

• However, race was not Nixon’s However, race was not Nixon’s main focus in 1968. It was the main focus in 1968. It was the Vietnam War, and this would be Vietnam War, and this would be the central issue for Nixon from the central issue for Nixon from 1968 through 1971. The war was 1968 through 1971. The war was tearing Americans apart. tearing Americans apart.

• Nixon called his war plan “peace Nixon called his war plan “peace with honor” suggesting a plan to with honor” suggesting a plan to bring the war to an end – bring the war to an end – something the majority of something the majority of Americans wanted – but on terms Americans wanted – but on terms that saved America’s face.that saved America’s face.

This photo captures polarized positions on the Vietnam War. It was taken in New Zealand. The Vietnam War was a polarizing issue throughout the globe.

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Nixon’s 1968 Vietnam Nixon’s 1968 Vietnam PlatformPlatform• By 1968, Nixon was on the By 1968, Nixon was on the

campaign trail and was campaign trail and was asserting that the goal of his asserting that the goal of his administration would be to administration would be to end the war and win the end the war and win the peace in Vietnam under the peace in Vietnam under the slogan “peace with honor.”slogan “peace with honor.”

• While Nixon never directly While Nixon never directly claimed to have a secret claimed to have a secret plan to end the war, he did plan to end the war, he did allow the rumor mill to spin allow the rumor mill to spin this message of hope to this message of hope to benefit his campaign. benefit his campaign.

• In fact, President-elect In fact, President-elect Nixon did not have any Nixon did not have any secret plans to end the war, secret plans to end the war, but he privately believed he but he privately believed he could pound the North could pound the North Vietnamese to the Vietnamese to the bargaining table with heavy bargaining table with heavy use of airpower.use of airpower.

Nixon is seen here accepting the Republican nomination from House Representative Gerald Ford. When Vice President Agnew was forced from office for corruption, Ford was appointed Vice President, and when Nixon was forced from office in 1974, Ford became the first President who was never elected to the Presidency or the Vice Presidency.

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1968 Election Results1968 Election Results

George Wallace, the Southern populist segregationist, carried most of the Deep South, while Nixon carried the West, the Rim-South, and breadbasket America. Hubert Humphrey carried the North, particularly the New England states.

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The Nixon DoctrineThe Nixon Doctrine• By the summer of By the summer of 19691969, he , he

outlined the foreign policy known as outlined the foreign policy known as the Nixon Doctrine.the Nixon Doctrine.

• The Nixon Doctrine declared that the The Nixon Doctrine declared that the U.S. would honor its commitment to U.S. would honor its commitment to southeast Asia by supplying arms and southeast Asia by supplying arms and aid, but not troops, against direct or aid, but not troops, against direct or indirect communist aggression in the indirect communist aggression in the region.region.

• Nixon’s policy of turning the war over Nixon’s policy of turning the war over to the South Vietnamese was called to the South Vietnamese was called “Vietnamization.” However, it was “Vietnamization.” However, it was probably doomed from the start for probably doomed from the start for reasons that were apparent as far reasons that were apparent as far back as the Kennedy administration. back as the Kennedy administration. – The ARVN (South Vietnamese The ARVN (South Vietnamese

troops) were not the motivated troops) were not the motivated army needed to fight for the army needed to fight for the sovereignty of this new nation-sovereignty of this new nation-state the Americans were trying to state the Americans were trying to create. Furthermore, most create. Furthermore, most Vietnamese people were not Vietnamese people were not behind the Americans in this behind the Americans in this endeavor.endeavor.

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Nixon and the Antiwar Nixon and the Antiwar MovementMovement• In OctoberIn October,1969,1969, the first , the first

major moratorium on Vietnam major moratorium on Vietnam occurred – it was a national occurred – it was a national teach-in against the war teach-in against the war involving between two and involving between two and ten million Americans in ten million Americans in public protest across the public protest across the country. country.

• This protest enraged Nixon, This protest enraged Nixon, who vowed to ignore the who vowed to ignore the peace movement and accused peace movement and accused protesters of being traitors.protesters of being traitors.

• Nixon tried to scapegoat his Nixon tried to scapegoat his failed Vietnam policy on these failed Vietnam policy on these protesters, claiming the protesters, claiming the protesters kept the U.S. protesters kept the U.S. military from “victory.” military from “victory.”

The Moratorium on Vietnam march involved millions of people across the country. The march in the photo above occurred in Wisconsin. President Nixon’s reaction to the march further polarized the country and set the stage for the events of Kent State the next year.

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Events of Events of 19711971• Feb 8, 1971. ARVN troops, with Feb 8, 1971. ARVN troops, with

Nixon’s approval, crossed into Nixon’s approval, crossed into Laos but were driven back due to Laos but were driven back due to poor leadership within the ARVN poor leadership within the ARVN and other factors. This defeat and other factors. This defeat revealed the failure of the revealed the failure of the Vietnamization policy. Vietnamization policy.

• Nixon and Henry Kissinger work Nixon and Henry Kissinger work on an anti-ballistic missile treaty on an anti-ballistic missile treaty (ABM) with the Soviet Union. The (ABM) with the Soviet Union. The treaty would be signed in 1972. treaty would be signed in 1972. – Nixon’s détente policy was Nixon’s détente policy was

very popular around the very popular around the world. The Cold War was world. The Cold War was winding down.winding down.

• July 15, 1971. Nixon announced July 15, 1971. Nixon announced that he had been having secret that he had been having secret negotiations with the Peoples negotiations with the Peoples Republic of China (Red China) Republic of China (Red China) and that he would be visiting and that he would be visiting China soon. China soon.

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19721972• Nixon made his famous trip to China Nixon made his famous trip to China

in February of 1972. There, he in February of 1972. There, he officially recognized the PRC (Peoples officially recognized the PRC (Peoples Republic of China).Republic of China).

• Three months later Nixon traveled to Three months later Nixon traveled to the Soviet Union and signed the SALT the Soviet Union and signed the SALT I treaty. The basic principle was to I treaty. The basic principle was to maintain a equality in U.S. – Soviet maintain a equality in U.S. – Soviet arsenals. arsenals.

• By election day, Nixon was well By election day, Nixon was well situated. His ratings had improved situated. His ratings had improved since his trips to China and the Soviet since his trips to China and the Soviet Union, and the monthly Vietnam Union, and the monthly Vietnam casualty rate had fallen to only a few casualty rate had fallen to only a few dozen people.dozen people.– In November, 1972 there were In November, 1972 there were

only about 27,000 troops stationed only about 27,000 troops stationed in Vietnam.in Vietnam.

• Nixon authorized bombing raids on Nixon authorized bombing raids on strategic targets in North Vietnam, strategic targets in North Vietnam, including parts of Hanoi. including parts of Hanoi.

Nixon visits with Premier Chou En-Lai in China, 1972.

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The Election of 1972The Election of 1972• Nixon went into the election Nixon went into the election

with overall approval ratings with overall approval ratings above 50% and going up.above 50% and going up.

• His opponent was Senator His opponent was Senator George McGovern, a liberal George McGovern, a liberal antiwar candidate from South antiwar candidate from South Dakota who never got off on a Dakota who never got off on a good footing.good footing.

• Nixon won 61% of the popular Nixon won 61% of the popular vote, compared to 37% for vote, compared to 37% for McGovern.McGovern.– Nixon carried all but one state Nixon carried all but one state

(Massachusetts) in a landslide (Massachusetts) in a landslide victory.victory. George McGovern

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The End Game for NixonThe End Game for Nixon• Nixon’s response to the resurgent Nixon’s response to the resurgent

antiwar demonstrations in 1970 was antiwar demonstrations in 1970 was to order the CIA, the FBI and his own to order the CIA, the FBI and his own secret “dirty tricksters” to infiltrate secret “dirty tricksters” to infiltrate and sabotage the antiwar movement.and sabotage the antiwar movement.– The FBI was experienced in this The FBI was experienced in this

illegal subterfuge because of their illegal subterfuge because of their involvement with COINTELPRO, involvement with COINTELPRO, the illegal program used to the illegal program used to destroy the Black Panthers.destroy the Black Panthers.

• In 1971, Nixon created In 1971, Nixon created the the PlumbersPlumbers, a secret white house , a secret white house operation intended to sabotage his operation intended to sabotage his enemies – often by illegal means. enemies – often by illegal means.

• Increasingly, Nixon felt himself Increasingly, Nixon felt himself under siege by the protesters, a under siege by the protesters, a Democratic Congress, and a Democratic Congress, and a increasingly hostile pressincreasingly hostile press

• Nixon had built his career by lashing Nixon had built his career by lashing out at his enemies, and by the early out at his enemies, and by the early 1970s he began to cross the line 1970s he began to cross the line between legal and illegal power. between legal and illegal power.

E. Howard Hunt, above, and G. Gordon Liddy (below in a recent photo), were White House burglars. Liddy, a small-Liddy, a small-time crook who saw himself time crook who saw himself as a mastermind, as a mastermind, concocted burglary, concocted burglary, kidnapping, firebombing, kidnapping, firebombing, and other schemes against and other schemes against Nixon’s enemies.Nixon’s enemies. He’s now a favorite on FOX News and right wing radio.

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The Pentagon Papers, the Plumbers, & The Pentagon Papers, the Plumbers, & WatergateWatergate

• When the NY Times published the Pentagon When the NY Times published the Pentagon Papers in 1971 exposing Presidential lies Papers in 1971 exposing Presidential lies regarding Vietnam from the early period through regarding Vietnam from the early period through 1967, Nixon created the Plumbers to discredit 1967, Nixon created the Plumbers to discredit Daniel Ellsberg, the man who had provided them. Daniel Ellsberg, the man who had provided them.

• The Plumbers were charged with The Plumbers were charged with – Stopping government leaks, and Stopping government leaks, and – Discrediting Nixon’s enemies Discrediting Nixon’s enemies by any means by any means

necessarynecessary. They targeted Nixon’s political . They targeted Nixon’s political enemies, as well as members of the enemies, as well as members of the counterculture like Daniel Ellsberg. counterculture like Daniel Ellsberg.

• In June, 1972, the Plumbers were caught In June, 1972, the Plumbers were caught breaking into and bugging the Democratic breaking into and bugging the Democratic National Headquarters at its National Headquarters at its WatergateWatergate complex. complex.

• When Nixon learned of their bungled operation When Nixon learned of their bungled operation he immediately sought to cover it up and began he immediately sought to cover it up and began to obstruct the legal investigation into the break to obstruct the legal investigation into the break in. in.

• For this cover up, Nixon would be tried for For this cover up, Nixon would be tried for impeachment and would resign in 1974 to avoid a impeachment and would resign in 1974 to avoid a guilty verdict.guilty verdict.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aZ8vNagvks

Daniel Ellsberg exposed the top secret Pentagon Papers.

Watergate in Washington, DC.

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Nixon’s PersonalityNixon’s Personality• Nixon had a dual personality.Nixon had a dual personality.• On the one hand he was smart, poised, On the one hand he was smart, poised,

and reflective, while on the other hand and reflective, while on the other hand he was insecure, mean-spirited and he was insecure, mean-spirited and frightened. frightened.

• When the first personality reigned, When the first personality reigned, Nixon was at his best (ie China, Nixon was at his best (ie China, triangulation and détente), but when the triangulation and détente), but when the second personality reigned Nixon was at second personality reigned Nixon was at his paranoid worst. his paranoid worst. – Nixon was a drinker who allowed Nixon was a drinker who allowed

“Mr. Hyde” to come out to torment “Mr. Hyde” to come out to torment his enemies.his enemies.

• Tragically, it was mainly the second Tragically, it was mainly the second Nixon who controlled the White House Nixon who controlled the White House for the five year period after 1968. for the five year period after 1968. Perhaps Nixon even Perhaps Nixon even enjoyedenjoyed the politics the politics of polarization and repression. The of polarization and repression. The secret tape recordings – now publicly secret tape recordings – now publicly available - seem to suggest this.available - seem to suggest this.

President Nixon with an audio tape. The Watergate investigation exposed the existence of recorded audio conversations from the Oval Office. These tapes implicated Nixon in illegal activities – particularly obstruction of justice - and helped lead to his resignation.

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Nixon’s PersonalityNixon’s Personality• Nixon often privately spoke of Nixon often privately spoke of

“niggers,” “jigs,” and “jigaboos,” “niggers,” “jigs,” and “jigaboos,” and he constantly used 4-letter and he constantly used 4-letter words about his enemies.words about his enemies.

• It appears that Nixon was indeed It appears that Nixon was indeed somewhat unstable. He was prone somewhat unstable. He was prone to getting drunk, and while drunk to getting drunk, and while drunk he spoke of “nuking the commies.” he spoke of “nuking the commies.” – His aides feared that he was His aides feared that he was

literally becoming a “madman” so literally becoming a “madman” so James Schlesinger, his Defense James Schlesinger, his Defense Secretary, insisted that the Secretary, insisted that the Pentagon contact him for approval if Pentagon contact him for approval if Nixon ever ordered nuclear Nixon ever ordered nuclear weapons to be used. weapons to be used.

• Nixon came very close to Nixon came very close to subverting the democratic process. subverting the democratic process. Only the persistence of two Only the persistence of two Washington Post reporters exposed Washington Post reporters exposed the corruption of this “imperial the corruption of this “imperial Presidency.”Presidency.”

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Nixon’s Vietnam ControversyNixon’s Vietnam Controversy• While Nixon did reduce U.S. troops in While Nixon did reduce U.S. troops in

Vietnam, he also escalated the war in Vietnam, he also escalated the war in several ways. several ways. – He escalated the air war;He escalated the air war;– He widened the war into Cambodia and He widened the war into Cambodia and

Laos.Laos.• Nixon’s policies can be evaluated by Nixon’s policies can be evaluated by

their success in achieving specific their success in achieving specific goals for Vietnam policy:goals for Vietnam policy:– Goal 1: Nation building? Nixon’s Goal 1: Nation building? Nixon’s

policies created the impression that policies created the impression that South Vietnam could stand on its South Vietnam could stand on its own under Vietnamization. This own under Vietnamization. This goal was not met. Vietnamization goal was not met. Vietnamization was essentially a means for Nixon was essentially a means for Nixon to buy time while he pursued a to buy time while he pursued a treaty. He did not realize it would treaty. He did not realize it would take so long to get one.take so long to get one.

– Goal 2: An honorable extraction, Goal 2: An honorable extraction, even if it takes longer than a simple even if it takes longer than a simple unilateral withdrawal. “Peace with unilateral withdrawal. “Peace with honor.”honor.”

In this photo a South Vietnamese farmer holds his dead son while asking the ARVN soldiers, “Why?”

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Nixon’s ExitNixon’s Exit

• Ironically, Nixon Ironically, Nixon contributed to the contributed to the burn out that most burn out that most Americans felt by Americans felt by 1974, when he 1974, when he stepped down. stepped down.

• This burn out This burn out ultimately helped ultimately helped the conservatives, the conservatives, because most because most people were just too people were just too tired to continue tired to continue pushing for reforms.pushing for reforms. Nixon bids the nation farewell as he

boards a Presidential helicopter after resigning from office on August 9, 1974.