Modern Presidencies-Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Bush I
Or, stuff you almost lived through
President FordPresident Ford
Spiro Agnew resigned in 1973 as Vice President Richard Nixon resigned in 1975; Ford chose
Nelson Rockefeller as his Vice President; neither were elected
Ford pardoned Nixon; country was against the pardon
Economy in recession with high inflation and unemployment; stagflation
War Powers Act: (1) notify Congress within 48 hours if send troops (2) troops stay overseas 60 days without Congressional approval (3) Congress can bring troops home by passing a concurrent resolution
Ford Presidency (1974-1977) Never elected to the executive branch Pardons Nixon 1 month after Nixon resigns Brings 140,000 Vietnamese refugees to
America Whip Inflation Now (WIN) and vetoes of
social program spending bills to lower inflation (Inflation drops from 12% to 5%)
Helsinki Accords (human rights)
Ford Being Rushed to Safety after Assassination Attempt
Manson Family Member, Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, and Sara Jane Moore both tried to shoot Ford (he was unharmed both times)
Foreign PolicyForeign Policy
North Vietnam took over South Vietnam
American airlift rescued thousands of Americans and Vietnamese
Helsinki Accords, U.S., Canada, Soviet Union, and 30 European nations pledge to cooperate
Election of 1976
Republican Democrat
Candidates Gerald R. Ford(240)
Jimmy Carter(297)
Issues Inflation ControlExperience
HonestyWashington
Outsider
Carter’s Domestic Issues
Inflation was 10 percent Created the Department of Energy to help save
fuel Three Mile Island – partial meltdown of the core
occurred, releasing some radiation Nuclear industry suffered Amnesty granted to those who had evaded the
draft during the Vietnam War Civil Rights Affirmative action
Carter’s Foreign Policies
Soviet invasion of Afghanistan Friction with the Soviet Union – SALTII treaty withdrawn
from Senate Sanctions – boycott of 1980 Summer Olympic games held
in Moscow Mariel boatlift – Cubans allowed to come to U.S., some
were criminals Returned the Panama Canal to Panama in 199 Iran seizes American Hostages – Ayatollah Khomeini
Carter Presidency
SALT II Treaty (not ratified by Senate) Iran Hostage Crisis Camp David Accords (Egypt & Israel) Inflation back up (12%) Department of Energy Panama Canal Zone Treaty (return
control to Panama in 2000)
Images of the Carter Years
Election of 1980
Republican Democrat
Candidates Ronald Reagan(489)
Jimmy Carter(49)
Issues Cut the size of the fed. Government
Iran Hostages“Common Man”
Camp David AccordsReagan is trigger
happyMinority Rights
Reagan Presidency
Marine base bombing in Lebanon Troops to Grenada (to free medical students and
overthrow oppressive gov) “Star Wars” (Strategic Defense Initiative) Iran-Contra Scandal Tax reform and “supply-side” economics Huge budget deficits Sandra Day O’Conner appointed to Supreme Court (but
no real support for feminism) Assassination attempt (John Hinckley) Ending the Cold War (glasnost and perestroika with
Gorbachev) “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”
Election of 1984
Democrat Republican
Candidates Walter Mondale (and Geraldine
Ferraro)(13)
Ronald Reagan (and George H.W.
Bush)(525)
Issues Social ProgramsWomen’s Rights
ReaganomicsImproved economyTough on commies
Federal Defense Spending, 1978-1990CHART
Images of the Reagan Years
Election of 1988
Republican Democrat
Candidates George H.W. Bush(426)
Michael Dukakis
(112)
Issues Strong MilitaryPro-life
“No new taxes”
Military cut-backsSocial programs
George Bush
Bush I Presidency Panama Invasion and arrest of Gen Manuel Noriega Noriega was tried on eight counts of drug trafficking
racketeering, and money laundering in April 1992. Noriega's US prison sentence ended in September 2007; pending the outcome of extradition requests by both Panama and France, he remaining prison as of May 200
End of Communism (Berlin Wall, USSR Break-up) Persian Gulf War 8/2/1990 Desert Storm & Kuwait Recession and Tax Increase China Revolt (Tiananmen Square) L.A. Riots Quayle Fact- “potatoe” & other missteps AMERICA NO BAMA
Images of Bush I
Standards Element: SSUSH25.e Explain the relationship between Congress and President Bill
Clinton including the North American Free Trade Agreement and his impeachment and acquittal.
Element: SSUSH25.f Analyze the 2000 presidential election and its outcome
emphasizing the role of the electoral college. Element: SSUSH25.g Analyze the response of President George W. Bush to the
attacks of September 11, 2001 on the United States, the war against terrorism, and the subsequent American interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Bill Clinton Bill Clinton
Governor of Arkansas Ran for President in
1992 against George Bush
Accused of having a mistress and being a draft dodger
“Did not inhale”H. Ross Perot, third
party candidate
Clinton’s First TermClinton’s First Term
Economy – spending cuts and tax increases
Health care – Hillary appointed to analyze problem; suggested government-supervised insurance program; defeated in Congress
Republicans’ Contract with AmericaRepublicans’ Contract with America
Newt Gingrich, Georgia representative; scale back federal government
1994, voters elected Republicans to Congress; balanced budget, welfare reform; government shut down; Republicans blamed
Mrs Tummins was my best student ever
Clinton’s Second TermClinton’s Second Term
1996 Campaign – Clinton vs. Bob Dole (Ross Perot will get 8%)
Clinton wins due to strong economy
Congress raises minimum wagePasses NAFTA-(North American
Free Trade Agreement) mostly with Mexico
ScandalsScandals
Whitewater Affair – fraudulent loans and land deals in Arkansas
Illegal campaign donations from foreign nations
Monica Lewinsky 1998, House impeached Clinton;
acquited by the Senate
George W. BushGeorge W. Bush
Elected 2000Democrat Al Gore
challenged the election
9/11Iraq WarElection of 2004 –
defeated John KerryHurricane KatrinaElection of 2008
The George W. Bush PresidencyThe George W. Bush Presidency
What was the impact of Bush’s domestic agenda and his response to the terrorist attack against the U.S.?
Vocabulary: -George W. Bush Taliban -Bush v. Gore Patriot
Act -Afghanistan WMD -No Child Left Behind Act -Department of Homeland Security
The George W. Bush Presidency An Election Controversy
Main Idea: The 2000 presidential election between Al Gore and George W. Bush resulted in such a close vote that a recount was needed and the Supreme Court had to intervene.
Bush Launches an Ambitious Agenda
Main Idea: Bush’s priorities were tax cuts to stimulate the economy, as well as addressing education and the needs of senior citizens.
The United States Is Attacked
Main Idea: On September 11, 2001, a foreign enemy attacked the United States for the first time since Pearl Harbor when terrorists crashed planes into the World Trade Center
and the Pentagon.
America’s War on Terrorism
Main Idea: American officials determined that Osama Bin Laden was responsible for the attacks and quickly sent American forces to the region, made attempts to improve
domestic security, and expanded the “war on terror” to Iraq.
Continued...
Landslide Election results
Electoral votesFor Obama
365
Electoral votes for McCain
173
44th president
Barack Obama
Election of 2008 First African American President Economic Recession Government intervention in business Setting the end of Iraq military
deployment