President Nixon

Richard M. Nixon

• Party: Republican

• Years in Office:• 1969-1974• Why did he

leave office?• Resigned to

avoid impeachment

• One of Nixon’s top priorities was to decrease the size and influence of the federal government.

• Nixon felt like the New Frontier and the Great Society gave the government too much responsibility

• Nixon’s plan called New Federalism would distribute federal responsibilities to the states.

Domestic Policy: New Federalism

• To attract white voters in the south, Nixon decided on a policy of slowing the country’s desegregation efforts.

Domestic Policy:Nixon and Civil Rights

• Nixon attempted to stop the integration of schools through busing.

• In Swann v. CMS the Supreme court ruled that schools could use bussing to desegregate schools.

• Nixon urged Congress on TV to halt the practice

Domestic Policy:Controversy over Busing

• Vietnamization: Nixon and Harry Kissinger’s plan to gradually withdraw American troops so South Vietnam could take on more responsibility

• Paris Peace Accords: A cease-fire agreement

between the north and south that ended American involvement in Vietnam

Foreign Policy: Vietnam

• Détente: Nixon and Kissinger’s policy to ease Cold War tensions

• A less confrontational strategy that allowed the government to take a more flexible approach to communist governments

Foreign Policy:Détente

The Cold War Begins to Thaw!

• Nixon sought to “normalize relationships with China”

• This trip was a huge success for Nixon as it opened the door for economic opportunities in China and was viewed positively by the public.

Foreign Policy: Nixon Goes to China!

• Nixon is the 1st US president to visit the USSR

• Negotiates the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT), a 5 year agreement to limit the number of missiles between the 2 countries

Foreign Policy: Nixon even goes to the USSR!

The Fall of Richard Nixon