The Stalemated Seventies1968-1980

#37. #37. Richard Richard Nixon Nixon

(1969-74)(1969-74)

broad knowledge and expertise in world affairsbroad knowledge and expertise in world affairs solitary and suspicious by naturesolitary and suspicious by nature brittle and testy in the face of oppositionbrittle and testy in the face of opposition harbored bitter resentments against the “liberal harbored bitter resentments against the “liberal

establishment (appealed to “Silent Majority”)establishment (appealed to “Silent Majority”)

Foreign Foreign PolicyPolicy

Nixon with Nixon with Soviet Premier Soviet Premier

Leonid Leonid BrezhnevBrezhnev

Nixon Doctrine promotes withdrawal and Nixon Doctrine promotes withdrawal and “Vietnamization”“Vietnamization”

détente with USSR leads to Anti-Ballistic Missile détente with USSR leads to Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM)Treaty (ABM)

SALT talks limit long-range nuclear missiles for 5 SALT talks limit long-range nuclear missiles for 5 yearsyears

Shanghai Communique attempts to normalize China-Shanghai Communique attempts to normalize China-U.S. relations (February 1972)U.S. relations (February 1972)

““Nixon goes to China” begins “One China Policy”Nixon goes to China” begins “One China Policy” ordered bombing of Cambodia to hit Vietnamese troopsordered bombing of Cambodia to hit Vietnamese troops support for Israel during Yom Kippur War = oil embargosupport for Israel during Yom Kippur War = oil embargo

Foreign Foreign PolicyPolicy

Nixon with Nixon with Premier Chou Premier Chou

En-LaiEn-Lai

College students after Kent State, May 1970

While many older Americans supported the actions of the Ohio National Guard, students across the country boycotted classes and forced hundreds of campuses to shut down. Some continued to protest during graduation at the University of Massachusetts. ((c) Bettmann/Corbis)

Nixon at HomeNixon at Home 2626thth Amendment lowers voting age to 18 (1971) Amendment lowers voting age to 18 (1971) conservative Warren Burger Court passes Roe v. Wade (1973)conservative Warren Burger Court passes Roe v. Wade (1973) significant expansion of welfare programs (food stamps, Medicaid)significant expansion of welfare programs (food stamps, Medicaid) Philadelphia Plan requires quotas in minority hiringPhiladelphia Plan requires quotas in minority hiring created EPA and OSHAcreated EPA and OSHA

Nixon at HomeNixon at Home took U.S. off gold standardtook U.S. off gold standard

imposed 90-day wage and price freeze (1971)imposed 90-day wage and price freeze (1971) 55 MPH speed limit and Alaska oil pipeline55 MPH speed limit and Alaska oil pipeline

Title IX (1972)Title IX (1972) Watergate results in resignationWatergate results in resignation

Nixon’s Resignation Speech (1974. Archive Films.)

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#38. Gerald R. Ford #38. Gerald R. Ford (1974-77)(1974-77)

first president to take office first president to take office by vote of Congressby vote of Congress

widely suspected of being a widely suspected of being a dim-witted former athletedim-witted former athlete

handicapped by pardon of handicapped by pardon of NixonNixon

presided over evacuation of presided over evacuation of VietnamVietnam

Helsinki accords legitimize Helsinki accords legitimize post-WWII Europe and post-WWII Europe and promotes liberal loosening promotes liberal loosening by Sovietsby Soviets

held together held together constitutionality of constitutionality of presidency and governmentpresidency and government

#39. Jimmy Carter #39. Jimmy Carter (1977-81)(1977-81)

former governor of GA former governor of GA who emerged from who emerged from obscurity during primariesobscurity during primaries

peanut farmer and born-peanut farmer and born-again Baptistagain Baptist

attracted voters as an attracted voters as an outsider who would clean outsider who would clean househouse

created new cabinet-level created new cabinet-level Department of EnergyDepartment of Energy

cut taxescut taxes pardoned some 10,000 pardoned some 10,000

draft evaders from draft evaders from Vietnam eraVietnam era

Camp David AccordsOne of President Carter's greatest triumphs was the signing of the 1978 peace accords between President Anwar Sadat of Egypt (left) and Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel (right). The agreement followed days of personal diplomacy by Carter at the Camp David presidential retreat. Both Sadat and Begin received the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts. (Jimmy Carter Presidential Library)

successfully promotes turning Panama Canal over to Panama by 2000successfully promotes turning Panama Canal over to Panama by 2000 humanitarian diplomacy champions oppressed black minorities in humanitarian diplomacy champions oppressed black minorities in

Rhodesian and South AfricaRhodesian and South Africa Camp David Accords make peace with Egypt and Israel (September 17, Camp David Accords make peace with Egypt and Israel (September 17,

1978)1978) full diplomatic relations resume with China (1979)full diplomatic relations resume with China (1979) SALT II agreements limit levels of lethal strategic weapons (1979)SALT II agreements limit levels of lethal strategic weapons (1979)

Carter inauguration dayOn inauguration day, President Jimmy Carter (b. 1924) and his wife Rosalyn caught the public's fancy by walking from the Capitol to the White House. Despite this symbolic beginning, Carter became increasingly isolated both from the American people and from Congress. (Jimmy Carter Presidential Library)

inflation rate hit 13% by 1979inflation rate hit 13% by 1979 imported oil prices sent U.S. balance of trade into $40 billion deficitimported oil prices sent U.S. balance of trade into $40 billion deficit ““oil shocks” limit American energy independenceoil shocks” limit American energy independence energy conservation legislation met with indifferenceenergy conservation legislation met with indifference challenged U.S. to overcome its “moral and spiritual malaise”challenged U.S. to overcome its “moral and spiritual malaise” Iran hostage crisis paralyzes administrationIran hostage crisis paralyzes administration boycott of Moscow Summer Olympics unpopular (1980)boycott of Moscow Summer Olympics unpopular (1980)