Nixon
Objective:Analyze the Presidency and the downfall of Nixon
Nixon
• Upon receiving the presidency in 1969, Nixon immediately sought certain goals:– Turn America in a more conservative direction– Reverse LBJ’s liberal policies– Restore America’s prestige on the world stage
—badly hit by Vietnam
Nixon
• Admittedly, Nixon preferred world affairs to domestic policy.
• “I’ve always thought this country could run itself domestically without a president.”
Realpolitik
• Nixon and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger adopted a new foreign policy.
• Realpolitik: based solely on consideration of power, not ideals or moral principles.
Realpolitik
• If a country was weak, it was more practical to ignore that country, even if it was Communist.
• A departure from the former confrontational policy of containment.
Realpolitik
• Also, Nixon adopted a more flexible approach in dealing with communist nations.
• Détente: aimed at easing Cold War tensions.
China
• Since 1949, the U.S. had not formally recognized the Chinese Communist government.
• In 1971, Nixon announced he would visit China to improve relations between the two countries.
China
• The visit had huge symbolic value, and was a huge success with the American people.
China
• The two nations agreed that neither would try to dominate the Pacific, they would participate in scientific and cultural exchanges, and settle disputes peacefully.
Moscow
• In 1972, Nixon traveled to Moscow, the first U.S. president to visit the Soviet Union.
Moscow
• Nixon and Brezhnev signed the SALT I Treaty, which limited the number of various missiles to 1972 levels.
Moscow
• The foreign policy triumphs with China and the Soviet Union helped reelect Nixon in 1972.
Downfall
• By 1972, the executive branch was the most powerful branch of government.
• The Great Depression, WWII, and the Cold War all led to greater presidential power.
Downfall
• Nixon gave little thought to constitutional checks and balances.
• “A president must not be one of the crowd.”
Downfall
• Nixon distanced himself from Congress, and confided in a small, loyal group of advisers.
• White House chief of staff H.R. Haldeman
• Chief domestic advisor John Ehrlichman
• Attorney general John Mitchell
Downfall
• Nixon and his men felt they were somehow above the law.
Watergate
• At 2:30 am, on June 17, 1972, a guard at the Watergate hotel caught five men breaking into the headquarters of the Democratic Party.
Watergate
• The burglars planned to photograph Democrat Party documents and wiretap office telephones.
Cover-Up
• The burglary was soon linked to Nixon’s advisors.
• The cover-up quickly began.
• White House workers shredded incriminating documents.
Cover-Up
• Nixon urged the FBI to stop investigating the burglary on the grounds of national security.
• $450,000 were given to the burglars to buy their silence.
Cover-Up
• At first, the cover-up worked.
• Nixon easily defeated George McGovern in the election of 1972.
Cover-Up
• In January 1973, the trial of the burglars began.
• A letter was sent to the judge that the Nixon administration had been involved in the break-in.
Cover-Up
• Nixon’s advisors resigned or were fired.
• Nixon went on TV and denied any cover-up.
Cover-Up
• By May 1973, the Senate began its own investigation of Watergate.
• Millions of Americans watched as the “president’s men” testified one after another.
Cover-Up
• “What did the president know and when did he know it?”
• Source: Nixon had taped all of his presidential conversations.
Cover-Up
• A year-long battle for the “Nixon tapes” followed.
• Nixon refused to reveal the tapes.
Cover-Up
• Also, Vice President Spiro Agnew resigns after it is revealed he accepted bribes as Governor of Maryland, and as V.P.
• Gerald Ford becomes new V.P.
Resignation
• By March 1974, seven presidential aides were indicted on charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and perjury.
Resignation
• Even without the tapes, Congress had enough evidence to impeach Nixon.
• Charges of obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of Congress.
• Nixon: “I am not a crook.”
Resignation
• Finally, a tape was released, revealing that Nixon knew about the burglary, and helped plan the cover-up.
Resignation
• On August 8, 1974, before he could be impeached, Nixon resigned.
• Gerald Ford became the 38th president.
Legacy
• 25 members of the Nixon Administration served prison terms for their crimes.
• After Vietnam and Watergate, the public developed a cynicism about government that still exists today.