Richard Nixon 37th President
Republican1969-1974
• Vice President 1953-1961
• Lost 1960 Presidential Election to JFK
• Won Presidential Elections in 1968 +1972
• Promised to end Vietnam War “Peace with Honor” and bring “law and order” back for the “Silent Majority” Middle Class Americans
The70’s Economy
• Inflation-increase in prices, reducing the ability to buy.
• OPEC- these oil producing nations placed an embargo on oil to US for support of its ally Israel
• Higher prices led to less buying, leading to job losses.
Nixon and The Cold War
• Eases tensions of the Cold War through a policy of Détente
• Along w/ his Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, he decides to visit China + USSR
Nixon in China
• In February 1972 Nixon becomes the first US President to visit China
• He meets with Mao Zedong and the nations agree to scientific and cultural exchanges
Nixon visits USSR
• 1972 Visits USSR its leader Leonid Brezhnev
• The result of the visit was a treaty limiting the number of Nuclear weapons each nation would produce
• SALT I Treaty-Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty
WATERGATE SCANDAL
• 1968 election he defeated LBJ’s Vice President Hubert Humphrey
• 1972 election he defeated South Dakota Senator George McGovern 520 to 17 electoral votes, 62% popular vote
Dirty Tricks• The Committee to Re-
elect the President (CREEP) was looking for “dirt” on McGovern and broke into the Democratic National headquarters in the Watergate Towers Complex
• While they were planting their “bugs” a security guard discovered them.
The Crime
• Creep members informed Nixon of the break in and arrests.
• Nixon ordered the committee to deny any association with the “burglars” which is a federal crime.
• Nixon and his staff then tried to “cover up the cover up”
The Investigation
• Two journalists from The Washington Post Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein had found links to Nixon and the break in.
The Cover Up
• Nixon had a tape machine set up in the oval office.
• When the Supreme Court asks for these tapes as part of the governments investigation Nixon refused on the grounds of Executive Privilege.
• The Supreme Court ordered Nixon to turn over tapes. US v. Nixon
Nixon’s Demise
• When Nixon finally turned over the tapes to the House of Representatives 18 ½ minutes had been “accidentally” erased.
• Before the House could vote to impeach Nixon resigned
August 9,1974
• On national television Nixon informs the nation that he is resigning from the Presidency.
• The first and only to do so.
Nixon Leaving White House
Results/Effects of Watergate
• People will have less trust in government and politicians.
• It proved the nation is a nation of laws not individuals.
• Even the President must follow the law.
• Gerald Ford becomes 38th President of the United States
The Accidental President?
1994 Nixon Dies at age 81