FORD and CARTER FORD and CARTER YearsYears

““The Ford and The Ford and Carter YearsCarter Years””

1974 to 1981

The Ford and Carter administrations The Ford and Carter administrations attempt to remedy the nations worst attempt to remedy the nations worst economic crisis in years.economic crisis in years.

I.) I.) Tough Road AheadTough Road Ahead

A.A. President Ford faces:President Ford faces:

1. 1. Rough EconomyRough Economy

a. high inflationa. high inflation

b. high unemploymentb. high unemployment

c. energy problemsc. energy problems

d. public distrust of d. public distrust of govt.govt.On the Watergate Scandal:“ Our long national nightmare is over”

After becoming vice president:“I’m a Ford, not a Lincoln”

II.) II.) Ford’s PolicyFord’s PolicyA.A. September 8, 1974September 8, 1974: : President President

Ford pardon’s NixonFord pardon’s Nixon

B.B. Economy:Economy:

1. “1. “Whip Inflation NowWhip Inflation Now” (WIN): ” (WIN): Ford calls Americans to cut back Ford calls Americans to cut back use of oil and gasuse of oil and gas

2. “2. “Tight Money PolicyTight Money Policy”: cut ”: cut govt. spending & higher interest govt. spending & higher interest ratesrates

OutcomeOutcome: worst economic : worst economic recession in 40 yearsrecession in 40 years

Tries to WIN: Whip inflation nowTries to WIN: Whip inflation now

Asks public to cut back on oil consumptionAsks public to cut back on oil consumption

Cuts government spendingCuts government spending

Increases interest ratesIncreases interest rates

Ford pardons NixonFord pardons Nixon

Sept. 1974 Ford pardons Nixon of all Sept. 1974 Ford pardons Nixon of all chargescharges

Very unpopular move in the publicVery unpopular move in the public

Appoints: Dick Cheney Chief of StaffAppoints: Dick Cheney Chief of Staff

Alan Greenspan as Chairman of the Alan Greenspan as Chairman of the Federal Reserve boardFederal Reserve board

Bush as head of CIABush as head of CIA

Ford’s Foreign PolicyFord’s Foreign Policy

Continues Nixon’s ideas, meets with China Continues Nixon’s ideas, meets with China and Soviet Unionand Soviet Union

Helsinki Accords: Recognized European Helsinki Accords: Recognized European boundaries/ recognized Human Rightsboundaries/ recognized Human Rights

South Vietnam surrenders to North in South Vietnam surrenders to North in 19751975

C.C. Foreign Policy:Foreign Policy:

1. 1. Henry KissingerHenry Kissinger remains secretary of state remains secretary of state

2. 2. DétenteDétente: negotiates with China & Soviet Union: negotiates with China & Soviet Union

3. 3. Helsinki AccordsHelsinki Accords: 35 nations agree to cooperation: 35 nations agree to cooperation

OutcomeOutcome: Ford’s greatest accomplishment: Ford’s greatest accomplishment

4. South Vietnam surrenders; Congress sends no aide4. South Vietnam surrenders; Congress sends no aide

III.) III.) Election of 1976Election of 1976

Republican Nominee:Gerald Ford

Democrat Nominee:Jimmy Carter

Election Day Results: Jimmy Carter wins with 40.8 million votes to Gerald Fords 39.1 million

“I will never lie to the American people”

Carter yearsCarter years

Outsider as PresidentOutsider as President

Granted amnesty to Vietnam draft dodgersGranted amnesty to Vietnam draft dodgers

Time of severe energy crisisTime of severe energy crisis

President during the “me decade”President during the “me decade”

SALT IISALT II

Sanctions led to Olympic Boycott in 1980Sanctions led to Olympic Boycott in 1980

Carter Carter

Christian FundamentalistsChristian Fundamentalists

““citizens” Presidentcitizens” President

Fitness decadeFitness decade

TV shows of 70s TV shows of 70s

Carter Faces ProblemsCarter Faces Problems

A.A. Energy CrisisEnergy Crisis::

1. reliance on foreign oil1. reliance on foreign oil

Outcome: Outcome: National Energy Act of 1979National Energy Act of 1979

B.B. Economic CrisisEconomic Crisis::

1. violence in Middle East produces fuel shortage in U.S.1. violence in Middle East produces fuel shortage in U.S.

2. inflation rises from 7.6% to 11.3% in 1979; 14% 19802. inflation rises from 7.6% to 11.3% in 1979; 14% 1980

3. Standard of living goes from 13. Standard of living goes from 1stst to 5 to 5thth place in world place in world

3. Changing Economy3. Changing Economy

a. less manufacturing and more service jobsa. less manufacturing and more service jobs

b. overseas competition b. overseas competition

Carter’s PolicyCarter’s PolicyCivil RightsCivil Rights::

1. administration include 1. administration include more African-Americans and more African-Americans and women than any before women than any before

. . Human Rights & Foreign PolicyHuman Rights & Foreign Policy::

1. rejected “Realpolitik”1. rejected “Realpolitik”

2. use moral principles as guide (Wilson)2. use moral principles as guide (Wilson)

3. commit to promoting human rights3. commit to promoting human rightsCarters human rights policies end Carters human rights policies end Détente & raise Cold War tensionsDétente & raise Cold War tensions 1. 1. Soviet invasion of AfghanistanSoviet invasion of Afghanistan 2. 2. SALT II SALT II signed by Carter/Brezhnev signed by Carter/Brezhnev but not ratified by Senatebut not ratified by Senate

. Establishing Human Rights Foreign Policy:. Establishing Human Rights Foreign Policy:1. 1977 1. 1977 U.S. & Panama Treaty U.S. & Panama Treaty

(U.S. give up ownership of Panama Canal Dec. 31. (U.S. give up ownership of Panama Canal Dec. 31. 1999)1999)

OutcomeOutcome: improves U.S.-Latin American : improves U.S.-Latin American RelationsRelations

Camp David Accords:1. 1977: peace negotiations begin

between Israel (Menachem Begin) and Egypt (Anwar el-Sadat)

2. 1978: Carter, Sadat, & Begin meet at Camp David & agree to agreement- Israel withdraws from Sinai- & Egypt recognizes Israel

Iran Hostage CrisisIran Hostage Crisis::

1. 1. Jan. 1979Jan. 1979: : revolution in Iran revolution in Iran overthrows the overthrows the shah of Iran shah of Iran with with Ayatollah Ruhollah KhomeiniAyatollah Ruhollah Khomeini2. 2. Nov. 4, 1979Nov. 4, 1979: 52 Americans taken : 52 Americans taken hostage from U.S. embassy in Tehranhostage from U.S. embassy in Tehran3. 3. OutcomeOutcome: negotiations for 444 days : negotiations for 444 days result in release Jan. 20, 1981 result in release Jan. 20, 1981

Olympic boycottOlympic boycott

61 nation boycott over Soviet Invasion of 61 nation boycott over Soviet Invasion of AfghanistanAfghanistan

Field hockey was supposed to be a big Field hockey was supposed to be a big winner not the ice hockey winner not the ice hockey

Iranian Hostage affairIranian Hostage affair

Shah come to US for medical treatmentShah come to US for medical treatment

Ayatollah Khomeini (Islamic Cleric) Ayatollah Khomeini (Islamic Cleric)

66 Americans take hostage from embassy66 Americans take hostage from embassy

Environmental activismEnvironmental activism

Earth DayEarth Day

EPAEPA

35 laws created over the environment35 laws created over the environment

Alaskan pipelineAlaskan pipeline

Carter sets aside 56 million acres and Carter sets aside 56 million acres and Congress adds another Congress adds another

100million100million

Nuclear PowerNuclear Power

Use of nuclear power plantsUse of nuclear power plants

1979 Three Mile Island1979 Three Mile Island Nuclear Regulatory Commission strengthens Nuclear Regulatory Commission strengthens

inspectionsinspections

Three Mile IslandThree Mile Island

ChernobylChernobyl

The Chernobyl accident in 1986 was the The Chernobyl accident in 1986 was the result of a flawed reactor design that result of a flawed reactor design that was operated with inadequately trained was operated with inadequately trained personnel.personnel.

The resulting steam explosion and fires The resulting steam explosion and fires released at least 5% of the radioactive released at least 5% of the radioactive reactor core into the atmosphere and reactor core into the atmosphere and downwinddownwind

Two Chernobyl plant workers died on Two Chernobyl plant workers died on the night of the accident, and a further the night of the accident, and a further 28 people died within a few weeks as a 28 people died within a few weeks as a result of acute radiation poisoningresult of acute radiation poisoning

Chernobyl Extreme ToursChernobyl Extreme Tours