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