The Rise of Richard Nixon Unit 5 Lesson 8 (Sections 32.1 & 32.2)
Jan 03, 2016
The Rise of Richard NixonUnit 5Lesson 8(Sections 32.1 & 32.2)
Objectives•Identify how Nixon’s personality impacted
his administration.•Explain how Nixon’s domestic policies
differed from his Democratic predecessors.
•Analyze Nixon’s role in reducing Cold War tensions.
Warm Up:
•What was Nixon’s campaign promise?
•Peace w/honor abroad
•Law & order at home Click to play
The Nixon Administration
• “Imperial presidency”
• The President’s Men▫ HR Haldeman- Chief of Staff▫ John Erlichman- Domestic
Advisor▫ John Mitchell- Attorney
General▫ John Dean- Presidential
Counsel▫ Henry Kissinger- Secretary of
State
Domestic Agenda– “New Conservatism”
•Problem 1: Economy▫Inflation and unemployment on rise▫Dependence on foreign oil (prices ↑)
•Solutions▫Raise taxes and cut budget▫Deficit spending▫Price & wage controls
•OPEC Oil Embargo results in recession… unavoidable!
Problem 2:•Size of Federal Government
▫Great Society- Too much fed responsibility Did increase Soc Sec, Medicare, and Medicaid!
▫Welfare inefficient•Solutions
▫New Federalism- share certain responsibilities w/states Revenue Sharing
▫Impoundment- Withheld fed $ for programs he didn’t like (unconstitutional)
Problem 3:•Domestic Upheaval
▫Antiwar Protestors, Student Radicals, Counterculture
▫Press leaks ▫Rising crime, growing drug use▫Liberal Ct and Brown II – speedy desegregation
•Solutions▫ Justice Dept Wiretaps, FBI investigations, IRS
audits, “Enemies List”▫VP Spiro Agnew- Vocal lashings of media and
liberals▫“Southern Strategy” – opposed extending VRA,
interfered w/desegregation via busing▫Appointed 4 conservative SC justices (Warren
Burger)
A New Foreign Policy
•Henry Kissinger▫Realpolitik –
evaluate nation’s power, not political ideals
•Détente▫Relaxing tension
w/Communist nations
Ping Pong Diplomacy & China
•’70 shouldn’t isolate China
•‘71 end travel ban & trade embargo
•’72 Visit (1st Pres ever)Click to play
Détente with the Soviet Union
•’72 Visit to Moscow
•Brezhnev▫Explore space▫Ease trade limits▫Nuclear weapons
pact SALT I
Peace With Honor in Vietnam
•Vietnamization▫Gradual withdraw
US troops
• Increased scope▫Laos & Cambodia
= protest at home
•Paris Peace Accords Jan 1973 Click for video
Activity
•32.1 & 32.2 Quizzes
Closure• How did Nixon’s
personality impact his administration? • Withdrawn, Secretive &
Insecure = Small group advisors
• Believed in power of govt, law & order, respect
• Hated to lose = Enemies list, Vietnam, Watergate…