24.1 Nixon’s Presidency

24.1 NIXON’S PRESIDENCY

NIXON AT HOME• New Federalism attempted to give more power

to the states & local govts.• “revenue sharing” allows states and locals to

choose how to spend federal govt. dollars• Both liberals and conservatives opposed his

Family Assistance Plan (FAP)• Would require unemployed people to work, but

would guarantee them govt. payments too.

NIXON AT HOME• With a liberal Congress, he increased Social

Sec., Medicare, Medicaid• But cut other liberal programs that helped

the poor, women, minorities• His “law and order” politics appealed to

middle class white voters…• But sometimes involved illegal FBI and CIA

actions

NIXON AT HOME• Nixon’s “Southern Strategy” flipped

conservative Democrats to the Republicans• He allowed many conservative southern

states to slow down the process of school desegregation

NIXON AT HOME• As Supreme Court Justices retired/died, he replaced

them with more conservative ones• But they sometimes made liberal decisions• The “Swann” decision said districts could bus their

students across town to combat de facto segregation• For the most part, busing has been abandoned over

the years, highly unpopular

FIGHTING “STAGFLATION”• High inflation was caused

by high govt. spending• High unemployment caused

by increased foreign competition (“outsourcing jobs”)

FIGHTING “STAGFLATION”• OPEC (oil-rich countries)

cut off oil to us 1973-1974• Price of gas went up

400%• Nixon was unable to

combat “stagflation”

NIXON ABROAD• Nixon and Kissinger decided to actually

start talking with Communist countries• We shifted our focus towards powerful

countries, not weak ones like Vietnam• Overall, they worked towards détente,

easing tensions with Commies

NIXON ABROAD• Nixon’s week in China in 1972 allowed us to

start creating business ties with them• Also just improve “friendliness” (ping pong

scene from Forest Gump, anyone?)• Nixon’s visit to Moscow led to the SALT I treaty

• This limited certain types of missiles (but not the total # of nukes)