From Nixon’s Watergate toFrom Nixon’s Watergate toBush’s WMDBush’s WMD

Our last push through U.S. HistoryOur last push through U.S. History

(students may use notes from (students may use notes from THISTHIS PowerPoint on the Final.PowerPoint on the Final.

Items in Items in RED RED are taken directly from the test)are taken directly from the test)

June 1972: break-in at the DNCJune 1972: break-in at the DNC Group was going to photograph strategic documents Group was going to photograph strategic documents

& plant “bugs”& plant “bugs” Leader was discovered to be former CIA but also Leader was discovered to be former CIA but also

Security Coord. For group called Security Coord. For group called The Committee to The Committee to Reelect the PresidentReelect the President (Nixon) (Nixon)

COVER UP!!COVER UP!! Shredded documentsShredded documents President’s office asked the CIA to urge the FBI to President’s office asked the CIA to urge the FBI to

back off of the investigationback off of the investigation Bought people off to keep em silentBought people off to keep em silent

Nixon reelected in November 1972Nixon reelected in November 1972

Trial of Watergate burglars beginsTrial of Watergate burglars begins Cover-up exposed! Cover-up exposed!

People admit to lying under oathPeople admit to lying under oath Trail starts to lead back to White House officialsTrail starts to lead back to White House officials Judge wants tapes (audio recordings) that have come Judge wants tapes (audio recordings) that have come

up (Spygate much?)up (Spygate much?)

• Nixon refuses to hand over. Even defies subpoenasNixon refuses to hand over. Even defies subpoenas• SATURDAY NIGHT MASSACRE: A few key White House SATURDAY NIGHT MASSACRE: A few key White House

officials resign instead of being forced to testify; the officials resign instead of being forced to testify; the prosecutor is fired b/c he can’t get tapes.prosecutor is fired b/c he can’t get tapes.

The House of Reps begins to look atThe House of Reps begins to look atpossibility impeachment hearingspossibility impeachment hearings

Vice-President resigns when he’s exposedVice-President resigns when he’s exposedfor taking bribes throughout his politicalfor taking bribes throughout his politicalcareer.career.

1974: 1974: July: House passes 3 articles of Impeachment, July: House passes 3 articles of Impeachment,

charging Nixon with: obstruction of justice, abuse of charging Nixon with: obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of Congress for refusing to power, and contempt of Congress for refusing to obey the subpoenasobey the subpoenas

Aug 5: Nixon releases the tapes…sort ofAug 5: Nixon releases the tapes…sort of• Many gaps…including one 18 ½ min gapMany gaps…including one 18 ½ min gap• Proof: not only had the prez known about Proof: not only had the prez known about

administration’s role in burglary, he’d agreed to cover administration’s role in burglary, he’d agreed to cover up plan up plan

Aug 8: Nixon resigns, Aug 8: Nixon resigns, admitting no guiltadmitting no guilt

President FordPresident Ford pardons pardonsNixon barely a month later.Nixon barely a month later.

Lasting effects of Watergate?Lasting effects of Watergate? Public cynicism about governmentPublic cynicism about government

Any success for Nixon?Any success for Nixon? Normalized relations with China. Normalized relations with China.

Batting next for the Presidency is…Batting next for the Presidency is…

GeraldGerald

Ford Ford

U.S. economy gone from bad to worseU.S. economy gone from bad to worse Tries to improve things but Democratic Congress & Tries to improve things but Democratic Congress &

lack of incentives for Americans keep his plans lack of incentives for Americans keep his plans from workingfrom working

so next up: Jimmy Carterso next up: Jimmy Carter

““the Peanut Farmer”the Peanut Farmer”

Earth Day!Earth Day!

First Earth Day celebrated in 1970First Earth Day celebrated in 1970 Because of growing concerns over effects of Because of growing concerns over effects of

pollutionpollution

The Conservative Tide!The Conservative Tide! ReaganReagan

(“The Great Communicator”)(“The Great Communicator”) Federal spending increasesFederal spending increases

most inmost in defense & militarydefense & military AIDS era beginsAIDS era begins Strategic Defense Initiative Strategic Defense Initiative

(SDI)(SDI)a.k.a. “Star Wars”a.k.a. “Star Wars”

End of the Cold War/End of the Cold War/Fall of CommunismFall of Communism(except in China, Cuba,(except in China, Cuba,North Korea)North Korea)• Perestroika & glasnostPerestroika & glasnost

Iran-Contra AffairIran-Contra Affair

Bush the ElderBush the Elder Opponent was Michael DukakisOpponent was Michael Dukakis

Operation Desert Storm Operation Desert Storm (Persian Gulf War pt. 1)(Persian Gulf War pt. 1)

• Saddam Hussein invaded KuwaitSaddam Hussein invaded Kuwait

• Refused to leave & restore their sovereigntyRefused to leave & restore their sovereignty

• U.S. and 12 allies invaded withU.S. and 12 allies invaded with

land & air forces.land & air forces.

1980s Conservative Coalition1980s Conservative Coalition

Objected to what they thought were Objected to what they thought were excesses in government regulationexcesses in government regulation

Supported government deregulationSupported government deregulation

Concern about “Reverse Discrimination”Concern about “Reverse Discrimination” People worried about discrimination against People worried about discrimination against

white peoplewhite people

1990s & the New Millennium1990s & the New Millennium 3’s Company: Election of 19923’s Company: Election of 1992

(parallel to (parallel to 1912?)1912?)

Clinton vs. Bush vs. Clinton vs. Bush vs. Perot Perot

Winner: William Jefferson ClintonWinner: William Jefferson Clinton

Clinton AdministrationClinton Administration Balanced budgetBalanced budget At the end of Clinton era, what looked like At the end of Clinton era, what looked like

solid early growth turned into a new kind of solid early growth turned into a new kind of economic slowdown economic slowdown

Impeachment part deux!Impeachment part deux! Yes, Clinton accused of (and he admitted Yes, Clinton accused of (and he admitted

to) having an affair with Monica Lewinskito) having an affair with Monica Lewinski

No, that’s not whyNo, that’s not whyhe was impeached.he was impeached.

Impeachment charges: Impeachment charges: 22ndnd president impeached by the House president impeached by the House

• Part of reason for impeachment was PARTISAN Part of reason for impeachment was PARTISAN POLITICSPOLITICS

perjury & obstruction of justiceperjury & obstruction of justice Trial verdict: Prez not guilty.Trial verdict: Prez not guilty.

Election of 2000Election of 2000 Sitting V.P. v. Son of former PrezSitting V.P. v. Son of former Prez

Al Gore Al Gore v. v. George W. Bush George W. Bush One of closest elections in US historyOne of closest elections in US history

Bush loses popular vote, but Bush loses popular vote, but wins Electoral votewins Electoral vote

• Results hinged on Florida voteResults hinged on Florida vote Gore concedes defeat because Gore concedes defeat because

of televised predictionsof televised predictions Voters question resultsVoters question results

• Hanging CHAD issueHanging CHAD issue Then…GORE DEMANDS Then…GORE DEMANDS

RECOUNT!!RECOUNT!!• Begins but…Begins but…

Republicans challenge the Republicans challenge the recount & sue.recount & sue.

Supreme Court rules manual Supreme Court rules manual recount unconstitutionalrecount unconstitutional

Election shows that a small # ofElection shows that a small # ofvotes can determine an electionvotes can determine an election

Terrorism, War on Terror, Terrorism, War on Terror, Terrifying PoliticsTerrifying Politics

9/11 changes9/11 changes

American politicsAmerican politics

•Creation of Dept.Creation of Dept. of Homeland Securityof Homeland Security•Passage of the Patriot ActPassage of the Patriot Act

2001, U.S. begins war in2001, U.S. begins war in

Afghanistan in search ofAfghanistan in search of

al Qaeda & Osama bin Ladenal Qaeda & Osama bin Laden

““Took care of” the Taliban pretty quickly & then shifted Took care of” the Taliban pretty quickly & then shifted attention to Iraq & getting Hussein out of powerattention to Iraq & getting Hussein out of power The Taliban is a Sunni Islamist & Pashtun nationalist The Taliban is a Sunni Islamist & Pashtun nationalist

movementmovement Not the same as al-QaedaNot the same as al-Qaeda

2003, Bush feared2003, Bush fearedIraq (SaddamIraq (SaddamHussein) wereHussein) weresupporting al-supporting al-Qaeda with WMDQaeda with WMD(chemical or(chemical orBiologicalBiologicalweaponry)weaponry)

Hussein refuses to comply with United Hussein refuses to comply with United Nations inspectors, leading US & British Nations inspectors, leading US & British forces to invade Iraq.forces to invade Iraq.

No trace of WMD were foundNo trace of WMD were found

Dec. 2003, Hussein found, handed over toDec. 2003, Hussein found, handed over to

Iraqis for “crimes against humanity”Iraqis for “crimes against humanity” Tried by Iraqi gov’t (NOT IN THE U.S.) & Tried by Iraqi gov’t (NOT IN THE U.S.) &

sentences to death.sentences to death.

So why are westill in Iraq?

President Bush declared an end to active fighting, just President Bush declared an end to active fighting, just short of officially claiming victory in Iraq in 2003.short of officially claiming victory in Iraq in 2003.

Insurgency (led by Iraqi nationalists…who don’t want Insurgency (led by Iraqi nationalists…who don’t want foreign control of Iraq of any kind) continues in Iraq foreign control of Iraq of any kind) continues in Iraq while U.S. troops continue to try to stabilize the area while U.S. troops continue to try to stabilize the area so the Newly elected Iraqi government can establish so the Newly elected Iraqi government can establish itself. itself.

Discussion now isDiscussion now ishow & when to gethow & when to gettroops out. Hottroops out. Hotbutton issue in 2008button issue in 2008presidential election.presidential election.

Meanwhile, back home…Meanwhile, back home… Social Security draws concernSocial Security draws concern

One reason its NOT working as well anymore is thatOne reason its NOT working as well anymore is thatLIFE EXPECTANCY IS INCREASINGLIFE EXPECTANCY IS INCREASING

Clinton’s Domestic AgendaClinton’s Domestic Agenda No Child Left BehindNo Child Left Behind called for more accountability by states for called for more accountability by states for

students’ success, mandatory achievement testing, & more school students’ success, mandatory achievement testing, & more school options for parentsoptions for parents

U.S. schools performing worse than most other industrialized nations U.S. schools performing worse than most other industrialized nations (report in the 1980s)(report in the 1980s)

Corporate scandals (i.e. Enron) lead to more government interventionCorporate scandals (i.e. Enron) lead to more government intervention ““W” & the EconomyW” & the Economy

Tougher to compete for jobs/profits internationallyTougher to compete for jobs/profits internationally North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

began in 2004. U.S. companies moved factories & jobs to began in 2004. U.S. companies moved factories & jobs to Mexico where it was cheaper to operate. At print of text, at least Mexico where it was cheaper to operate. At print of text, at least 100, 000 low-wage jobs lost in the U.S.100, 000 low-wage jobs lost in the U.S.

Many people move away from citiesMany people move away from cities(not usually because of lower taxes though(not usually because of lower taxes though

North KoreaNorth Korea Kim Jong-ilKim Jong-il Currently able to build nukesCurrently able to build nukes N. Korea halted allN. Korea halted all

cooperation with the IAEAcooperation with the IAEA(the U.N.'s nuclear(the U.N.'s nuclearwatchdog) and kicked outwatchdog) and kicked outagency monitors inagency monitors inDecember 2002. (CNN, ’05)December 2002. (CNN, ’05)

Sale of nuclear scienceSale of nuclear science& materials?& materials?

Continued existence ofContinued existence ofCommunist governmentCommunist government

What do we face in 2008?What do we face in 2008?

IranIran Iran a Nuclear threat?Iran a Nuclear threat?

• Greater than North Korea?Greater than North Korea? President Ahmadinejad’s viewsPresident Ahmadinejad’s views

on 9/11 and the U.S.’s unwantedon 9/11 and the U.S.’s unwanted

policing of the worldpolicing of the world More repression in Iran?More repression in Iran?

ChinaChina Communist gov’tCommunist gov’t Human rights?Human rights?

• DarfurDarfur• TibetTibet

’’08 Olympics08 Olympics• Support or boycott?Support or boycott?

Who to lead?Who to lead?

Democrat?Democrat? Republican?Republican?

One country needs leadership.One country needs leadership.

Laundry list of issuesLaundry list of issues Economy & a possible recession/depressionEconomy & a possible recession/depression Lagging results in educationLagging results in education HomelessnessHomelessness UnemploymentUnemployment Housing/lending crisisHousing/lending crisis What to do about Health Care reformWhat to do about Health Care reform What to do about our Social Security systemWhat to do about our Social Security system What to do about illegal immigrationWhat to do about illegal immigration Protecting the U.S. against future terror attacksProtecting the U.S. against future terror attacks How and when do we leave Iraq?How and when do we leave Iraq? Need to decrease dependence on foreign oil & non-Need to decrease dependence on foreign oil & non-

renewable resourcesrenewable resources Growing “Green” industriesGrowing “Green” industries Repairing the U.S.’s damaged international statusRepairing the U.S.’s damaged international status Deciding how to handle or change relationships with other Deciding how to handle or change relationships with other

countriescountries