Nixon

Objective:Analyze the Presidency and the downfall of Nixon

Nixon

• Upon receiving the presidency in 1969, Nixon immediately sought certain goals:– Turn America in a more conservative direction– Reverse LBJ’s liberal policies– Restore America’s prestige on the world stage

—badly hit by Vietnam

Nixon

• Admittedly, Nixon preferred world affairs to domestic policy.

• “I’ve always thought this country could run itself domestically without a president.”

Realpolitik

• Nixon and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger adopted a new foreign policy.

• Realpolitik: based solely on consideration of power, not ideals or moral principles.

Realpolitik

• If a country was weak, it was more practical to ignore that country, even if it was Communist.

• A departure from the former confrontational policy of containment.

Realpolitik

• Also, Nixon adopted a more flexible approach in dealing with communist nations.

• Détente: aimed at easing Cold War tensions.

China

• Since 1949, the U.S. had not formally recognized the Chinese Communist government.

• In 1971, Nixon announced he would visit China to improve relations between the two countries.

China

• The visit had huge symbolic value, and was a huge success with the American people.

China

• The two nations agreed that neither would try to dominate the Pacific, they would participate in scientific and cultural exchanges, and settle disputes peacefully.

Moscow

• In 1972, Nixon traveled to Moscow, the first U.S. president to visit the Soviet Union.

Moscow

• Nixon and Brezhnev signed the SALT I Treaty, which limited the number of various missiles to 1972 levels.

Moscow

• The foreign policy triumphs with China and the Soviet Union helped reelect Nixon in 1972.

Downfall

• By 1972, the executive branch was the most powerful branch of government.

• The Great Depression, WWII, and the Cold War all led to greater presidential power.

Downfall

• Nixon gave little thought to constitutional checks and balances.

• “A president must not be one of the crowd.”

Downfall

• Nixon distanced himself from Congress, and confided in a small, loyal group of advisers.

• White House chief of staff H.R. Haldeman

• Chief domestic advisor John Ehrlichman

• Attorney general John Mitchell

Downfall

• Nixon and his men felt they were somehow above the law.

Watergate

• At 2:30 am, on June 17, 1972, a guard at the Watergate hotel caught five men breaking into the headquarters of the Democratic Party.

Watergate

• The burglars planned to photograph Democrat Party documents and wiretap office telephones.

Cover-Up

• The burglary was soon linked to Nixon’s advisors.

• The cover-up quickly began.

• White House workers shredded incriminating documents.

Cover-Up

• Nixon urged the FBI to stop investigating the burglary on the grounds of national security.

• $450,000 were given to the burglars to buy their silence.

Cover-Up

• At first, the cover-up worked.

• Nixon easily defeated George McGovern in the election of 1972.

Cover-Up

• In January 1973, the trial of the burglars began.

• A letter was sent to the judge that the Nixon administration had been involved in the break-in.

Cover-Up

• Nixon’s advisors resigned or were fired.

• Nixon went on TV and denied any cover-up.

Cover-Up

• By May 1973, the Senate began its own investigation of Watergate.

• Millions of Americans watched as the “president’s men” testified one after another.

Cover-Up

• “What did the president know and when did he know it?”

• Source: Nixon had taped all of his presidential conversations.

Cover-Up

• A year-long battle for the “Nixon tapes” followed.

• Nixon refused to reveal the tapes.

Cover-Up

• Also, Vice President Spiro Agnew resigns after it is revealed he accepted bribes as Governor of Maryland, and as V.P.

• Gerald Ford becomes new V.P.

Resignation

• By March 1974, seven presidential aides were indicted on charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and perjury.

Resignation

• Even without the tapes, Congress had enough evidence to impeach Nixon.

• Charges of obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of Congress.

• Nixon: “I am not a crook.”

Resignation

• Finally, a tape was released, revealing that Nixon knew about the burglary, and helped plan the cover-up.

Resignation

• On August 8, 1974, before he could be impeached, Nixon resigned.

• Gerald Ford became the 38th president.

Legacy

• 25 members of the Nixon Administration served prison terms for their crimes.

• After Vietnam and Watergate, the public developed a cynicism about government that still exists today.