Presidents Ford & Carter

Ch. 25, Sec. 4, 5

• Nixon resigned, Gerald Ford sworn in.– First unelected President-named to VP, ascended

to Presidency.– “Our long national nightmare is over,”– Popular, friendly, mild-mannered.

• Shortly after taking office, Ford pardoned Nixon for “all offenses”.– Decision was hated; Nixon’s cronies faced jail, he

walked; many felt a deal was made.– Caused Republican losses in Congress in 1974

elections.

• Early 70s, economy stalled.– High inflation plus high unemployment, called

stagflation.– Worst recession since Great Depression.

• Ford started program called “WIN-Whip Inflation Now”-save, conserve fuel, plant gardens.– Program quickly died.

• Ford increased unemployment spending while cutting taxes in hope of stimulating economy.– Helped, but not much.

• Ford kept Kissinger, continued Nixon’s détente policies.

• Became first President to visit Japan, visited China & strengthened relationships.

• 1973-Congress passed War Powers Act due to LBJ & Nixon in Vietnam.– Congress must be notified when Pres. sends

troops to combat.– Troops may be kept overseas for 60 days without

congressional approval.• When N. Vietnam attacked S. Vietnam in 1975,

Ford wanted to send troops, Congress refused.

• July 4, 1976-US celebrated 200th birthday-bicentennial.– Huge nationwide celebration.

• 1976 election-Republican Gerald Ford vs. Democrat Jimmy Carter.– Carter was former Georgia Governor, no national

political experience, won.– Carter was multi-generation southerner, deeply

Baptist, ended many formalities at White House.– Appointed more women, minorities to staff than

any previous President.– Seen as “Washington outsider”.– No experience working with Congress.

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• Economy was unstable when Carter took office.– Tried deficit spending, led to more inflation.– Tried cutting gov’t spending (social programs),

angered democrats, didn’t help.• Over term in office, US lost confidence in

Carter on economics.• More success with deregulation.– Reduction or removal of gov’t controls of

industries.– Deregulated oil, natural gas, railroad, trucking,

airline industries.• Helped stimulate economic growth in 1980s.

• Carter wanted to make US less dependent on OPEC oil.– Created Dept. of Energy, urged people to conserve.

• Congress passed National Energy Act.– Tax sales of gas-guzzler cars.– Convert utilities to fuels other than oil/natural gas.– Deregulate domestic oil/natural gas.– Tax credits to homeowners for energy efficient

improvements.– Research alternative fuels.

• Nuclear power would have been great.– Partial meltdown at Three Mile Island,

Pennsylvania scared many from nuclear power.

• Carter hoped to heal wounds of Vietnam.– Passed amnesty (general pardon) for draft

dodgers.• Very unpopular in much of US.

• Supreme Court heard important case regarding affirmative action policies.– Regents of University of CA v. Bakke.– Alan Bakke, white vet applicant to med school.• Not accepted, black applicant accepted instead.

– Bakke sued, claiming reverse discrimination.– Court sided with Bakke, said that race can be used

as a factor in admission, but can’t set race quotas.

• Carter had mixed success in foreign policy.• Negotiated Camp David Accords between Israel

& Egypt.– Israel would withdraw from Sinai Peninsula; Egypt

would recognize Israel officially.– Led to peace between Egypt & Israel.

• Carter continued détente with USSR, negotiated SALT II treaty.– Limited nuclear missiles and warheads.

• 1979-USSR invaded Afghanistan, ending détente.– US cut of grain shipments to USSR; boycotted 1980

Olympics.• 60 nations ended up boycotting Olympics.

• 1979-Muslim fundamentalists overthrew Shah Reza Pahlavi of Iran.– US ally, modernized Iran; fundamentalists wanted

return to traditional Iran, ruled by sharia law.• Shah fled Iran, replaced by Ayatollah Ruhollah

Khomeini.– Anti-western, anti-US.

• US let Shah in for medical treatment.– Angered, Muslims attacked, seized US embassy in

Iran, took 52 hostages.– Held them 444 days.– Known as Iran Hostage Crisis.

• Carter tried negotiations, made no progress.– Americans angry that Carter couldn’t get hostages

released.• April 1980-Operation Eagle Claw.– Commando raid into Iran to rescue hostages.– Failed, 8 soldiers killed, no hostages rescued.

• 1980-Carter ran for reelection against Republican Ronald Reagan.– Reagan won in a landslide; people were tired of

Iran Hostage Crisis, Carter’s depressing messages to American people.

• Iran Hostages released 1 day after Reagan sworn in as President.