Richard Richard NixonNixon

Vietnam to ResignationVietnam to Resignation

Foreign PolicyForeign Policy VietnamVietnam Feb 1972 > Nixon Feb 1972 > Nixon

visits Chinavisits China- showed - showed

signs of the signs of the easing of tensions easing of tensions in the Cold Warin the Cold War

- 1- 1stst President to visit President to visit a Communist a Communist countrycountry

Foreign PolicyForeign Policy Détente > a Détente > a

relaxation of tension relaxation of tension between US and USSRbetween US and USSR

Nixon visits the Soviet Nixon visits the Soviet Union in May 1972Union in May 1972

SALT Agreements SALT Agreements – Strategic Arms Strategic Arms

Limitations ActLimitations Act– Restricted the types Restricted the types

and numbers of nuclear and numbers of nuclear weapons that each weapons that each country could deploycountry could deploy

Domestic policyDomestic policy

July 1969 > Neil July 1969 > Neil Armstrong and Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk Buzz Aldrin walk on the moonon the moon

Walking on the Walking on the MoonMoon

““One small step One small step for man, one for man, one giant leap for giant leap for mankind”mankind”

The Warren CourtThe Warren Court Chief Justice Earl WarrenChief Justice Earl Warren Handed down several Handed down several

rulings protecting the rulings protecting the rights of the accusedrights of the accused

Gideon vs. Wainwright Gideon vs. Wainwright (rights to a lawyer)(rights to a lawyer)

Mapp vs. Ohio (illegal Mapp vs. Ohio (illegal search and seizures)search and seizures)

Miranda vs. Arizona Miranda vs. Arizona (Miranda Rights)(Miranda Rights)

Very liberal courtVery liberal court Nixon nominated four Nixon nominated four

justices to make the justices to make the Supreme Court more Supreme Court more conservative (checks and conservative (checks and balances)balances)– Upheld previous decisionsUpheld previous decisions

Domestic PolicyDomestic Policy

Nixon limits governments role in civil Nixon limits governments role in civil rights/desegragationrights/desegragation

EconomyEconomy– Stagflation: stagnant economyStagflation: stagnant economy– Inflation leads to less buying and rising Inflation leads to less buying and rising

unemploymentunemployment– Nixon puts a hold on prices and wages (can’t Nixon puts a hold on prices and wages (can’t

rise)rise)– Gets the FED to lower interest rates to Gets the FED to lower interest rates to

encourage spendingencourage spending– Increases government spendingIncreases government spending

Election of 1972Election of 1972

Nixon vs. George Nixon vs. George McGovernMcGovern

Nixon won in a landslideNixon won in a landslide Watergate ScandalWatergate Scandal

– The republicans were The republicans were worried about the worried about the electionelection

– Planted listening devices Planted listening devices in the Democratic Party in the Democratic Party National Headquarters National Headquarters located in the Watergate located in the Watergate Towers Apartment Towers Apartment BuildingBuilding

WatergateWatergate

5 Men get caught 5 Men get caught and charged with and charged with the break-inthe break-in

Nixon didn’t know Nixon didn’t know of the break-inof the break-in

After the election After the election when Nixon found when Nixon found out he ordered a out he ordered a cover-upcover-up

WatergateWatergate During several meetings with key

advisors and White House Staff, Nixon had conversations recorded

Many of the meetings involved the Watergate Scandal

At first Nixon denied, then refused to hand over recordings

Nixon vs. US > Supreme Court ruled recorded conversations weren’t executive priviledge

Nixon had to hand over tapes Smoking Gun Tape > Nixon

wanted to go to CIA and FBI and ask them to stop the investigation into the scandal (COVER-UP)

Congress was going to bring up impeachment charges but Nixon resigns

Nixon claimed that he did nothing wrong

Nixon's Resignation Speech