Sea Power and MaritimeSea Power and Maritime Affairs Affairs

Lesson 15.15: The Era of Retrenchment: Presidents Ford and Carter, 1974-1980

Enabling ObjectivesEnabling Objectives• Understand the U.S. Navy under President Gerald Ford and Understand the U.S. Navy under President Gerald Ford and

the political and economic factors that contributed to the the political and economic factors that contributed to the viewpoint of President Jimmy Carter regarding the U.S. Navy’s viewpoint of President Jimmy Carter regarding the U.S. Navy’s role in military strategy and foreign affairs.role in military strategy and foreign affairs.

• Understand the evolution of strategic thinking and the defense Understand the evolution of strategic thinking and the defense policy during the Carter administration and the internal political policy during the Carter administration and the internal political factors influencing these policies.factors influencing these policies.

• Comprehend the policy goals that preceded the President Comprehend the policy goals that preceded the President Ronald Reagan defense buildup and the internal political Ronald Reagan defense buildup and the internal political situation that enabled it.situation that enabled it.

President Gerald Ford (1974-1976)President Gerald Ford (1974-1976)

• August 9, 1974August 9, 1974- Nixon resigns- Nixon resigns

Watching South Vietnam Go UnderWatching South Vietnam Go Under

• Congress refused to fund $1 Congress refused to fund $1 billion in military aid to South Vietnam, billion in military aid to South Vietnam, promised by Nixon.promised by Nixon.

• 30 April 197530 April 1975: N. Vietnamese forces : N. Vietnamese forces overran South Vietnam.overran South Vietnam.– South Vietnamese surrender.South Vietnamese surrender.

• Operation Frequent WindOperation Frequent Wind– U.S. Embassy in Saigon evacuatedU.S. Embassy in Saigon evacuated– 77thth Fleet carriers evacuated Fleet carriers evacuated

almost 9,000 from Saigon.almost 9,000 from Saigon.

Postwar Problems for U.S. NavyPostwar Problems for U.S. Navy

• Impact of VietnamImpact of Vietnam– Hiatus in shipbuildingHiatus in shipbuilding– Inadequate FundingInadequate Funding– High personnel costsHigh personnel costs

• Aging WWII fleetAging WWII fleet• Skyrocketing procurement Skyrocketing procurement

costs.costs.– Bigger, more Bigger, more

sophisticated shipssophisticated ships– Push for Nuke power: Push for Nuke power:

Admiral RickoverAdmiral Rickover

Economic Inflation: Economic Inflation: Technology CostsTechnology Costs

Pre - VietnamPre - Vietnam Post - VietnamPost - Vietnam

ForrestalForrestal = $350 = $350 millionmillion

NimitzNimitz = $2 billion = $2 billion

F-4 Phantom = $3 F-4 Phantom = $3 millionmillion

F-14 Tomcat = $23 F-14 Tomcat = $23 millionmillion

Destroyer = $50 Destroyer = $50 millionmillion

SpruanceSpruance = $350 = $350 millionmillion

• By 1975, the Navy’s 200th anniversary, the Navy had less than 500 ships.

• CNO from 1 July 1970-1974CNO from 1 July 1970-1974– Youngest CNO at 50Youngest CNO at 50– High-Low Naval force.High-Low Naval force.– Proposal for four Nimitz Proposal for four Nimitz

class carriers.class carriers.• USS Nimitz commissioned USS Nimitz commissioned

in 1975.in 1975.

– Aegis defense cruisers to Aegis defense cruisers to defend the high valued defend the high valued carriers from anti-surface carriers from anti-surface missiles.missiles.

Admiral Elmo ZumwaltAdmiral Elmo Zumwalt

Decline of the U.S. Navy Under Decline of the U.S. Navy Under President Carter (1977-1981)President Carter (1977-1981)

• BackgroundBackground: : – Inherited popular antimilitary Inherited popular antimilitary

attitudeattitude– Inherited a reduced Navy Inherited a reduced Navy

composed of older shipscomposed of older ships

• DiplomacyDiplomacy::– Believed containment could Believed containment could

be achieved through be achieved through diplomacydiplomacy

– Did not think the Soviets Did not think the Soviets were a world threat-just a were a world threat-just a threat to Europe.threat to Europe.

The Carter Naval PolicyThe Carter Naval Policy• The President did not The President did not

support naval expansion.support naval expansion.• He de-emphasized the He de-emphasized the

“presence” mission of the “presence” mission of the Navy.Navy.

• He limited the conceptual He limited the conceptual basis for the Navy’s size- basis for the Navy’s size- “Proposed a one ocean “Proposed a one ocean Navy.” Navy.”

• SLOC protection and SLOC protection and support of the major U.S. support of the major U.S. commitments to Europe.commitments to Europe.

Iranian Hostage CrisisIranian Hostage Crisis• 1979, Anti-American 1979, Anti-American

Ayatollah Khomeini comes Ayatollah Khomeini comes to power in Iranto power in Iran

– De-stabilizes the De-stabilizes the region for the U.S.region for the U.S.

– Since 1953, U.S. imported Since 1953, U.S. imported in excess of $10.5 million in excess of $10.5 million of arms sales to Iran.of arms sales to Iran.

• Operation Eagle ClawOperation Eagle Claw– Failed rescue attempt of 52 Failed rescue attempt of 52

Americans from embassy.Americans from embassy.

• USSR invades USSR invades AfghanistanAfghanistan

Enabling ObjectivesEnabling Objectives• Understand the U.S. Navy under President Gerald Ford and Understand the U.S. Navy under President Gerald Ford and

the political and economic factors that contributed to the the political and economic factors that contributed to the viewpoint of President Jimmy Carter regarding the U.S. Navy’s viewpoint of President Jimmy Carter regarding the U.S. Navy’s role in military strategy and foreign affairs.role in military strategy and foreign affairs.

• Understand the evolution of strategic thinking and the defense Understand the evolution of strategic thinking and the defense policy during the Carter administration and the internal political policy during the Carter administration and the internal political factors influencing these policies.factors influencing these policies.

• Comprehend the policy goals that preceded the President Comprehend the policy goals that preceded the President Ronald Reagan defense buildup and the internal political Ronald Reagan defense buildup and the internal political situation that enabled it.situation that enabled it.

Battle History VideoBattle History Video

• Chapter 4 “Second Chapter 4 “Second to None”, to None”,

• Time 00:00 - 10:04. Time 00:00 - 10:04.

Questions?Questions?

Next time: The US Navy from the Maritime Strategy Next time: The US Navy from the Maritime Strategy to 9-11, 1981-2001to 9-11, 1981-2001