The Nixon YearsThe Nixon Years 1969 - 1974

The New Nixon ReturnsThe New Nixon Returns Nixon brings a bitter

resentment of the “Liberal Establishment” to the White House.

He also brings great expertise and knowledge in Foreign Affairs.

Nixon’s Vietnam PoliciesNixon’s Vietnam Policies Nixon’s calls for

elections in Vietnam are rejected by the north.

He outlines the “Nixon Doctrine” to win the war.

VietnamizationVietnamization Nixon calls for the

withdrawal of 540,000 American troops over time.

and the aiding of South Vietnam so the ARVN could take over the war.

The Nixon DoctrineThe Nixon Doctrine

The Nixon Doctrine stated that Southeast Asian nations would have to fight their own wars without US troops.

The Silent MajorityThe Silent Majority

Nixon begins an attack on the anti-war movement - calling on the “Silent Majority” of America to support his war efforts.

Woodstock Woodstock NationNation

Woodstock Woodstock NationNation

Woodstock Music Festival

August 1969 -- 250,000 young people flock to Bethel, New York farm for three days of “Peace and Music.”

Woodstock Music Festival

August 1969 -- 250,000 young people flock to Bethel, New York farm for three days of “Peace and Music.”

Nixon meets the KingNixon meets the King

The Next Day’s Meeting…….The Next Day’s Meeting…….

Anti-War DemonstrationsAnti-War Demonstrations Anti-war moratorium

called for in October, 1969 - massive marches are staged all over the country, including a candle-light march in front of the White House.

Spiro T. Spiro T. AgnewAgnew

Vice president Agnew becomes the attack dog for Nixon, attacking the media as an “effete corps of impudent snobs” and “nattering nabobs of negativism.”

Nixon calls college protesters “Bums”

The War goes on….The War goes on….

By 1970, 40,000 American dead and 250,000 wounded leads to more protests.

My Lai MassacreMy Lai Massacre American Lt.

William Calley orders his troops to kill women and children at the village of My Lai.

Invasion of CambodiaInvasion of Cambodia April 29, 1970 --

Nixon, without consulting Congress, orders the invasion of neutral Cambodia to clear out Viet Cong along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

More ProtestsMore Protests

The My Lai Massacre and Nixon’s order to invade Cambodia and Laos led to massive demonstrations.

Kent StateKent State

National Guard fired on student demonstrators at Kent State University, Ohio killing four, wounding others.

Jackson StateJackson State

Mississippi State Highway Patrol open fire on a Jackson State College dormitory killing 2 black students.

War continues…. War continues….

The president orders to continue the secret “carpet bombing” of Cambodia, Laos and North Vietnam.

Vietnamese Children Napalmed Vietnamese Children Napalmed

Kim Phuc Kim Phuc Phan Thi – Phan Thi – Nick Ut, the Nick Ut, the photographer of the photographer of the Associated Press, took Associated Press, took her to the hospital. her to the hospital. Kim's skin was so badly Kim's skin was so badly burned by napalm that burned by napalm that she was not expected she was not expected to survive, but after 14 to survive, but after 14 month in a Saigon month in a Saigon hospital, she returned hospital, she returned to her village to begin to her village to begin rebuilding her life.rebuilding her life.

Nixon withdraws American troops from Cambodia after 2 months -- many argued that Nixon’s decision had strengthened the communists politically in Cambodia.

The Killing FieldsThe Killing Fields

Pol PotPol Pot

Khmer RougeKhmer Rouge

War powersWar powers The Senate repeals the Tonkin

Gulf Resolution and begins discussion of limiting presidential war powers.

Right wing groups begin attacking anti-war demonstrators.

Twenty-sixth AmendmentTwenty-sixth Amendment Congress reduces

draft calls and institutes a lottery system.

The 26th Amendment lowers the voting age to 18.

Pentagon PapersPentagon Papers 1971 - classified

Defense Department papers are leaked to The New York Times by Daniel Ellsberg.

The papers documented the Pentagon’s misleading of Congress and the people. Daniel Ellsberg

Plumbers go to work.Plumbers go to work. White House creates a

secret security team to locate and plug leaks in the government - called the Plumbers.

Nixon orders Ellsberg’s psychiatrist’s office burglarized and bugged. G. Gordon Liddy

Paris Peace TalksParis Peace Talks Henry Kissinger,

National Security Advisor, begins secret discussions with N. Vietnam in Paris.

Nixon goes to China Nixon goes to China The president

sought to use tensions between Moscow and Beijing to help bring North Vietnam to the bargaining table.

American ping-pong players travel to China for a tournament.

Ping-Pong DiplomacyPing-Pong Diplomacy

July, 1971 -- Nixon announces he will go to China.

February 1972 -- Nixon flies to Beijing and meets with Mao Zedong.

Détente and the ‘72 Grain DealDétente and the ‘72 Grain Deal Russia fearing new

American relations with China agreed to relax tensions leading to détente (agreeing to disagree.)

America agrees to sell USSR $750 million worth of grain.

Arms AgreementsArms Agreements

US and USSR sign the ABM (anti-ballistic missile) Treaty

SALT (strategic arms limitation treaty) signed to freeze long-range missile production for five years.

MIRVsMIRVs Nixon plans for nuclear

arms reductions from a position of strength and begins developing MIRVs (multiple independently targeted re-entry vehicles) and the Soviets follow suit.

The Warren CourtThe Warren Court

Nixon attacked the liberal Warren court for its “permissiveness” for rulings such as:

Legal RightsLegal Rights Gideon v. Wainwright

- all defendants were entitled to legal counsel.

The Escobedo and Miranda rulings which insured the rights of the accused.

School Prayer and other rulingsSchool Prayer and other rulings

The court ruled that mandatory school prayer was against the first amendment.

                 

The US Supreme Court ruled against mandated daily school prayer in Engel v. Vitale (1962).

The court also ruled in favor of black civil rights and called for reapportionment to obtain “one - man - one - vote”

Impeach Earl Impeach Earl WarrenWarren

Right wing critics called for the impeachment of Earl Warren.

Nixon appoints Warren Burger as Chief Justice and four other conservatives to the court.

The Burger CourtThe Burger Court

The Burger court agrees to abortion rights in 1973 ruling Roe v Wade.

The Chicago EightThe Chicago Eight

Eight defendants are charged with inciting riots at the Chicago Convention in ’68.

Black Panther Bobby Seale is bound and gagged in court and removed to be tried separately.

Chicago Eight SevenChicago Eight Seven

“Chicago 7” trial finds seven defendants, including Yippies Jerry Rubin and Abbie Hoffman, guilty of inciting a riot in 1968.

Black PanthersBlack Panthers The Black Panthers

protest “Whitey’s War” and call for armed revolution against white America.

Panther Bobby Hutton will be killed in gun battle with police.

HUEYHUEYNEWTONNEWTON

AtticaAttica Riots in Attica State

Prison in New York lead to a call for prison reform.

Moon WalkMoon Walk Apollo 11 - Neil

Armstrong fulfills Kennedy’s pledge and walks on the moon-- July, 1969.

Apollo 11Apollo 11

One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind…One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind…- Neil Armstrong- Neil Armstrong

InflationInflation.. President orders 90 day freeze

on wages and prices in 1971 to end inflation.

Nixon orders American currency off the gold standard and devalued the dollar.

Allende and ChileAllende and Chile

CIA leads coup against leftist Salvador Allende in Chile.

Allende is assassinated -- right wing dictator Augusta Pinochet took power.

                                             

1972 Election1972 Election Nixon plans for a

“southern strategy” to win a majority in 1972.

Vietnam becomes the major issue in the election.

Bombing VietnamBombing Vietnam

Nixon ordered the mining of Haiphong harbor and an increase in bombing raids over North Vietnam including the capital of Hanoi.

McGovernMcGovern Senator George

McGovern of South Dakota wins the 1972 Democratic nomination with a large anti-war vote.

The “New” Democratic PartyThe “New” Democratic Party His appeal to

minorities, feminists, leftists and the young alienated the traditional working-class backbone of the Democratic Party.

Eagleton AffairEagleton Affair It is revealed that

Democratic vice presidential candidate Thomas Eagleton had had shock therapy for depression and he is forced to leave the ticket.

 

  

 

  

 

  

Sergeant Shriver, a Kennedy brother-in-law, will replace him.

WatergateWatergate Committee to Re-elect

the President (CREEP) organizes break-in and bugging of the Democratic National headquarters at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C.

                    

    

John Mitchell

Howard Hunt and James McCord lead men recruited by G. Gordon Liddy on raids into the Watergate Hotel.

BustedBusted On second raid a night

watchmen discovers taped doors and calls police.

After arrest, evidence links the burglars to CREEP and the White House.

All the President’s MenAll the President’s Men

Reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of the Washington Post cover story and continue to uncover links to the White House.

Paris Peace TalksParis Peace Talks Kissinger

announces from Paris that “Peace is at hand.” - helping Nixon’s campaign.

                                           

Nixon’s the one….. againNixon’s the one….. again..

1972 election - Nixon and Agnew defeat McGovern and Shriver in a massive landslide.

McGovern only carries Massachusetts.

Armistice and POW exchange.Armistice and POW exchange. Nixon orders an increase

in bombing to force the North to agreement.

Armistice signed January 23, 1973 - Saigon and South Vietnam will fall in June, 1975

This is the way the world endsThis is the way the world ends Not with a bang but a whimper.Not with a bang but a whimper.

Tie a yellow ribbon …….Tie a yellow ribbon …….

Watergate WoesWatergate Woes Links to White House

are uncovered and the Senate begins to investigate the growing scandal.

Allegations are made that the president had used the IRS, FBI and CIA to harass political opponents and cover-up the break-in.

Bob and John say goodbyeBob and John say goodbye

April 1973 - Nixon announces resignation of H.R. “Bob” Haldeman and John Ehrlichman his two top aides.

Nixon appoints Archibald Cox as Special Prosecutor to lead an “independent investigation” of Watergate.

John DeanJohn Dean White House

counsel, John Dean testifies before Sam Ervin’s Senate committee that the president was guilty of obstruction of justice.

The Nixon The Nixon TapesTapes

July 1973, it is revealed in testimony that the president had routinely taped all Oval Office conversations and that tapes could corroborate Dean’s testimony.

The SubpoenasThe Subpoenas

The Senate Committee, The Washington Grand Jury and the Special Prosecutor all subpoena segments of the tapes

Nixon claims “executive privilege” in refusing to release the tapes.

Secret Bombing RevealedSecret Bombing Revealed

July 1973 -- word leaks out of the Air Force’s secret bombing raids over Cambodia and Laos.

August 1973 -- Nixon forced to end Cambodian bombing -- beginning the “new isolationism.”

War Powers ActWar Powers Act This will lead to the War Powers

Act of Nov. 1973 -- the president must report to congress within 48 hours of ordering troops into combat.

Draft ended in January, 1973.

Spiro Agnew - Spiro Agnew - nolo nolo contenderecontendere

VP Spiro Agnew resigns after pleading no contest to bribery charges to avoid jail sentence.

25th amendment makes House minority leader Gerald Ford the new Vice President.

Saturday Night MassacreSaturday Night Massacre

October 20, 1973 -- Nixon fires Special Prosecutor Cox and 2 top Justice Department officials resign in the so-called “Saturday Night Massacre.”

Arab Oil EmbargoArab Oil Embargo

October, 1973 Yom Kippur War leads to oil embargo.

OPEC raise oil prices - inflation skyrockets - America begins building the Alaska pipeline and lowers the speed limit to 55 mph.

The GapThe Gap Nixon tapes, finally

turned over, are found to have gaps determined to be intentionally erased.

Nixon’s secretary claims it was accidental.

Rosemary Woods poses at her White House desk to demonstrate how a single move could have erased the tapes, 1973.

IRS claims Nixon owes $450,000 in back taxes and has used federal dollars to upgrade his own property

The Final DaysThe Final Days House Judiciary

Committee begins drafting Articles of Impeachment.

Nixon begins counter-attack - makes “I am not a Crook” speech.

“And I think, too, that I can say that in my years of public life, that I welcome this kind of examination because people have got to know whether or not their President’s a crook. Well, I’m not a crook.”

July 1974 - Supreme Court orders Nixon to hand over tapes.

Judiciary Committee begins televised debate on Impeachment

The Smoking GunThe Smoking Gun Tape of Nixon discussing

using the CIA to hold off an FBI investigation into White House involvement six days after the break-in is considered to be the “smoking gun”

Nixon ResignsNixon Resigns

Alexander Haig - new Chief of Staff - begins preparations to pass powers to Gerald Ford.

August 8, 1974 - Nixon announces he will resign - claims he is guilty of only “bad judgment”

August 9, 1974 – Nixon resigns at noon

“I shall resign the presidency effective at noon tomorrow.”

Ford takes officeFord takes office

Gerald Ford takes the oath of office - he will pardon Nixon Sept 8.