TO A NEW CONSERVATISM, TO A NEW CONSERVATISM, 1969-19881969-1988

America: Past and Present

Chapter 31

Nixon in PowerNixon in Power

• Apparent success in first term

• Triumphs in foreign affairs

• Nixon cuts himself off from Congress, his own cabinet, and the nation

Reshaping the Great Reshaping the Great SocietySociety

• Nixon and the Great Society• more efficient administration• shift responsibility to the states• shift school desegregation to the courts

• Shift to conservative Supreme Court• appointment of conservatives and

moderates• Burger Court similar to Warren Court

• Pace of change slows but continues

NixonomicsNixonomics

• Nixon and inflation• inflation spurred by Vietnam • federal spending cuts• interest rates forced up

• 1970--Nixon-induced recession

• 1971--wage and price controls

• Economy revives

Building a Republican Building a Republican MajorityMajority

• Nixon obsessed about reelection

• Inactive on desegregation to win South

• Attack cultural revolution to win “middle America”

• Democrats retain majority by joining crusade against drugs, crime

In Search of DIn Search of Déétentetente

• Foreign-policy assumptions• Cold War to be managed, not won• America must make a strategic retreat• improve relations with China to neutralize

Russia

• February 1972--Nixon visits China

In Search of DIn Search of Déétente:tente:Outcome of China VisitOutcome of China Visit

• February 1972--U.S. recognition of Communist China set in motion

• May 1972--Russians sign SALT I

• Apparent mutual desire to reduce Cold War tensions

Ending the Vietnam WarEnding the Vietnam War

• Nixon’s plan• gradual reduction of American troops• intensify American bombing • hard line at the peace talks

• 1970--invasion of Cambodia

• January, 1973--peace talks conclude with disguised American surrender

The Crisis of DemocracyThe Crisis of Democracy

• June, 1972--Nixon agents arrested for attempted Watergate break-in

• Nixon stonewalled the press about White House involvement• even instructed aides to lie under oath

The Election of 1972The Election of 1972

• Nixon’s opponents• American Independent George Wallace--

shot and disabled, followers vote for Nixon• Democrat George McGovern--nomination

alienates middle class

• Nixon landslide suggests new alignment• middle class shifting to Republicans• African Americans, Jews, the poor remain

strongly Democratic

The Watergate ScandalThe Watergate Scandal

• Summer 1973--Senate investigation• damaging Senate hearings on cover-up• White House tapes discovered

• Summer 1974• Nixon must relinquish tapes• House Judiciary committee recommends

impeachment

• August 9, 1974--Nixon resigns

The Watergate Scandal: The Watergate Scandal: ConsequencesConsequences

• Demonstrates growing power of the executive branch

• Illustrates vitality of institutions• the press• the federal judiciary• Congress

Energy and the Energy and the EconomyEconomy

• U.S. way of life based on cheap energy

• 1970s energy crisis sparks inflation

The October WarThe October War

• October, 1973--Yom Kippur War pits Egypt, Syria against Israel

• U.S. supplies weapons to Israel

• Arab oil nations retaliate with boycott• prices of gasoline and home heating fuel

rose sharply

The Oil ShocksThe Oil Shocks

• Effects of soaring oil prices • consumer spending plunges• recession by 1974• inflation persists through 1970s

• Tax cut aids recovery

• 1979--Iranian Revolution causes second surge in oil prices

The Oil Shocks: Price Increases The Oil Shocks: Price Increases of Crude Oil and Gasoline, of Crude Oil and Gasoline, 1973-19851973-1985

The Search for an The Search for an Energy PolicyEnergy Policy

• Ford tries to encourage production

• Carter tries to encourage conservation

• Congressional legislation to• encourage production, e.g. Alaska pipeline• encourage conservation, e.g. gas rationing

• Energy problem persists

The Great InflationThe Great Inflation

• Oil prices drive inflation• price of goods soars• real income declines

• Attempted government controls result in record high interest rates

The Shifting American The Shifting American EconomyEconomy

• U.S. share of world markets declines

• U.S. heavy industry declines

• High technology prospers

• Businesses tend to diversify

Private Lives—Public Private Lives—Public IssuesIssues

• Traditional American family gives way to more diverse living arrangements

• Number of working women increases sharply

• Gay rights movement emerges

The Changing American The Changing American Family: Family Life by Family: Family Life by 19901990

• 21% of women solely in childrearing

• 30% of married coupes without children

• 25% of households consist of one adult

• Birthrate begins to climb after 15-year fall

• Divorce rate levels and drops slightly

The Changing American The Changing American Family: New Family Family: New Family StructureStructure

• Many never marry or postpone marriage

• Most mothers work outside the home

• Proportion of single-parent households doubled

• Women without partners head 1/3 of impoverished families

• Children comprise 40% of the poor

Types of Households in Types of Households in the United States, 2000the United States, 2000

Gains and Setbacks for Gains and Setbacks for WomenWomen

• Rapid movement of women into work force• Breakthroughs for women

• leaders in industry, higher education• Roe v. Wade strengthens reproductive rights• women appointed to Supreme Court

• Resistance• most women remain in female-dominated jobs• wages only 77.5% of men’s earnings• Equal Rights Amendment fails • abortion widely stigmatized

Voting on the Equal Rights Voting on the Equal Rights AmendmentAmendment

The Gay Liberation The Gay Liberation MovementMovement

• 1969--Stonewall Riot sparks gay rights movement• 1980--Democrats include gay rights plank• 1980s--AIDS activism• 1987--600,000 march on Washington• 1993--“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy a setback• 1996--Defense of Marriage Act prohibits state

recognition of same-sex unions• 2000--Vermont legalizes same-sex “civil unions”

Politics After WatergatePolitics After Watergate

• Watergate erodes public trust

• Confrontation leaves nation leaderless

The Ford AdministrationThe Ford Administration

• Pardon of Nixon unpopular

• Democratic Congress alienated• disclosure of illegal CIA activities under

Kennedy and Johnson• opposes Democratic bills protecting the

environment and civil rights

The 1976 CampaignThe 1976 Campaign

• Ford damaged by Watergate

• Democrat Jimmy Carter wins close vote• former governor of Georgia• campaigns as outsider• calls for decency, morality in government

Disenchantment with Disenchantment with CarterCarter

• Carter displays lack of political vision

• Outsider status hampers effectiveness

• 1979--Carter blames American people for "national malaise"

From Détente to From Détente to Renewed Cold WarRenewed Cold War

• U.S. international dominance declined sharply in the 1970s

• Internal and external events weakened foreign policy

Retreat in AsiaRetreat in Asia

• April 1975--North Vietnam captures Saigon

• U.S. response--evacuation, no aid

• Subsequent incidents met with caution, restraint

Accommodation in Latin Accommodation in Latin AmericaAmerica

• 1977--treaty returns Panama Canal to Panama

• 1979--U.S. refuses aid to Nicaraguan government against Sandinistas

• Carter assists El Salvador against Marxist rebels

The Quest for Peace in The Quest for Peace in the Middle Eastthe Middle East

• Carter’s success• 1978--Camp David Accords • 1979--Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty

• Carter’s failure• 1979--Iranian Revolution • November--U.S. embassy in Teheran

invaded, 58 Americans taken hostage• Carter fails to secure hostages’ release

The Cold War ResumesThe Cold War Resumes

• Carter, Brzezinski shift from Détente• condemn Soviet human rights abuses• new missile systems deployed• increased aid to China

• December, 1979--Russians invade Afghanistan

A Failed PresidencyA Failed Presidency

• Carter lost public confidence during the Iranian hostage crisis

• Double-digit inflation also contributed to voter disappointment

Reagan in PowerReagan in Power

• Roosevelt coalition continues to splinter

• Republican party picks up pieces

The Reagan VictoryThe Reagan Victory

• Carter’s negatives• Iranian hostage crisis• economic ills

• Reagan’s positives win the election• warm telegenic personality• optimistic message• draws Jewish, working class vote

• Republicans win majority in the Senate

Cutting Spending and Cutting Spending and TaxesTaxes

• Reagan’s premise: cut spending to encourage private investment

• Reagan cuts over three years• federal spending by more than $40 billion• social services included in cuts • taxes cut by 25%

Limiting the Role of Limiting the Role of GovernmentGovernment

• Environmental regulations relaxed

• Attempted cuts in Social Security

• Neglect of interest-group opponents• labor hurt in air traffic control firings• lack of support for civil rights legislation• women ignored in judicial appointments

ReaganomicsReaganomics

• Reagan’s reductions in spending and taxes prompt conflicting expectations

• Supply-side economists expect economic growth

• Reagan’s critics expect massive deficits, economic stagnation

Recession and RecoveryRecession and Recovery

• 1981-1982--unemployment hits 10%

• 1983--economic recovery• rise in consumer spending • prices remain level• worldwide decline in energy prices

The Growing DeficitThe Growing Deficit

• Basis for the Reagan prosperity includes• massive deficit spending • massive inflows of foreign investment

• 1983--federal budget deficit $200 billion

• Spending caps on defense, services

• 1985--U.S. becomes a debtor nation

U.S. Budget Deficits, U.S. Budget Deficits, 1980-19971980-1997

The Rich Grow RicherThe Rich Grow Richer• Gains of Reaganomics

• inflation reduced to 4%• employment grows after 1982• growth in service sector jobs

• Losses of Reaganomics• high-paying manufacturing jobs decline• increasing social inequality

• wealthy benefit• poor left in poverty• middle class hurt

Share of Aggregate Share of Aggregate Household Income by Household Income by Quintiles, 1975-1995Quintiles, 1975-1995

Reagan AffirmedReagan Affirmed

• Perception of improving economy

• 1984 election• Reagan trounces Walter Mondale• Republicans lose seats in Congress

Reagan and the WorldReagan and the World

• Reagan determined to restore America's international position

• Steep increase in military spending

• Aggressive foreign policy

Challenging the "Evil Challenging the "Evil Empire"Empire"

• Reagan: Soviet Union the "focus of evil in the modern world"

• Unfavorable deals on arms reductions

• U.S. response to Russian refusal• deployment of cruise missiles in Europe• development of anti-missile system

• Russians build up nuclear arsenal

Turmoil in the Middle Turmoil in the Middle EastEast

• 1982--Israeli invasion of Lebanon

• International response• U.S., France send troops to maintain order • PLO evacuates Beirut

• 1984--200 U.S. Marines killed in terrorist bombing

• U.S. evacuation of Lebanon

Trouble Spots in the Trouble Spots in the Middle EastMiddle East

Confrontation in Central Confrontation in Central AmericaAmerica

• Intervention against Latin American leftist insurgents

• Covert subversion of Sandinistas

• October, 1983--invasion of Grenada

Trouble Spots in Central Trouble Spots in Central America and the CaribbeanAmerica and the Caribbean

Trading Arms for Trading Arms for HostagesHostages

• Advanced weapons sold to Iran for influence in freeing American hostages

• November, 1986--Iran-Contra scandal• profit from Iran arms sales to Contras• funding violates Congressional prohibition• Reagan escapes impeachment

Reagan the PeacemakerReagan the Peacemaker

• 1985--Mikhail Gorbachev assumes power in Russia

• 1985-88--Reagan-Gorbachev summits• 1987--destroy intermediate range missiles• 1988--Afghanistan evacuated

• Foreign policy triumphs restore Reagan’s popularity

Social DilemmasSocial Dilemmas

• AIDS epidemic

• Drug abuse

The AIDS EpidemicThe AIDS Epidemic

• 1981--AIDS first detected • apparent confinement to homosexual men

results in early public inaction • spread to drug users, recipients of blood

transfusions prompts panic

• Reagan Administration’s response• fund research• little funding for education, prevention• 1987--appointment of AIDS commissioner

The AIDS Epidemic (2)The AIDS Epidemic (2)

• 1996--500,000 infected• majority homosexuals, drug users• 15% heterosexual, non-drug abusers

• 1996--AIDS death rate begins dropping • new drugs• safer sexual practices

The War on DrugsThe War on Drugs

• Mid-1980's--crack cocaine introduced• addiction spread through all classes• exploding crime rate

• Reagan attempts interdiction of supply

• Bush, Clinton continue Reagan policy

• At the end of the century there seemed to be no end to the war on drugs

Passing the Torch to Passing the Torch to BushBush

• Republicans hope for major political realignment

• Factors reinforcing trend• 1980s economic boom• promise of the end of the Cold War

The Changing Palace The Changing Palace GuardGuard

• 1985--Donald Regan chief of staff

• Second-term victories• tax reform package• appointment of conservatives

• Changes in the Supreme Court• Senate blocks Bork appointment to Court• Bush appointments help turn the Court

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