CRISIS in CONFIDENCE1968 – 1980 (pgs. 598 –623)

Nixon and the Watergate Scandal

Ford Takes Over Carter and Foreign Troubles

Political Beliefs

Democratic

Republican Liberal

Fed. Govt. has most power

Protect, take care of citizens through mandatory programs

Conservative Individual choice “Free Enterprise

– people & businesses are free to make their own economic choices.

Individual states have more power

1960’s

1970’s

The Nixon Administration (1968-1974)

Had lost to JFK in ’60 Narrowly beat Humphrey in ’68

Labeled himself

Aimed to appeal to SILENT MAJORITY - common everyday people, factory workers, non demonstrators,

“Middle America”

Economic Struggles

Stagflation – ( look at pg. 509 )

Stagnating economy (not a lot of movement ) wages remain the same, not a lot of new jobs + Inflation (prices of goods & services going up)

Cost of Vietnam War

Foreign competition – automobile & steel industries.

Economic Struggles OPEC – Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

Economic Struggles

Oil prices rose 400 % e.g.( if 1 gallon gas = 50 cents

= $2.50

Embargo - OPEC refused to sell oil to countries ( U.S. ) who were allies of Israel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpEVUqrNa5M

Forced Busing

Nixon criticized court order ,reaching out to Southern Whites and urban blue-collar workers

’71 – Federal courts ordered school districts to bus students outside their neighborhood to achieve greater racial balance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgDpHEjx-zg

The Watergate Scandal

Sequence of Events

Burglars break into Democratic HQ in

Watergate building in Wash. D.C. they

are arrested.

Watergate suspects are investigated

in 1973

Look at pg. 603

2 reporters (Woodward &

Bernstein) receive a tip (Deep Throat) that the burglars had ties to Nixon’s reelection

campaign.

James MCord Virgilio GonzalezFrank Sturgis Eugenio Martinez Bernard Baker

Sequence of Events

it up!” “Cove

r

Discovery of the tapes, missing information

Nixon MUSThand them over to the court18.5

MINUTES

“But I have

executive privilege!

”

Nixon is investigated by Congress

Nixon resigns August, 1974

Nixon Resigns

• Nixon resigns before he can be impeached

• Impeach - to formally charge a public official with misconduct in office

• “High crimes and misdemeanors”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7ZXzZBtDsY

Impact•Federal Campaign Act•Financial Disclosure for Government

Affairs•Weakened the Presidency

▫43% of Americans had “hardly any” faith in the executive office any more (1974)

Gerald Ford•Nixon resigns in disgrace, 1974

I am proud to be a square!!!

•“I’m a Ford, not a Lincoln”

• Gerald Ford –▫Republican ▫ U.S. Congressman ( Michigan)

(25 yrs).▫Became VP, then President ▫VP Gerald Ford enters office

FORD

Wife, Betty , influential in establishing treatment centers for alcoholism and drug addictions.

Big College Football Player – Univ. of Michigan

Served in WW II in Navy

FORD

Factories closed down Consumer demands for goods dropped Rate of unemployment rose steadily

Pardons Nixon -

Stagflation continues -

Ford becomes very unpopular, will lose election to Jimmy Carter in 1976

Nixon was officially forgiven of any crimes he may have committed as president

Jimmy Carter • Former Georgian governor

• Elected by a slim margin

• Appealed to Christian Fundamentalists – people who believe in strict interpretation of the Bible as the foundation of the Christian faith .

• Labeled himself a “common man” , an “outsider of Washington”

• But he did not have close ties to Democrats in Congress, difficult to get bills passed.

Jimmy Carter

•Continued problems: Energy - ( gas for cars, fuel for home heating ) Inflation – ( rising prices, no raises in salary )

•Granted amnesty -(political pardons) to Americans who had evaded the draft during the Vietnam War. These men were called DRAFT DODGERS

•Many Americans upset.

Changing demographics of the U.S. Loss of jobs in Northeast and Midwest these areas were called the RUSTBELT Americans moving to the SUNBELT – South and

West, gained political power

Look at pg. 611

Important Political Groups

• Evangelical Christians – breach their religion(spread the word of God) , use television (televangelists) to spread their beliefs.

•Immigrants : More immigrants from Mexico / Latin America – countries like Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, etc.

Began to gain political power, candidates wanted their votes

“ME DECADE”

•TV – showed minorities, current issues.

•Personal Fitness•Yoga, Meditation

Americans absorbed with improving themselves themselves

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fqCS7Y_kME