Post on 01-Jan-2016
Nixon Agonistes
Focus Question:
When, if ever, should a president be impeached?
Richard M. Nixon
Hard-nosed politicianHighly suspicious of othersEarned a reputation as a staunch anti-
Communist
Nixon’s Political Career
Elected to Congress as a Red-Baiter Leading member of HUAC Led investigation of Alger Hiss
Served as Eisenhower’s Vice-PresidentNarrowly lost to Kennedy in 1960Lost California governor’s race in 1962
“Retired from politics”
Election of 1968
Democrats in disarrayRace riots throughout American citiesStalemate in VietnamThe Republicans campaigned as the Law and
Order Party“Secret Plan to end the war in Vietnam”
Nixon’s First Term
Governed as a moderate Expanded Social Security Expanded “Affirmative Action” policies Established federal protection agencies
OHSA Environmental Protection Agency Established price controls
Utilized Detente
Nixon negotiated with the Soviets and China Pushed strategic arms limitations Used talks to forge links
Practiced “Vietnamization” Turned war in Vietnam over to the Vietnamese
“Southern Strategy”
Adopted a cynical political policyPry white conservatives from the Democratic
Party Appoint conservative judges Promote grassroots political organizations Weaken enforcement of various Civil Rights policies
Election of 1972
Democrats imploded Leading candidate had to pull out First Vice-Presidential nominee had to remove himself
War in Vietnam winding down
However Nixon laid the seeds of his downfall
Watergate Break-In
Attempted break-in of the Democratic National Headquarters in Washington DC Five burglars “White House Plumbers” attempted to
bug the Democrats All five were employed by CREEP Story pursued by the Washington Post
Investigation Cover-Up
Nixon put up blocks on any official investigation Similar actions carried out by the Administration “Dirty Tricks” approach to politics
Patterns Discovered
Secret tapes revealed Nixon refused to honor a Senate subpoena “Saturday Night Massacre” October 20, 1973
United States v. Nixon Tapes revealed to have massive gaps One did have him order a cover-up
Resignation
The House drew up three articles of impeachment
Senior advisers informed Nixon he would be removed from office
Nixon resigned, August 8, 1974
Impact on the U.S.
Increased distrust of the national government
Deepening sense of the Southern Strategy
Democratic Party maintained a false sense of popular support
Assignment
Identify the main charge against the President
Why would this charge be seen as intolerable to Congress and the people?
Select three passages which stand out.Identify two questions which may arise from
this article