Nixon

Obj: How effective was RMN in domestic & foreign policy before Watergate?

• Hawks vs Doves ▫Hawks – Vietnam was winnable and legitimate; blamed

liberal media

▫Doves – Did not question intentions but continued engagement

• “If America’s soul becomes totally poisoned, part of the autopsy must read ‘Vietnam.’” – MLK

•1968 Democratic Convention – Chicago ▫A. Mayor Richard Daley - Put on a show▫B. Police Riots outside▫C. Turmoil Inside - Delegates

Hubert Humphrey 561.5 RFK 393.5 McCarthy 258 80% of primary votes for peace plank

▫D. New Deal Coalition Crumbles on TV

•I. The Election of 1968 – Conservative Resurgence

New Republicans: Sunbelt, SW, SoCal, FL & Silent Majority

▫A. Democrats Divided▫B. Nixon & Spiro “Who” Agnew

1. “End the War, Win the Peace” ▫C. George Wallace – American Independent Party

1. Law & Order

•II. Nixon’s Foreign Policy (Realpolitik) Pragmatism over ethics or ideology 1968 peace negotiations w/ Johnson…cease fire?

▫A. Vietnam 1. Vietnamization

1. Replace US w/ SV troops 2. Direct negotiation w/ NV 3. Increase air strikes & secret Cambodian & Laos

strikes 2. Cambodian Incursion & SV invades Laos (‘71) 3. 1972 Christmas Bombing – Worst of War

4. Paris Peace Accords (January 1973) 1. 58k dead, 300k wounded, $150B 2. US withdraws all troops, return POW’s, N/S issue

unresolved

▫B. Détente – Relaxation of Tensions w/ China & USSR 1. Henry Kissinger: Pragmatic, Realist, Patient 2. Cold War: Power Rivalry to be managed – not

won 3. Improved Relations w/ China

1a. Beijing: Establish American Liaison Mission (2/72) 2a. Full Diplomatic Recognition (1979)

4. Cooperation w/ USSR a. Moscow Trip; Did not end arms race (5/72) b. Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I): Nuclear

Equality – Not superiority c. ABM Treaty: restrict deployment nationwide missile

defense system

▫C. Shuttle Diplomacy in the Middle East 1. 6 Days War (‘67), Yom

Kippur War (‘73), Oil Embargo

2. Kissinger brokers truce after 2 years of diplomacy 1a. Cease Fire, Israel ceded

territory, end embargo 2a. Palestinian issue

unresolved

▫D. US Aid based on Anti-Communism 1. Iran – Support Shah 2. South Africa, Philippines, Chile

•The Fall of Richard Nixon▫Obj: To what extent did RN create his own

downfall?

•I. Nixon’s Strengths▫A. Apollo 11 (7/21/69) “Eagle has landed”

▫B. Cooperation w/ Democratic Congress 1. Increase Social Security Benefits 2. Build Subsidized Housing 3. Expanded Job Corps 4. Lowered Voting Age to 18 – 26th Amendment 5. OSHA, EPA, Clean Air Act, Earth Day (4/22/70)

•II. Troubled Economy ▫A. Stagflation – Increasing Unemployment &

Inflation 1a. Causes: War, Oil, Budget Deficits 2a. Plan: Cut spending & Raise interest rates 3a. Unrest: Strikes, Drop in Investment,

Unemployment 4a. 90 Price & Wage Freeze – Success until after

election 5a. Post Election – Voluntary Restraints 6a. Inflation soars due to embargo

•III. Nixon’s Society▫A. Law & Order

1. Establish new Republican base 2. Undermine ‘Radicals’: Audits, Wiretaps, Enemies

List 3. Uncooperative CIA leads to creation of “The

Plumbers”

▫B. Southern Strategy 1. Gain Southern White Support – anger NOT at

Nixon but SCOTUS 2. SCOTUS Nominees - 2 conservative

Southerners rejected a. Burger Court – Moderate: Powell, Rehnquist &

Blackmun b. Swann v. Charl.-Meck. Bd. Of Ed. (1971) – upheld

busing c. Roe v. Wade (1973) – liberal & more conservative

rulings d. NYT v. Nixon – 1st amendment protected

3. Let Agnew do the dirty work

•IV. Election 1972▫A. CREEP – Watergate contained?▫B. Nixon 520 vs. McGovern 17

1. Desperate for Mandate – Leaks? 2. Bold Attack on Inflation, Vietnam, Détente,

Victory

•V. Crisis in the White House▫A. Economy & Inflation: P&W Freeze over &

Prices Soar▫B. New VP; IRS Problems; Grain Shortages; Oil

Crisis 1. Agnew Resigns; Ford Appointed – Not Elected 2. Nixon tax returns: “I am not a Crook”

•VI. Watergate Investigation Continues▫A. McCord’s Letter to Judge Sirica Implicating

WH (‘73)▫B. Story Begins to Unravel – Deep Throat (M.

Felt 2005) 1. Executive Privilege 2. Ervin Committee, Saturday Night Massacre

12/73 3. Tapes, Missing Tapes

▫C. SP Jaworski & House Judiciary Committee Investigate

▫D. Unintened Co-Conspirator; More Tapes▫E. US v. Nixon; Televised; 3 Articles of

Impeachment

▫F. 8/8 Resigns; 8/9 Ford Sworn in; 9/8 Pardoned