The Stalemated Seventies

1968-1980

Guiding Questions & Lecture

Chapter 39The American Pageant, 13th edition

Economic Stagnation How did the US economy change during

the 1970s? What were some of the factors leading to

economic stagnation?

Limited Growth + High Inflation The post-WWII economic boom ended in 1970s;

productivity slowed and inflation increased Main causes of slow-down and stagnation:

Increased numbers of lower-skilled, lower-paid women and teens in the work force

Business faced costs of new machinery and compliance with new government regulations

Shift from manufacturing to services (harder to measure)

More Causes Vietnam drained tax dollars and manpower. Inflation caused by high oil prices, & by war

and social program spending (which increased money flow) without increased taxes—too many dollars + too few goods to buy.

Other countries increased productivity and therefore competition.

Nixon and Vietnam What was Nixon’s policy of Vietnamization? How was Nixon’s reaction to US concerns

divisive? What increased widespread US disgust with the

Vietnam War? Why did Nixon attack Cambodia, and what was

the result? Why did anti-Communist Nixon seek détente with

China and the USSR?

“Vietnamization”: withdrawal of US troops from Vietnam

over time continued provision of US money, weapons, training & advice to

South Vietnam SV to fight their own war

The Nixon Doctrine: the US would honor standing commitments in Asia, but in future, no US troops would fight on the ground

Reacting to 1969 Vietnam Moratorium, Nixon went on TV to speak to the “silent majority” in favor of the war increased divisions in US population

Concerns over draft inequities, soldiers’ disaffection, My Lai Massacre, etc.

Nixon ordered US soldiers into Cambodia to root out Vietcong…without consulting Congress.

Reactions: National protests: Kent State (4 dead), Mississippi (2 dead) Congress repealed Gulf of Tonkin Resolution 26th Amendment: voting age to 18

Pentagon Papers (Daniel Ellsberg of NYT): revealed the full story on Vietnam to national disgust

Kent State University, Ohio, 1970

Napalm Attack, South Vietnam, 1972

In 1972, anti-communist Nixon sought détente with China, then with USSR.

Led to: Renewal of nuclear arms control talks: ABM, SALT At same time, renewal of missile defense race De-iced the Cold War Soviets and Chinese later stand by when bombing

in Vietnam increases in 1973

Nixon at Home How did the Supreme Court express liberal

social ideas? How did Nixon try to conservatize the

Court? How did Nixon expand government social

services and help the environment? Why did Nixon take the U.S. of the gold

standard?

Liberal Court Liberal court under Chief Justice Earl Warren:

Since 1953 Griswold v. Connecticut—right of privacy (birth control) Gideon v. Wainwright—right of criminal defendants to legal

counsel Escobedo and Miranda—right to remain silent, etc. New York Times v. Sullivan—libel suits only if malice Engel v. Vitale, etc.—against required prayers in public

schools

Nixon at Home Sought to conservatize the Supreme Court.

Warren Burger named chief justice, not as conservative as Nixon expected

Expansion of social services AFDC (Aid to families with dependent children) SSI (Supplemental Security Income—old, disabled) Expanded affirmative action (Philadelphia Plan),

perhaps unintentionally EPA (influence from Rachel Carson), OSHA

More Nixon at Home Took US off the gold standard and

devalued the dollar in reaction to inflation With promise of peace in Vietnam, won with

landslide in 1972 Peace with honor was a farce

Heavy bombing of NV brought them back to table Cease-fire: US to withdraw troops, get POWs, SV

would get some US support; election planned; NV could keep some troops in SV

Crisis After Crisis What was the truth behind the lies on

Cambodia? Why did Congress pass the War Powers

Act, and what did it achieve? What caused the Arab Oil Embargo, and

what were the results for the U.S.? How did Watergate lead to Nixon’s

downfall?

Crisis After Crisis Outright lies on Cambodia revealed at the same

time as tapes War Powers Act of 1973

Arab Oil Embargo of 1974—reaction to US’s Israel policy Oil pipeline, 55 speed limit, alternative sources, nuclear

power, fuel efficiency

Watergate CREEP—Republican re-election committee

engaged in dirty-tricks campaigning caught burgling the Democratic headquarters at Watergate

VP Spiro Agnew removed for kickbacks Congress replaces him with Gerald Ford

Cover-up and intimidation followed at the highest levels (Nixon’s aides, FBI, CIA)

1973-1974 hearings—John Dean reveals all including Nixon’s prior knowledge which he had denied corroborated by tapes from Oval Office

After Nixon Why was Gerald Ford the first unelected

president? How did the Vietnam War finally end? How were women’s rights supported in the

1970’s? What happened to school integration and

affirmative-action in the courts?

An Unelected President Ford selected, never elected

When Nixon’s VP Agnew was forced to resign for bribe-taking, Congress selected Congressman Gerald Ford to replace him

When Nixon himself resigned during Watergate scandal, Ford became president

Ford quickly pardoned Nixon of all crimes

Foreign Affairs Helsinki Accords of July 1975

Ford continued policy of détente w/Soviet Union US & 34 other nations confirmed Soviet-dictated

boundaries in Eastern Europe and officially ended WW2

USSR soon ignored human rights promises made as part of deal & Cold War resumed

More foreign affairs Vietnam Collapses

Ford’s attempts to maintain weapons shipments to SV rejected by Congress

South Vietnam quickly fell to Vietcong Remaining Americans & 140,000 South Vietnamese

were dramatically airlifted out of Saigon, April 29, 1975 Costs to U.S.

$118 billion; 56,000 dead & 300,000 wounded Dealt severe blow to American standing in the world &

weakened U.S. economy

The Women’s Movement Title IX of Education Amendments passed by

Congress in 1972 Outlawed sex discrimination in any federally assisted

education program, including sports

Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) passed by Congress but died after 10 year fight, failed to gain state support necessary for constitutional

amendment fought by anti-feminists such as Phyllis Schlafly, the

Catholic Church & the religious right

Court Cases Anti-discrimination cases favoring women

Reed v. Reed (1971) Frontiero v. Richardson (1973)

Abortion Rights Roe v. Wade (1973): woman’s decision to

end a pregnancy protected by the constitutional right of privacy

Racial Issues Limits on forced busing for desegregation

Millikin v. Bradley (1974) Desegregation plans could not require movement of

students across school district lines Controversies over “affirmative action”

Regents of U.C. v. Bakke (1978): suit brought by white student rejected by U.C. Davis

Admissions preferences could not be given on basis of race alone, tho’ race could play a role in creating a diverse student body

Carter’s Presidency What was accomplished at the Camp David

Accords in 1978? What contributed to high inflation during

Carter’s presidency? How did Carter respond to the oil crisis? Describe Soviet-U.S. relations under Carter. How was the U.S. involved with events in

Iran, and what was the result?

Jimmy Carter Democrat elected as an outsider to “clean

up” Washington D.C. after Watergate Born-again Baptist & former governor of Georgia Remained an outsider & had trouble with a

Democratic Congress

Carter’s Successes Camp David Accords (1978)

Carter brokered a successful agreement between Israel’s Begin and Egypt’s Sadat

Israel to withdraw territory won in 1967 & Egypt to respect Israel’s borders

Diplomatic relations with China resumed Treaties to turn over Panama Canal to Panama Set up Department of Energy; cut taxes

Carter’s Challenges Soviets & Cubans supporting revolutionary

groups in Africa Arms control deals stalled U.S. inflation above 13% by 1979

Increasing reliance on imported oil Shrinking dollar hurt those on fixed incomes Growing budget deficits High interest rates (“prime rate” went to 20%!!)

Carter’s Crises Iranian revolution disrupts oil supplies OPEC raises oil prices: long gas lines & inflation Carter’s “program” during Oil Crisis

Criticized Americans and “cleaned out” his Cabinet SALT II fails without Senate’s support Iranian hostage crisis

American Embassy staff taken hostage & held for 444 days; demands for Shah’s return; failed rescue attempt

Soviets invade Afghanistan US embargo of USSR & boycott of Moscow Olympics