Domestic politics (1945-75) Flashcards
1
Q
5
Describe the policy platforms of all Presidents from 1945-74
A
- Truman - Fair Deal
- Ike - dynamic conservatism
- JFK - New Frontier
- LBJ - Great Society, ‘war on poverty’
- Nixon - New Federalism (federal powers shifted to states)
2
Q
4
Describe issues facing Truman in 1945
A
- Shadow of FDR who had reshaped role of state intervention, international involvement and Democrat Party
- Impact of WW2
- Labour relations
- 1946 mid-terms
3
Q
4
List Truman domestic policy
A
- Full Employment Bill 1945
- Rapid reconversion
- Labour relations
- Fair Deal
4
Q
3
Describe the impact of the 1946 mid-terms
A
- Republican majorities in both houses
- Caused Presidential/Congressional gridlock
- Truman nicknamed it the ‘Do Nothing Congress’
5
Q
4
Describe Truman’s Full Employment Bill 1945
A
- Bill declared full employment to be a right
- Required government to ensure jobs were available
- Bill included increased social security payments, higher minimum wage, farm price support and public works programmes
- Formed Employment Act 1946
6
Q
3
Describe limits to the Employment Act 1946
A
- Republicans/Conservative Democrats opposed to socialist measures of bill
- wording of bill watered down to remove federal committment to ‘full employment’
- opposed to wider proposals to extend FEPC, initiate national health insurance and expand social security system
FEPC - Fair Employment Practices Commission
7
Q
2
Describe labour relations by 1945
A
- Unions gain considerable power in WW2
- Full employment meant strikebreakers couldn’t be brought in
8
Q
3
Describe rapid reconversion under Truman
A
- Truman called for quick military demobilisation
- Inevitably floundered due to difficulty of objectives
- Aimed to maintain full employment, increase production of consumer goods, initiate cordial industrial relations in short term
9
Q
4
Describe progressive labour relations under Truman
A
- Aug 1945, announced he would maintain price controls but relaxed rules to allow unions to pursue higher wages
- Nov 1945, called special labour-management conference in attempt to deter any further stike action
- Vetoed Taft-Harley Act 1947
- Called 1948 special session of Congress to pass various ND-style measures (though failed)
10
Q
5
Describe restrictive labour relations under Truman
A
- April 1945, United Mine Workers announced strike for pay increase
- Railroad strike
- Recommended compulsory arbitration after series of strike in steel, coal, automobile and railroad industries across 1945-46
- Inc 750k steel workers, 93k meat packers
- Failed to prevent passage of Taft-Harley Act 1947
11
Q
5
Describe the railroad strike 1945
A
- May 1945, railroads went on strike
- Truman announced he would conscript striking railroad workers and have army operate railroad
- Threatened to introduce legislation to impose severe penalties for breaking trade union laws
- Rail strike called off after sizeable increase to railroad workforce
- Yet demonstrated continued hostility to trade unions
12
Q
3
Describe the Taft Harley Act 1947 (Labour Management Relations Act)
A
- Red wave (congressional) in 1946
- Act prohibited wildcat strikes, secondary boycotts, mass picketing, closed shops, etc
- Truman veto overturned by Congress after significant congressional Democrat support
13
Q
2
Describe increased opposition in the 1948 Presidential election
A
- Henry Wallace, Truman’s predecessor as VP, set up Progressive Party
- Strom Thurmond, conservative democrat Governor of SC, set up ‘Dixiecrat’ party opposed to Truman’s push for civil rights
14
Q
3
Describe Truman in the 1948 Presidential Campaign
A
- Went on 30k mile whistle-stop tour of USA
- Promised ND-style measures (Fair Deal)
- Criticsied ‘do nothing’ Republican Congress
15
Q
3
Describe the results of the 1948 Presidential election
A
- Opinion polls predicted easy victory for Dewey (Gov of NY)
- Chicago Daily printed ‘Dewey defeats Truman’ headline
- Truman easily defeated Dewey with 2m najority in pop vote
16
Q
3
Describe the Fair Deal 1949
A
- Now equipped with electoral mandate
- Wide programme to expand welfare support
- declared ‘every segment of our population and every individual has right to expect from our government a fair deal’
17
Q
3
Describe the success of the Fair Deal
A
- Moderately effective public housing and slum-clearing bill in 1949
- 1949, minimum wage raised from 40c to 75c an hour
- 1950, significant expansion of Social Security - extended insurance coverage to 10m additional individuals
18
Q
3
Describe the failures of the Fair Deal
A
- National Health Insurance and repeal of Taft-Harley resisted by conservative Congress
- Southern Democrats fillibustered civil rights legislation
- ‘Brannan Plan’ to provide income support to small farmers replaced by less effective program to continue price supports
19
Q
3
Describe ‘dynamic conservativism’
A
- Eisenhower middle-way ideology
- Economically conservative, socially liberal
- Small state - possible due to rising prosperity
20
Q
4
Describe praise of Eisenhower’s political style
A
- Embodied strong military leadership in face of rising Communist threat
- Let experienced cabinet ministers dictate much policy
- Co-operated well with Congress controlled by Democrats for 6/8 years of Presidency to achieve numerous legislative victories
- Left office with net 31% approval, far above Truman’s -24% approval
21
Q
2
Describe criticism of Eisenhower’s political style
A
- seen as ‘do nothing’ President that preferred to play golf
- 3 Cabinet Ministers were car industry millionaires
22
Q
7
Describe legislative successes under Eisenhower
A
- Ended wage/price controls, reduced farm subsidies
- Created NASA in 1958 following Soviet launch of first space satellite, Sputnik, in 1957
- Atomic Energy Act 1954 to encourage peaceful use of nuclear power
- continued most ND/FD programmes
- 1956, raised minimum wage from 75c to $1
- Created Department of Health, Education and Welfare in 1953
- Federal-Aid Highway Act 1956
both expanded and shrank state
FD - Fair Deal
23
Q
5
Describe failures under Eisenhower
A
- Accussed of overly-representing Big Business
- Military-industrial complex only grew despite Eisenhower’s warnings
- Spending policies permitted by rising prosperity of time
- Showed little sympathy for civil rights (though supported SC ruling in Brown v Board of Education 1954)
- Criticism of Federal-Aid Highway Act 1956
24
Q
2
Describe road construction under Eisenhower
A
- Federal-Aid Highway Act 1956
- Large sums spent on completion of St Lawrence Seaway (linked Great Lakes to Atlantic)
25
Q
4
Describe the Federal-Aid Highway Act 1956
A
- Created interstate highway system
- Largest public works programme in US History
- $25bn to construct 41k miles of road over 10-year period
- Original principle aim of bill to facilitate rapid evacuation in the event of nuclear attack
26
Q
1
Describe criticism of the Federal-Aid Highway Act 1956
A
- Accussed of displacing black communities
27
Q
4
Describe developments that encouraged McCarthyism
A
- China fell to Communism in 1949
- The development of the Cold War in Europe
- Increasing US involvement in Asia, particularly in the Korean War
- Spying scandals
28
Q
4
Describe the domestic reaction to China’s fall to communism in 1949
A
- Unexpected and criticism that State department should have done more to prevent it
- Pat McCarran (Democrat Senator from NV) a key figure in in Senate Internal Security Subcommittee
- tried to persuade people that China’s fall was a result of secret Communist infilitrators within State department
- ‘China lobby’ created to campaign for detailed investigation into failings of USA
29
Q
4
Describe McCarthyism
A
- Ruthless witch-hunt against communist suspects in State Department through Senate Government Operations Committee
- Mass removal of suspects from goverment posts
- FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover would remove American Communists from positions of power
- Followed previous media interrogation of Charlie Chaplin and others in 1940s
30
Q
4
Describe spying in the USA that caused the 1950s ‘Red Scare’
A
- 1938, Whittaker Chambers (Time Magazine editor) produced evidence in court that Alger Hiss (senior State department official highly involved at Yalta Conference) has handed over copies of secret documents to Soviets
- 1950, German physicist involved in Manhattan Project, Klaus Fuchs, convicted of giving nuclear secrets to USSR
- 1953, Scientists Julius and Ethel Rosenburg executed for leaking atomic secrets to Communists despite little evidence supporting latter’s involvement
- Soviets later claimed they had 221 operatives spying in various branches of US Government
31
Q
4
Describe the Loyalty Review Board
A
- Introduced by Truman in 1947
- Any government employee found to be sympathetic to ‘subversive organisations’ could be fired
- by 1951, 1.2k dismissed and 6k resigned
- 110 communist-supporting organisations banned
32
Q
1
Describe the use of the 1940 Smith Act under Truman
A
- 11 Communist Party leaders prosecuted
33
Q
3
Describe the rise of Joseph McCarthy
A
- junior Republican senator from Wisconsin
- won praise for Feb 1950 speech alleging State Department was infested with spies, despite lacking evidence
- 1953-55, chaired Senate Government Operations Committee
34
Q
2
Describe support of McCarthy
A
- Won support from American Legion (veterans campaign group) and Christian Fundamentalists
- Also won support from less-educated, less prosperous Americans that rallied against wealthy State Department bureaucrats
35
Q
3
Describe the criticism of progressive policies under McCarthyism
A
- ND/FD measures seen as communist
- Civil rights measires, UN support, redistributive welath policies attacked
- One Indiana school librarian famously banned Robin Hood books as robbing rich to give to poor seen as communist
36
Q
6
Describe the downfall of McCarthyism
A
- Accussed of bullying and fabricating evidence
- McCarthy criticised eminetly-respected General George Mashall
- 1954 investigation into army seemed to contradict recent full-scale military action against Communists in Korea
- President and former Supreme Allied Commander in Europe Eisenhower criticised army investigation
- Censured by Senate following attempts to gain preferential treatment for an aide drafted into military
- Fell into obscurity and died in 1957 from alcoholism
Censure - formal statement of dissaproval, though not removal
37
Q
6
Describe the reasons why Kennedy won in 1960
A
- Youthful image of New York Lawyer (43 years)
- Desire for change inherent in ‘New Frontier’
- Criticism of catholic roots had waned by 1960
- Use of MLK’s popularity
- Catholic Irish roots gave him underdog status
- TV debates
38
Q
3
Describe the Kennedy family
A
- Joseph Kennedy (Father) was millionaire who served as US Ambassador to Britain
- Provided heavy financial backing for campaign
- Robert Kennedy was former member of McCarthy team and a political hack
39
Q
4
Describe how MLK’s popularity contributed to JFK’s 1960 victory
A
- Oct 1960, MLK arrested for trying to desegregate after Atlanta sit-ins
- JFK phoned MLK’s wife to offer support
- RFK used influence to obtain’s MLK’s release
- Well-publicised and won AA support weeks before election
40
Q
5
Describe TV debates in the 1960 election
A
- First televised presidential debate
- watched by 70m Americans
- 87% of Americans had TV by 1960
- JFK used blue suit to stand out and appeared more confident against erratic Nixon in grey suit
- radio listeners felt Nixon won; TV viewers felt JFK won (demonstrating power of image)
41
Q
2
Describe the impact of TV debates in the 1960 election
A
- studies showed that debate made up mind of 4m voters, 3m of which decided on JFK
- important given JFK pipped Nixon by just over 100k votes in election
42
Q
4
List members of Kennedy’s New Deal Coalition
A
- Labour unions
- Blue-collar workers
- racial/religious minorities
- liberal white Southerners and intellectuals
43
Q
3
Describe Kennedy’s New Frontier
A
- Vague election slogan transformed into reformist platform
- Aimed to make a fairer society and extend equal rights to AAs
- Reorganised central government to do this
44
Q
2
Describe the ‘Brains Trust’
A
- Included brightest young experts from American universities
- Hoped they generate new ideas to tackle America’ fundamental issues
45
Q
4
Describe positives in JFK’s civil rights policies
A
- Appointed 5 federal judges, including Thurgood Marshall, a leading civil rights activist, 1961
- Oct 1962, sent 23k troops to ensure that James Meredith, a black student, could attend Univeristy of Mississippi
- Feb 1963, introduced Civil Rights bIll to extend equal rights to housing and education
- 1963, threatened legal action against Louisiana for refusing to fund desegregated schools
46
Q
3
Describe negatives in JFK’s civil rights policies
A
- Civil Rights Bill defeated by Congress
- Hesitant to alienate conservative base in South, unlike LBJ
- Unemployment twice as high among AAs
47
Q
6
Describe positives in JFK’s economic policy
A
- Tax cut proposals in 1963
- Public Works Act 1962
- Manpower Development and Training Act 1962
- Limited prices/wages to tame inflation
- Increased defence and space technology spending, creating jobs e.g. Telstar Act 1962
- Promised to put a ‘man on the moon’ by end of decade in 1961 speech
48
Q
2
Describe JFK’s tax cut proposals
A
Proposed to cut…
* income taxes from range of 20-91% to 14-65%
* corporation tax from 52% to 47%
49
Q
1
Describe the Public Works Act 1962
A
- Public works programmes totalling $900m
50
Q
1
Describe the Manpower Development and Training Act 1962
A
- Grants to high-tech companies to invest in equipment to train workers
51
Q
1
Describe the Telstar Act 1962
A
- Gave federal spending to develop satellite technology
52
Q
3
Describe negatives in JFK’s economic policy
A
- Little to tackle tradition industrial unemployment due to $295bn debt by 1963
- Unemployment twice as high among AAs
- Boom heavily depedent on continued government spending
53
Q
5
Describe the positives of JFK’s social reforms
A
- Tenure saw minimum wage increase from $1 to $1.25
- Manpower Development and Training Act 1962 provided retraining for long-term unemployed to adjust for technological change
- Area Redevelopment Act 1961 provided $394m loans/grants to private sector to stimlate job creation
- Housing Act 1961 provided cheap loans for inner-city redevelopment
- Social Security Act 1962 provided greater financial support to elderly, unemployed and children with unemployed fathers
54
Q
4
Describe the negatives of JFK’s social reforms
A
- Medicare system thrown out by Congress
- Slum clearance created housing shortages in inner-cities
- Housing crunch saw poorest unable to pay mortgage
- Minimum wage increase came to no aid of unemployed
55
Q
3
Describe the failings of the New Frontier
A
- Acheived little due to focus on FP and vagueness of policy platform
- Most fervent opposition came from Southern Democrats, who feared that expansion of black franchise would erode their support base
- More impactful reforms didn’t come until LBJ’s ascession
56
Q
4
Describe the background of LBJ
A
- Southern Democrat from Texas
- Congressional veteran who had led Senate Democrats from 1953-61
- known as ‘Great Persuader’
- Chosen as running-mate in 1960 to balance youthfulness and northerness of Kennedy
57
Q
3
Describe the issues facing LBJ in 1963
A
- Had 11 months to deliver JFK’s New Frontier
- Rumours he would be displaced as running-mate in 1964
- internal criticism within Government
58
Q
2
Describe internal criticism of LBJ in 1963
A
- Coarse Texas way of speaking and supposed lack of education (despite being most well-read in Washington) mocked by Eastern liberlas
- Long-standing feud with Bobby Kennedy stemming from 1960 running-mate selection
59
Q
1
What did LBJ do to JFK’s cabinet?
A
- invites all members to retain place, including RFK
60
Q
3
Describe civil rights legislation/rulings under LBJ
A
- Civil Rights Act 1964
- Voting Rights Act 1965
- Loving v Virginia (1967) - SC ruling struck down state laws prohibiting interracial marriage
61
Q
5
Describe the Civil Rights Act 1964
A
- Stagnated under JFK due to congressional deadlock
- Bill passed into law by LBJ, who held considerable political capital among Southern Democrats
- Banned discrimination based on race and gender in employment and in federally-assisted programmes
- ended segregation in public places
- LBJ faced down powerful opposition such as Richard Russell Jr (Governor of Georgia)
62
Q
3
Describe the Voting Rights Act 1965
A
- Banned literacy tests and other disenfranchising methods
- Appointed agents to ensure voting procedures were carried out properly
- By end of 1966, only 4/13 southern states had fewer than 50% of AAs registered to vote
63
Q
1
Describe the impact of civil rights legislation under LBJ
A
- Number of AA living below poverty line fell by over 50%
64
Q
5
Describe economic policy under Johnson
A
- Revenue Act 1964
- omnibus Economic Opportunity Act 1964
- Appalachian Recovery Programme 1965
- Programme to provide additional education for very young, poor children to widen opprtunity
- Minimum wage increased from $1.25 to $1.40 an hour
65
Q
2
Describe the Revenue Act 1964
A
- Reduced top rate of federal income tax from 91% to 70%
- below JFK tax cut proposals (1963) of a 65% top rate
66
Q
3
Describe the Economic Opportunity Act 1964
A
- established ‘job corps’ to provide vocational training for those aged 16-21
- VISTA recruited volunteers to states, local agencies and private non-profits to perform duties to combat poverty
- Schools in improverished areas recieved volunteer teaching attention
VISTA - Volunteers in service to America
67
Q
1
Describe the Appalachian Regional Development Act 1965
A
- Provided federal funds for development of mounainous areas in Eastern states
68
Q
1
Describe the impact of LBJ’s economic policy
A
- by 1966, number of families with incomes of at least $7k reached 55%, compared with 22% in 1950
69
Q
9
Describe social legislation under LBJ
A
- Wilderness Protection Act 1964
- Medical Aid Act 1965
- Immigration and Nationality Act 1965
- National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities Act 1965
- Civil Rights legislation
- Education legislation
- Housing legislation
- Congress passed stronger Air and Water Quality Acts to tighten pollution controls
- Safety standards raised in consumer products
70
Q
1
Describe the Wilderness Protection Act 1964
A
- Saved 9.1m acres of forestland from industrial development
71
Q
2
Describe the Medical Aid Act 1965
A
- provided Medicare (for old) and Medicaid (for poor) to offset healthcare costs
- 25m Americans given access to decent healthcare for first time
72
Q
1
Describe the Immigration and Nationality Act 1965
A
- Removed long-standing discriminatory quotas based on ehtnic origin
73
Q
2
Describe the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities 1965
A
- Public funds for artists and galleries
- granted $2.5m in first fiscal year
74
Q
2
Describe education legislation under LBJ
A
- Higher Education Act 1965 - expanded access to college courses
- Elementary and Secondary Education Act 1965
75
Q
2
Describe the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 1965
A
- Provided first major federal support for American public schools
- Aimed to ensure equal education standards in all states
76
Q
2
Describe housing legislation under LBJ
A
- Housing and Urban Development Act 1965
- Model Cities Act 1966
77
Q
3
Describe the Housing and Urban Development Act 1965
A
- Greatly expanded funding for exisiting federal housing programmes
- Provided authority for families qualifying for public housing to be placed in empty private housing
- Created Housing and Urban Development cabinet-level post
78
Q
3
Describe the Model Cities Act 1966
A
- Provided federal funds for slum clearance
- Better provision of services in dilapitated city centres
- Continued JFK policy of urban renewal
79
Q
3
Describe opposition to Johnson’s Great Society
A
- Republicans criticised welfare spending that undermined ‘rugged individualism’, especially in health
- Exacerbated by Vietnam War spending, which was costing $77.4bn annually by 1968
- Oubreak of violence in late 1960s confirmed social friction despite progressive policies
80
Q
1
Describe limits to opposition to Johnson’s Great Society
A
- Opposition to LBJ focussed on FP rather than domestic policy (unlike JFK and predecessors)
81
Q
1
What agency was responsible for administering most of the War on Poverty programmes?
A
Office of Economic Opportunity
82
Q
1
What is the Southern Strategy?
A
- Political realignment where Republican leaders consciously appealed to racial grievances of white Southerners to gain their electoral support
83
Q
3
Describe the return of Nixon in 1968
A
- 1962, ‘Time’ magazine wrote Nixon’s ‘political career was over’ following unsuccessful 1962 gubernatorial campaign in CA
- 1968 Republican Convention saw Nixon elected on first ballot
- Confirmed political rehabilitation of ‘New Nixon’ who had quitely rebuilt his credibiliy
84
Q
4
Describe the image of Nixon in 1968
A
- Positioned himself as moderate who could appeal to ‘silent majority’
- Had been born into poor family in Quakers, California
- Opposed ‘unpatriotism’ of violent direct action and left-wing movement
- Appealed to growing conservatism of older voters
85
Q
3
Describe Nixon’s policies in 1968
A
- Appealed to ‘Middle America’ concerned by Great Society
- Promised ‘peace with honour’ in Vietnam
- Keen to exploit Southern Strategy
86
Q
4
Describe the Crisis of the Democrat Party in 1968
A
- March 1968, LBJ announced shock exit from Presidential race following increasing discontent over Vietnam
- ‘Old politics’ of Johnson, Humphrey v ‘New politics’ of RFK, E. McCarthy
- June 1968, Bobby Kennedy assassinated immediately following CA and SD primary victories by anti-Zionist man
- Democratic National Conference 1968
SD - South Dakota
87
Q
4
Describe the Democratic National Conference 1968
A
- VP Humphrey v Eugene McCarthy
- Richard Haley, mayor of Chicago, accussed of permitting police brutality
- Violence in conference hall and streets broadcast on TV
- Chaos damaged prospects of winning
88
Q
2
Describe the failings of VP Hebert Humphrey in the 1968 election
A
- Too moderate for angry idealists backing Senator Eugene McCarthy
- Supported Vietnam War, though less so than Johnson
89
Q
1
What did LBJ do shortly before the 1968 election?
A
October 1968, made peace offer to North Vietnam, creating an atmosphere of instability
90
Q
1
Describe evidence against the Southern Strategy in the 1968 election
A
Dixiecrat George Wallace won 5 Southern states
91
Q
3
Describe the issues facing Nixon in 1968
A
- Increasing polarisation between youthful liberals and hardening older conservatives
- 1968 elections had given Democrats majorities in both houses
- Vietnam
92
Q
5
Describe Nixon’s political machine
A
- Placed capable loyal administrators at key advisory positions
- Chief of Staff - ‘Bob’ Haldeman
- Assistant to President in Domestic Affairs - John Ehrlichman
- Known collectively as ‘Berlin Wall’ to journalists for tight administrative control of government
- Later appointed Kissinger as simultaneous Sec of State and NSA from 1973-77
93
Q
3
Describe Nixon’s family assistance plan
A
- 1969, introduced Family Assistance Plan (FAP) which implemented negative income tax of $1.6k to replace Great Society benefits programmes for WC families
- Rejected by Congress
- Nevertheless, there was increased spending on social programmes introduced by Great Society
negative income tax - money transfer
94
Q
2
Decribe the Tax Reform Act 1969
A
- Created Alternative Minimum Tax
- Intended to tax high-earners who had previously avoided payment through exemptions
95
Q
3
Describe health care policy under Nixon
A
- 1971, Nixon proposed Family Health Insurance Programme (FHIP)
- All businesses with 1 (later revised to 10) or more employees required to provide standard health insurance to employees and families
- Failed to gain congressional backing
96
Q
3
Describe Nixon’s environmental policy
A
- Established Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970 - advised govt on environmental issues
- Passed Clean Air Act 1970
- Declared first ever Earth Day in 1972
97
Q
5
Describe Nixon’s regressive civil rights policy
A
- Conservative race relations views
- Encouraged VP Spiro Agnew to attack liberals and appeal to white Southerners
- Slowed down implementation of desegregation of schools in Mississippi
- Blocked moves to extend Voting Rights Act 1965
- Appointed conservative Warren Burger as Chief Justice
98
Q
3
Describe limits to Nixon’s regressive civil rights policy
A
- By 1971, there were 81 black mayors and 13 black congressmen
- 1969 - 600k black students in mixed schools in South
- 1970 - 3m black students in mixed schools in South
99
Q
3
Describe Nixon’s law and order policy
A
- Used Justice Department to challenge activists
- Huston Plan 1970
- ‘plumbers’
100
Q
3
Describe the Huston Plan 1970
A
- Plan would’ve allowed FBI and CIA to conduct wire-tapping and covert surveillance
- Vetoed by J. Edgar Hoover to protect power of FBI
- Nixon set up secret ‘plumbers’ in response
101
Q
3
Describe the ‘plumbers’
A
- Secret intelligence unit within White House to stop leaks
- Headed by Gordon Liddy (former FBI) and Howard Hunt (former CIA)
- First operation was to target former military analyst Daniel Ellsberg, who had leaked the Pentagon Papers to the press
102
Q
2
Describe Nixon’s conservative values
A
- Espoused conservative rhetoric in 1968 to ‘silent majority’
- Attacked George McGovern as ‘ultra-liberal’ in 1972 election
103
Q
2
Describe limits to Nixon’s conservative values
A
- 2nd SC appointment, Harry Blackmun, became considerably liberal in rulings and decisive in Roe v Wade 1973
- Policy reminiscent of Johnson’s Great Society
104
Q
3
Describe the 1972 election
A
- Had focussed on FP successes which had dominated first term
- Nixon won landslide, carrying 49 states
- Despite high polling ratings, George Wallace’s democratic primary attempt derailed by assassination attempt
105
Q
4
Describe the Pentagon Papers
A
- Released 1971
- Top secret Department of Defence study on US political and military involvement in Vietnam from 1945-67
- Revealed that successive administrations from Truman-Johnson had misled public over involvement
- e.g. Eisenhower administration actively worked against Geneva Accords
106
Q
2
Describe ‘New Federalism’
A
- Nixon’s policy of decentralising programmes and powers of Fed Govt to state and locally elected officials
- Created 10 regional councils containing top regional officials from 9 federal agencies/departments to organise grants, regulation, etc
107
Q
3
Describe CREEP (Committee to Re-Elect the President)
A
- 1972, Nixon set up CREEP following concerns he would not be re-elected
- Set aside $350k for ‘dirty tricks’
- Encouraged to use whatever methods necessary
108
Q
4
Describe the Watergate complex break-in
A
- June 1972, 5 CREEP members arrested for breaking into DNC HQ at Watergate Office Building and attempting to plant bugging devices
- 2 Washington Post journalists Bernstein and Woodward published discovery that individuals were CREEP members and that CREEP was controlled by White House
- Nixon denied all involvement by him or advisors
- Jan 1973, Watergate burglars went on trial and all convicted
109
Q
4
Describe the investigation of the Watergate break-in
A
- March 1973, James McCord (one of the burglars) claimed in court there had been a WH cover up
- Nixon denied personal involvement, but admitted Haldeman and Erlichman had been involved, who subsequently resigned
- Senate Committee set up to investigate scandal from May-November 1973
- John Dean, WH official, claimed there had been cover-up by Nixon
110
Q
4
Describe Nixon’s tape-recorded conversations
A
- A White House aide told the committee that Nixon had recorded all White House conversations since 1971
- Nixon tried to avoid providing the tapes and provided heavily-edited 7/9 tapes
- One tape had 18 mins missing
- Eventually forced to provide all unedited tapes
111
Q
3
Describe the aftermath of the reveal of Nixon’s providing of tapes
A
- Revealed dirty tricks campaign
- Had repeatedly lied throughout investigation
- Excessive foul language undermined dignity of elder statesman reputation
112
Q
5
Describe the resignation of Nixon
A
- July 1974, Congress moved to impeach Nixon
- 8 Aug 1974, Nixon resigned in televised broadcast to avoid impeachment
- Ford fatally issued immediate decree pardoning ‘Tricky Dicky’
- 31 of Nixon’s team served sentences for Watergate-related offences
- Carter elected in 1976 promising to never lie
113
Q
4
Describe the reduction to executive power that followed the Watergate scandal
A
- War Powers Act 1973
- Election Campaign Act 1974
- Privacy Act 1974
- Congressional Budget Act 1974
114
Q
1
Describe the War Powers Act 1973
A
- Required President to consult Congress before sending American forces into combat
115
Q
1
Describe the Election Campaign Act 1974
A
- set limits on electoral contributions to prevent corruption
116
Q
1
Describe the Privacy Act 1974
A
- Allowed US citizens to acess any files Government held on them
117
Q
Describe the Congressional Budget Act 1974
A
- President could not use Federal funds for personal purposes
