Unit 11 Lesson 1: The Presidency of Richard Nixon Flashcards
Once elected, Nixon was less supportive of the civil rights movement than Johnson had been. He began to pursue what some historians have called a policy of
deliberate neglect
Who did Nixon please with his “New Federalism.”
conservatives
Nixons veiws on NASA
Nixon also agreed with President Kennedy’s commitment to put a man on the moon before the end of the 1970s. Like Johnson before him, Nixon supported significant budget allocations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to achieve this goal.
What did “New Federalism” do
This program drastically expanded the use of federal “block grants” to states to spend as they wished without strings attached.
Once elected, Nixon was less supportive of the civil rights movement than Johnson had been. In 1969, federal lawyers sided with the state of Mississippi when leaders there sought to slow the pace of school desegregation. Why is that so signnificant
This was the first time in 15 years that the federal government had slowed integration.
Nixon also showed compassion toward Native Americans.
He addressed several of their long-standing grievances. In 1970, he returned sacred lands to the Taos Pueblo of New Mexico. Among other measures, he more than doubled funding to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
However, Nixon did not entirely ignore civil rights issues.
For example, he expanded affirmative action. This was a program begun during the Johnson administration. It aimed to improve employment and educational opportunities for racial minorities.
What was the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act
. In January 1975, Nixon signed the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, which returned power to the tribes and affirmed tribal sovereignty.
Nixon had criticized Johnson’s Great Society policies before being elected. However, he built on some Great Society features once in office. Elaborate
In 1969, Nixon signed a bill that eliminated the investment tax credit. He moved two million of the poorest people off the tax rolls altogether. He kept Johnson’s food stamp program but established national eligibility requirements to replace Johnson’s simplified requirements. In addition, Nixon signed into law automatic adjustments for inflation for Social Security payments.
How did New Federalism differ from what Johnson was doing
Johnson had often designated that federal funds given to states should be used on urban areas and disadvantaged populations.
In 1970, approximately 14,000 workers were killed on the job in the United States. How did Nixion respond
To address this crisis, Nixon created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Nixon sought to manage other problems of the late 1960s and 1970s. How did he address these issues
. He often created new federal agencies to help address these issues.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OSHA’s mission is to ensure the health and safety of workers in both private and public workplaces.
Impact of the OSHA
Workplace deaths have dropped by more than 60 percent since OSHA’s establishment.
the public was also becoming more concerned about the effects of environmental pollution. What did Nixon do in response
In response, Nixon created the Environmental Agency (EPA). The EPA’s mission is to work for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.
Nixon had campaigned in part on a promise of restoring “law and order” to a nation reeling from nightly exposure to violence on the national news. What was one problem de focusd on
the use of illegal drugs.
What was the War on drugs all about
Nixon viewed drug users as criminals. He declared a “war on drugs” aimed at reducing the illegal drug trade in the United States.
In response to the use of illegal drugs what did Nixon create
In 1973, his administration created the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
How did America reach ression during the mid-1970s
The nation had enjoyed seven years of expansion since 1961. However, inflation was threatening to limit consumers’ purchasing power. This, in turn, would slow economic growth.
Unemplyment rates during the mid 1970s
. Unemployment was 6.2 percent, twice the level under Johnson
How did Nixion respond to the increasing inflation and ression
. After earlier efforts to limit inflation with lower federal spending, Nixon proposed increasing federal spending in the hopes of stimulating the economy. Nevertheless, unemployment and inflation stayed high. This phenomenon became known as “stagflation.”
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stagflation
The term combined the economic conditions of stagnation and inflation.
The situation worsened in October 1973. During this time, what was happening the the Middle East
Israel, a valuable American ally in the Middle East, had won a significant amount of land during the Six-Day War in 1967. Countries on the other side of the conflict that rejected Israel’s right to the land, including Syria and Egypt, demanded that the lands be returned. On October 6, 1973, Egypt and Syria, backed by the Soviets, attacked Israel on the Jewish sacred holiday of Yom Kippur. Israel was unprepared for the attack.
After eighteen days of fighting, the United Nations halted hostilities, and both sides agreed to terms of disengagement. President Nixon himself was focused on other matters, but Secretary of State Henry Kissinger was instrumental in negotiating the cease-fire. What was “shuttle diplomacy,”
. Through what became known as “shuttle diplomacy,” Kissinger traveled back and forth between the leaders involved and conducted the discussions in that manner, working with one side at a time.
Meanwhile, the United States began airlifting supplies to Israel in an effort to prevent its downfall. Why is supporting Israel so important to the US?
. One matter of concern in the Middle East for Americans was access to the Suez Canal. As long as it remained in friendly hands, the United States would continue to be able to access it. This would not be guaranteed if Egypt were to take control.
What caused the oil crisis
In retaliation of American support of Israel, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) stopped oil shipments to the United States from October 1973 to March 1974. The resulting shortage created an oil crisi
Faced with high fuel prices, American consumers panicked.
Even after the embargo ended, prices continued to rise. By the end of the Nixon administration in 1974, inflation had soared to 12.2 percent.
. Nixon looked for opportunities for the United States to pit the other nations against each other. In 1969, he announced a new Cold War principle that became known as the
Nixon Doctrine
Nixon Doctrine
According to this doctrine, the United States would continue to assist its allies. However, it would not assume the responsibility of defending the entire noncommunist world. Nixon wanted other nations, like Japan, to assume more of the burden of defending themselves.
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Nixon abruptly reversed two decades of U.S. diplomatic sanctions against and hostility toward the communist regime in the People’s Republic of China. How did he do that
He personally traveled to Beijing to meet with China’s leaders, Chairman Mao Zedong and premier Zhou Enlai, in February 1972.
Why did Nixon go to China
Nixon hoped that opening up to the Chinese government would prompt its bitter rival, the Soviet Union, to compete for global influence and seek a more productive relationship with the United States.
What did China and Nixion agree on
Nixon and China’s leaders did not agree on all issues. But they agreed that the Soviet Union should be limited in spreading its influence in Asia.
Outcome of Nixion going to China
They promised to work toward establishing trade between their two nations and to eventually establishing full diplomatic relations with each other. The two leaders ended up signing a friendship treaty.
Nixon made another newsworthy trip in May 1972, traveling to Moscow to meet with the Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. The two discussed a policy of détente, what does that mean?
a relaxation of tensions between their nations.
During Nixions trip to Russia they signed the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) what did that do
The treaty limited each side to deploying only two antiballistic missile systems. It also limited the number of nuclear missiles maintained by each country. In 1974, another agreement reduced antiballistic missile sites to one per country.
What other agreements were made during Nixons trip to russia
In 1974, another agreement reduced antiballistic missile sites to one per country. Moreover, the two sides signed agreements to allow scientific and technological exchanges and promised to work toward a joint space mission.
How soon after his inauguration on January 20, 1969, did Nixon make his first foreign trip?
one month
What were some places that Nixon visited frequently?
Western Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East
During the 1972 presidential campaign, members of the Committee to Re-Elect the President (CRP) decided to play “dirty tricks.” what did they do
They spied on President Nixon’s opponents. Such actions gained the committee the nickname “CREEP.” CRP’s most notorious operation was a break-in at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. The political scandal that resulted was known simply as Watergate.
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The Watergate Scandal
Early in the morning on June 17, 1972, police arrested five men inside DNC headquarters. According to a plan revealed later, the men were there to wiretap DNC telephones. There was little interest in the break-in at first. Then, on August 1, Washington Post reporters linked one of the men to Nixon’s reelection committee. On August 30, Nixon announced that no one in the White House was involved. In the following weeks, however, more connections were found between the burglars and CRP. In October 1972, the FBI revealed evidence of illegal intelligence gathering by CRP. Committee members had hoped to sabotage the Democratic Party. On November 7, 1972, Nixon won reelection in a landslide over George McGovern.
Initially, Nixon was able to hide his connection to the break-in and the other wrongdoings alleged against members of CRP.
Nixon’s Resignation
In a speech on August 5, 1974, Nixon, pleading a poor memory, accepted blame for the Watergate scandal. After being warned by other Republicans that he would be found guilty by the Senate and removed from office, Nixon resigned the presidency on August 9, effective the next day.
What were President Nixon’s most significant domestic accomplishments?
President Nixon created several new federal agencies, such as OSHA and the EPA. He expanded affirmative action and took steps to increase rights for Native Americans. He supported the space program, which put humans on the moon. He tried, with less success, to manage a troubled economy.
How were President Nixon’s domestic policies similar to and different from those of President Johnson?
Nixon was less supportive of civil rights than President Johnson was. However, he built on several programs of Johnson’s Great Society. He continued the food stamp program and expanded affirmative action. He also continued funding the space program, which Johnson had supported.
What were President Nixon’s most significant foreign policy accomplishments?
Two of President Nixon’s most significant foreign policy accomplishments were relaxing tensions with the Soviet Union and establishing relations with China.
Despite his successes as president, what caused Nixon to resign?
President Nixon resigned rather than be impeached for his role in the Watergate scandal.
