MODERN PRESIDENTS

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MODERN PRESIDENTS
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RICHARD NIXON

• Republican 1969-1974
• Vietnamization Elected saying he would end US
  war in Vietnam
• a) Planned to withdraw US troops from Vietnam
• b) Train the South Vietnamese to take care of
  their own safety

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• Foreign Policy broke ground with Russia and
  China
• a) Began steps towards normalizing relations
  with China
• b) O.P.E.C. (organization of petroleum exporting
  countries) endured the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973

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• C) USA Soviet Relations improve
• i. SALT I and SALT II (Strategic Arms Limitation
  Treaty)
• ii. Détente policy of relaxing tensions between
  USA and USSR
• D) Aided Israel in the 1973 war with Egypt and
  Syria

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• Watergate third rate burglary of democratic
  headquarters
• a) Nixon guilty of approving robbery and
  obstruction justice
• i. Nixon aid dean testifies against him
• ii. Incriminating tapes found proving his guilty
• b) Nixon resigns Aug 9, 1974
• c) Gerald Ford replaces him as Chief Executive

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• Nixon pardoned by Gerald Ford

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GERALD FORD

• Republican (1974-1976)
• Pardoned Nixon of criminal charges
• Passed amnesty or pardon to men who had deserted
  the army or dodged the draft for Vietnam
• a) Not popular with Americans
• b) Ford claimed it was a time to heal the
  countries wounds

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• Ford helps cool inflation
• a) Leads to a business slump
• b) Cant control rising oil costs
• Ford forms council on wage and price stability
  for economic reliability
• Defeated in 1976 by democrat Jimmy Carter

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JIMMY CARTER

• Democrat (1977-1981)
• Champion of peace and human rights
• a) Cornerstone of foreign policy was basic
  rights and freedom
• b) Camp David Accords - made peace between
  Israel and Egypt
• i. Anwar Sadat Egypt
• ii. Menachem Begin Israel

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• Iran Hostage Affair
• a) The Ayatollah Khomeini captured the American
  Embassy in Tehran and took 52 American Hostages
• b) Hostages were kept for 444 days Carter
  authorized failed rescue missionhurt his
  popularity

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RONALD REAGAN

• Republican (1981-1989)-Conservative Decade
• Elected in 1980 when the prevalent mood in the US
  was based upon conservatism
• Hostages released one day into his presidency

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• Détente (reduction of tensions between the US and
  USSR) is jeopardized
• Reagan builds up military
• Says that all communist advance must be stopped

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• Shot in assassination attempt by John Hinckley
  (lead to the Brady Bill- Gun Control)

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• Reaganomics (Supply Side Economics) Trickle Down
• 1. Huge tax cuts
• a) For corporations and wealthy individuals
• b) Hoped they would reinvest in business with
  this
• 2. Reduction in federal spending except 2 areas
• a) Social security
• b) Defense spending (Star Wars- SDI strategic
  defense initiative) protection from nuclear
  attack
• 3. Increased federal deficit (biggest failure
  of Reaganomics) 100 billion a year
• a) Recession results

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• Policies
• 1. Opposed ERA equal rights for women
• 2. Sandra Day OConnor appointed to Supreme
  Court
• a) First woman
• b) Appointed b/c of conservative views

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• Iran Contra Affair
• a) Gave administration black eye
• b) Reagan never proven to have been involved

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• Known as the Teflon President (nothing sticks!
  Blame free

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George Bush

• Republican (1989-1993)
• Inherited the huge deficit
• Invaded Panama
• a) Captured Manuel Noriega
• b) Tried in Miami for drug offenses

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• Supported the changing communist governments in
  Europe
• a) Agrees to nuclear arms, conventional weapons,
  and troops reductions with Gorbachev
• b) Encouraged the democratization of the world
  in
• i. Poland
• ii. Romania
• iii. Germany unification
• iv. Lithuania

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• Supported Nelson Mandela in South Africa

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• Leader in the Gulf War
• a) Operation Desert Shield
• b) Operation Desert Storm (Bush decided to drive
  Iraq forces back to its border a move very poplar
  with the UN and Americans)