Nixon Notes
· Dem Nat’l Convention 1968: marred by police violence against demonstrators (aired on TV) providing an even greater opportunity for a return of conservatism
· Election of 1968: LBJ decides not to run again (frustrated with inability to exact all of the social changes he wanted and growing unrest in the U.S. [Vietnam and race riots]); Robert Kennedy assassinated leading to nomination of LBJ’s VP Hubert Humphrey; George Wallace, racist 3rd party candidate; Richard Nixon Republican candidate.
· Nixon’s Platform: “secret plan” to win Vietnam, promise to represent the “silent majority” of Americans who were not taking part in or condoning the liberal politics and protests of the time period
· Nixon Wins + political realignment: Nixon splits popular vote with Humphrey, but wins electoral vote (close), for first time since FDR’s second election less than half of whites and half of labor voted Democrat; new Republican core from the Sunbelt and from blue-collar voters whose conservative views led to a switch from Dem. to Rep.
· Nixon Doctrine: U.S. would now be a helpful partner rather than a military protector to Third World countries
· Nixon and Vietnam: 1. Vietnamization, replacing U.S. soldiers with S.V. soldiers. 2. Secret negotiations with N.V. 3. Escalation of bombing (including secret bombing of Laos and Cambodia) = Paris Accords Jan. 1973 U.S. ends involvement in Vietnam (only temporarily ended fighting between N.V. and S.V.)
· De̒tente: shift in Cold War policy towards relaxing the tensions between U.S. and China and Soviet Union; Nixon visits China and the Soviet Union in 1972 (he plays the two off of each other to improve the U.S.’s relations with them)
· SALT I (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty): agreement between U.S. and Soviets to freeze offensive nuclear missiles for 5 yrs and work towards strategic equality + Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, restricted deployment of nationwide missile-defense systems
· Shuttle Diplomacy: Kissinger (Nixon’s Sec. of State) visited Middle East numerous times to prevent increase in Soviet influence and stop oil embargo against U.S.
· Realpolitik: U.S. would provide aid to countries opposing the Soviets regardless of their system of gov’t
· Nixon at home: despite conservative campaign and leanings Nixon supported some liberal legislation like OSHA and EPA, as well as 26th Amendment; he remained staunchly conservative in his approach towards protesters, radical blacks, and other “militants” as he hoped to convert more Dems. To Reps.
· Stagflation: Nixon cut federal spending (inherited huge deficit from LBJ) and also had Fed Reserve raise interest rates leading to inflation and recession; Nixon continued to switch economic policies throughout his presidency
· Kent State: deadly shooting by Ohio National Guard when students were protesting the invasion of Cambodia
· Election of 1972: Wallace shot, McGovern runs as a dove for the Dems (attacked as too radical by Reps), Nixon wins but at a cost…
· CREEP (Comm. To Re-elect the President): designed to disrupt and discredit Dems, headed by Nixon’s attorney general, John Mitchell; orders wiretapping of Dem. Headquarters at Watergate
· Watergate: get caught trying to tap phones, immediate cover-up by White House, reporters Bernstein and Woodward relying on an unknown informant (Deep Throat) exposed link between CREEP, Watergate, and Nixon; still not concrete evidence to prove Nixon’s guilt until it surfaces that Nixon had tape recorders installed in the Oval Office (for writing his memoirs). Nixon at first refuses to hand over tapes claiming executive privilege, then turns over obviously edited tapes, turns over real tapes and resigns (Aug. 9th 1974) before he can be impeached