I. Nixon’s 1st Administration (1969 - 1973) A. Eisenhower – like Statesman 1. Concentrate on F.P. (Kissinger) 2. Poor luck addressing inflation 3. Avoid domestic a) 1970 – Congress gives Pres. power to regulate prices/wages B. Foreign Policy 1. Vietnam primary concern 2. “Vietnamization” – phase out tropps a) Not really workable – guerilla fighting b) N. Vietnamese reject plan c) Nixon pumps up Vietnam’s air force – 3rd largest in world d) 55,000 withdrawn by Dec. 3. Student protests a problem – Agnew very unpopular a) Nixon appeals to “Silent Majority” 4. Success doesn’t last a) My Lai slaughter b) Division in country at staggering heights C. Cambodian “Incursion” 1. Nixon’s announcement of troops dispatched to neutral Cambodia viewed as escalation – Student reaction 2. Kent State (OH) a) Four students die D. Pentagon Papers 1. Daniel Elsberg walks out with McNamara’s report on War, Asia 2. Nixon’s order of injunction overturned by Supreme Court E. Housekeeping – fix the leaks 1. The “Plumbers” are born – Gordon Liddy, John Mitchell 2. Allowed by Nixon – questionable legality in first place – shifty operations without a doubt 3. Room in basement – spy on white house officials Nixon and Watergate – Trying To Cover His (expletive deleted) I. “Detente” A. Easing tension between USSR and China 1. Feb. 1972 – Nixon to China. 1st prez. a) support for UN admission 2. May – Nixon to Moscow a) SALT I 3. Effect on Vietnam – concessions a) Draft plan for return of POWs, cease-fire, troop withdrawal II. Watergate Break-in A. Summer ‘72 1. Plumbers caught – connected with CREEP 2. Not a big deal III. Election of 1972 A. Nixon vs... 1. Democratic Nominees: a) Humphrey, Ted Kennedy, Muskie, McGovern, Wallace 2. Plumbers go to work as CREEP a) Goal: McGovern ideal candidate to lose to Nixon b) Kennedy – skeleton in the closet – drowned girl, drops out c) Wallace shot (not by CREEP) – drops out d) Muskie and Humphry – pranks and worse B. Nixon victory – landslide (60.7% to 37.5%) 1. Second largest percentage of pop. vote in history (521 - 17 electoral) IV. Nixon’s 2nd Term (1973-1974) “Expletive Deleted” A. Jan. 1973 – agreement reached 1. North retains large sections of South 2. Release of POWs w/in 60 days 3. Full withdrawal of U.S. troops 4. Totals – 57,000 dead (U.S.), 300,000 wounded. $150 billion B. Skeletons re-emerge 1. James McCord writes letter – March 19, 1973 2. Senate Watergate Investigation Committee – Sam Ervine – makes connections – Liddy, Magruder, John Dean (Nixon’s lawyer) implicated. C. Resignation of top officials: Haldeman, Ehrlichman, Attny. Gen. Kleindienst. 1. Nixon maintains denials 2. John Dean names Nixon 3. Ervine demands tapes – Nixon refusal D. Nixon under fire – “impeachment” being mumbled 1. Nixon agrees to appt. of special prosecutor – Cox a) Saturday Night Massacre – cries of indignation b) House Judiciary Committee begins impeachment investigation 2. Nixon turns over tapes, but parts missing – Haldeman E. Bad to worse 1. Inflation worries bungled 2. Agnew resigns – tax fraud 3. Nixon’s own taxes in question – “I am not a crook” IV. Nixon dethroned A. Watergate goes on – Haldeman, Ehrlichmann, Mitchell (Head of CREEP) indicted – Nixon “unindicted co-conspirator” B. Nixon blunders again – releases more tapes to public to help image 1. Nixon cursed like sailor 2. Disillusionment of people with president, officials C. Watergate climax on national television 1. Nixon charged by Judiciary Committe with Obstruction, misuse 2. Charged to surrender 64 remaining tapes 3. Nixon’s fate sealed D. Nixon resigns to avoid impeachment August 8, 1973 E. Ford sworn in August 9