Nixon pursued generally conservative domestic policies, cutting spending on social programs while establishing the EPA, OSHA, and DEA. His foreign policy achieved some successes, including establishing relations with China and pursuing détente with the Soviet Union. However, the Watergate scandal erupted from a bungled break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters, and the subsequent cover-up led to the downfall of Nixon's presidency as he resigned in 1974 before likely impeachment.

1. Nixon’s Domestic Policies
 Policies tended to be conservative. He
modified Great Society Programs
because he believed many were wasteful
and impractical.
 Cut spending on education, housing, job
training, and welfare assistance.
 Established: Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) – Job
safety

2.  Also established : Drug Enforcement Agency
(DEA) and Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA).
 Expanded food stamp program and provided
subsidized school lunches for poor children
and meals for the elderly.
Nixon’s Domestic Policies

3.  New Federalism - give part of federal power
to state, local government
 Revenue sharing: state, local governments
now decide how to spend federal money
Nixon’s Domestic Policies

4.  Law and Order Politics:
 Moves aggressively to end
war, mend divisiveness in
country
 Begins law and order
policies to end riots,
demonstrations
 sometimes uses illegal
tactics
Nixon’s Domestic Policies

5. A Battle over the Supreme Court
 Chief Justice Warren retired.
 Nixon appoints Warren Burger as chief
justice
 Also appoints 3 associate justices; Harry
Blackmun, Lewis Powell, and William
Rehnquist
 Makes Court more conservative
 Court does not always vote conservative

6. The Burger Court - United States Supreme Court, 1975

7. The Causes of Stagflation
 Stagflation - combination of high inflation, high
unemployment
 Inflation result of LBJ’s deficit spending on war,
social programs
 Unemployment from more international trade, new
workers
 Rising oil prices, U.S. dependence on foreign oil add
to inflation
 Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
(OPEC) controls prices

9. Nixon’s Foreign Policy Triumphs
 Henry Kissinger - national
security adviser, later secretary
of state
 Realpolitik—foreign policy
based on power issues, not
ideals, morals
 Realpolitik calls for U.S. to
confront powerful nations,
ignore weak
 Nixon, Kissinger follow policy of
détente - easing Cold War
tensions Henry Kissinger

10. Nixon Doctrine
 1969 – to avoid U.S. involvement in future
wars in Asia, Asian nations would have to
carry the main burden of their own defense.
They could no longer rely on the U.S. for
massive military aid or large numbers of
ground forces.

11. Nixon’s Foreign Policy Triumphs
 1971, Nixon’s visit to China a huge success;
U. S., China agree to:
 cooperate over disputes, have scientific,
cultural exchange
 Takes advantage of rift between China,
Soviet Union
 Major shift in U.S. policy by decreasing
support for Nationalist China and increasing
trade and relations with Communist China

12. Richard Nixon meets with Mao Zedong in 1972

13. Détente with the Soviet Union
 1972, Nixon visits Moscow; he, Brezhnev sign
SALT I Treaty:
 Strategic Arms Limitation Talks limit missiles to
1972 levels
 Trade ban ended and U.S. shipped millions of
dollars worth of wheat to ease a Soviet food
shortage.
 Foreign policy triumphs, expected Vietnam
peace help win reelection

14. In 1972, Nixon visited Moscow and with Brezhnev signed the
SALT I Treaty

15. Time Magazine
Cover discussing
Nixon and Détente
with the USSR

16. Middle East
 U.S. supported Israel against Arab attacks in
1973. Angered by the U.S. support, several
Arab nations announced an embargo on oil
shipments to the U.S. and its western allies.

17. GAS RATIONING SYSTEM (ODD-EVEN
PLAN) IS ANNOUNCED IN AN
AFTERNOON NEWSPAPER BEING READ
AT A SERVICE STATION WITH A SIGN IN
THE BACKGROUND STATING NO GAS IS
AVAILABLE.

18. Watergate: Nixon's Downfall
 Nixon expands presidential powers, ignores
Congress
 Nixon has small, loyal group of advisers; like
him, desire secrecy
 H. R. Haldeman, White House chief of
staff
 John Ehrlichman, chief domestic adviser
 John Mitchell, Nixon’s former attorney
general

19. The Cover-Up Unravels
 Five “burglars” tried to break into
Democratic headquarters in the
Watergate building to get Dem.
Campaign information. They were
caught and arrested.
 The FBI began to investigate rumors
that the break in had been planned
by White House Staff.
 Nixon denied previous knowledge of
the break in or any involvement in a
cover up.

20.  Nixon dismisses White House counsel John Dean;
others resign
 Senator Samuel J. Ervin heads investigative
committee
 Dean declares Nixon involved in cover-up
 Alexander Butterfield says Nixon tapes
presidential conversations
The Cover-Up Unravels

21. Howard Baker and Sam Ervin
investigate Watergate
Texas Congresswoman Barbara Jordan

22.  Special prosecutor Archibald Cox subpoenas
tapes; Nixon refuses
 Nixon orders Cox fired, attorney general
Elliot Richardson refuses
 Richardson resigns; deputy refuses, fired
The Cover-Up Unravels

23.  Cox’s replacement, Leon Jaworski, also calls for
tapes
 Vice President Spiro Agnew resigns, revealed he
accepted bribes
 Nixon nominates, Congress confirms Gerald R.
Ford as vice-president
The Cover-Up Unravels

24. Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox Time Magazine cover showing Leon
Jaworski

25. The Fall of a President
 Nixon Releases the Tapes
 Grand jury indicts 7 presidential aides
 charges: conspiracy, obstruction of
justice, perjury
 Nixon tells TV audience he is releasing
edited transcripts
 Supreme Court rules unanimously Nixon
must surrender tapes

26. Political Cartoon on
Nixon and the
Watergate
Controversy

28.  House Judiciary Committee approves 3 articles of
impeachment
 formal accusation of wrongdoing while in office
 charges: obstruction of justice, abuse of power,
contempt of Congress
 Nixon releases tapes; show knows of
administration role, cover up
The Fall of a President

29. Nixon releases the White House Tapes

30.  Before full House votes
on impeachment, Nixon
resigns and Ford issues
him a full pardon.
 25 members of
administration
convicted, serve prison
terms
The Fall of a President
Articles of Impeachment
for Richard Nixon