Chapter 43

The Stalemated Seventies,

1968-1980

Chapter Theme:  As the war in Vietnam finally came to a disastrous conclusion, the United States struggled to create a more stable international climate.  Détente with the two communist powers temporarily reduced Cold War tensions, but trouble in the Middle East threatened America’s energy supplies and economic stability.

Weakened by political difficulties of their own and other’s making, the administrations of the 1970s had trouble coping with America’s growing economic problems.

A.    “Vietnamization”-  Nixon’s policy reduced American ground participation in the war and increased spending, while seeking to train the Vietnamese to fight their own war. 

Nixon Doctrine- America would honor its defense commitments but it would not send ground troops to every problem

1. Cambodia- proved to be a problem in obtaining victory leading to the bombing which caused massive protest/Kent State and others.  lasted only two months/ Nixon said that it provided the South 8 months to prepare for the American pull out/never asked congress/ Senate repeals the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution or Johnson’s blank check./ also to quiet protest of students shortened eligibility for draft from 8 to 1 year and passed the 26^th amendment lowering the voting age to 18 in (1971)
2. Nixon travels-  plays Moscow against Beijing/  Detente / Beijing first 72/ deals with Moscow Great grain deal of ‘72 750 million dollars.   ABM- treaty- Anti-ballistic missile-limits to two clusters of defensive missiles. SALT  II- freeze # of long range nuclear missiles for 5 yrs.  / both sides went ahead MIRV’s

B.       Nixon at home-  Fighting with a Democratic congress/ Nixon refuse to spend money appropriated by congress over his veto and court ruling against him(impoundment)/sharing money with states shifting responsibility to states for social issues/  EPA-Clean Water Act and Resource and Conservation and Recovery Act./ with inflation hitting 5% Nixon imposed price controls to stop inflation

C.     Election of 1972-  cease-fire in Vietnam was over when the Watergate scandal broke and Congressional hearings over the secret bombing of Cambodia

1. War Powers Act-  forces the president to get congressional approval to keep troops in action for an extended period of time.
2. Middle East War of 1973 and the Arab oil embargo- create an energy shortage which triggered economic problems that lasted through the 70’s.  This dependency leads to the first steps towards conservation and alternative energies.

D.    Jerry-  Watergate removes Nixon from the White House and Gerald Ford becomes president.

1. North Vietnam- overruns the South Vietnamese government in 1975.

E.     Jimmy “given’ it all away” Carter--  campaigned against Washington and Watergate

1. In office- Carter was unable to get congress to work and lost control of the economy.
2. Foreign policy- starts out well as The Camp David Peace Accords bring peace between Israel and Egypt, but the Iranian revolution creates new chaos. 

a.       Afghanistan- is invaded and hostage taking in Iran further complicates matters.

 

F.      Court Cases- Warren Court-  opponents argued that was not interpreting the constitution but writing it.  Supports said it was making long over due changes.

Gideon v. Wainwright- all defendants in serious criminal cases get legal counsel, no matter how poor.

Escobedo and Miranda- ensured the right of the accused to remain silent, enjoy other protections when accused of a crime; Miranda Rights.

Engel v. Vitale and School District of Abington Township v. Schempp- voted against required prayer and Bible readings in public schools.

Reynolds v. Sims- state legislatures, both upper and lower houses, would have to be reapportioned according to the human population.

Burger Court- set up by Nixon placing 4 of 9 to overturn the Warren Court rulings produces Roe v. Wade (’73)