Chapter 24: From Nixon To Carter

Chapter 24 examines events during the Nixon, Ford, and Carter administrations, including Nixon's imaginative foreign policy initiatives, the Watergate crisis that brought down the Nixon presidency, and the search for stability at home and abroad during the Ford and Carter years.

Section 1 describes how the Nixon presidency shifted the national agenda to the right. A backlash against antiwar activities and liberal governmental policies helped usher Richard Nixon into office. In his efforts to build a conservative coalition, Nixon impounded funds for liberal programs, made conservative Supreme Court appointments, and tried to return power to state and local governments. To win Southern support, Nixon was willing to drag his feet in supporting or enforcing civil rights. When protesters, critics, or liberals challenged his policies, he used federal agencies or an acerbic administration spokesperson to suppress opposition.

Section 2 provides an overview of Nixon's foreign policy activities. Envisioning a new world order, Nixon set about healing the rifts between the United States and the Communist powers. His two famous trips in 1972 created a new spirit of détente and a safer world with a SALT agreement. The following year, the United States decided to involve itself in Middle East politics when it took sides in a war there. Americans paid a price back home—at the pump—for their government's effort. In Latin America, the United States veered away from supporting necessary economic changes and found itself propping up military dictators. A low point came when the U.S. government helped to overthrow a legitimate, elected government there. In the end, however, Nixon's foreign policy innovations helped to get him reelected.

Section 3 explores the Watergate scandal and how Nixon challenged the very essence of American democracy—constitutional law. What began as a bungled break-in ended in the first instance where an American president resigned from office. For two years, Americans witnessed the ongoing story of Watergate. Newspaper investigations, televised hearings, and tapes revealed a president's abuse of power. By the end of the investigation, those who had carried out Nixon's secretive plans and "dirty tricks" faced criminal charges, and Nixon faced impeachment. Nixon resigned and was able to evade criminal prosecution when his successor, Gerald Ford, granted him a pardon.

Section 4 discusses the Ford and Carter years. When Nixon resigned, he left to his successor, Gerald Ford, a nation in crisis. Foreign embargoes, inflation, industrial stagnation, and unemployment traced Ford's presidency and led to economic recession. In the 1976 election, voters rejected Ford's economic policies and chose a one-time peanut farmer and Georgia governor to take control of the nation. Jimmy Carter's platform of human rights and environmental concerns proved to be more popular than his economic policies. He made an important treaty with a Latin American neighbor and helped two Middle East enemies reconcile. But Carter's reelection chances faded when he was unable to free U.S. hostages in Iran.