PowerPoint Presentation

Presidents Ford and Carter RepublicanIm a ford not a LincolnFormer modelKlutzy presidentLocked himself out of the white house while walking his dogMispronounced words all the timeTumbled down the stairs of Air Force One3 attempted assassinations

Gerald Ford Presidency(1974 to 1977)

2Ford Becomes PresidentTook over the Presidency following Nixons resignation:viewed as popular noncontroversial.Named New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller as VPneither the President nor the VP had been elected.The Nixon PardonAt the beginning of Fords presidency:Time magazine noted a mood of good feeling and even exhilaration in Washington. However, this was soon to change.A month after Nixons resignationFord pardoned the former President for all offenses avoiding future prosecution. Unpopular decision:Among the general public and Nixon loyalists still facing prosecution. Result: Republicans were voted out of office in the 74 congressional elections. Economic ProblemsThe Economy StallsNixon too preoccupied with Watergate Stagflation:By 74, both inflation and unemployment risingeconomy is stagnantWhip Inflation Now: (WIN)Attempt to restore public confidence Encouraged personal savings and disciplined spendingEconomic ProblemsGovernment Spending and Conflicts With CongressFord went against personal beliefssupported an increase in unemployment benefits tax cut in an effort to help the economy.Often at odds with Congresswanted the government to take a more active role in the economy. Ford veteos Congressional actions:Congress created the highest percentage of veto overrides since the 1850s.Foreign Policy - Asia, Europe, and AfricaAsia Ford continued Nixons goals of friendship with China1stAmerican President to visit Japan.Europe and the Soviet Union75, Ford signed the Helsinki Accords: agreements on European securityStrategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) w/ USSR continued. AfricaDevelop relationships with African countries newly independent from colonial rule.Helsinki Accords1975 Conference security and cooperation Helsinki, FinlandBetween Eastern and Western Europe Agreement sets forth basic human rights all nations acknowledge and accept Soviets generally ignoreSought cooperation between Soviets & the west to recognize Accept spheres of influence throughout Europe & the world

The Nations BirthdayAmericas bicentennial, or 200th anniversaryprovided Americans, discouraged by Watergate, Vietnam, and the economy, an opportunity to celebrate.Parades, concerts, air shows, political speeches, and fireworks took place on and around July 4, 1976, the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.Jimmy Carters PresidencyJimmy Carters PresidencyDemocratVP: Walter MondaleOnly President to claim to have seen a UFODeeply religious:Taught a Bible Class while PresidentBorn again Christian since 1966Considered attraction to women other than his wife sinfulTold several federal employees to get married and stop living in sin

11Carter cuts off aid to countries that have many human-rights violations, like Chile and Argentina, appoints African-American as UN Ambassador, denounces oppression in South Africa & Zimbabwe

Agrees to turn over canal by 2000, trying to right a historical wrong criticized for giving it away

Egypt president Anwar Sadat & Israeli PM Menachem Begin, provided a framework for peace1979 Egypt becomes first Arab nation to recognize Israel

Shah had been installed by US CIA, overthrown in 1979, when embassy taken over, rescue mission tries, but failed. Black eye for Carter, probably costs him the election. Plus, more oil shortages and price increases

USSR invades Afghanistan in 1979, embargo places on tech & grain to USSR, ends good relations, US boycotts 1980 summer Olympics in Moscow. Carter now had to build up arms, going against promise

Inflation reached 13% (now 5 or 6%), Fed pushes interest rates as high as 20% to break nflation. For first time since WWII, standard of living was decliningCarters Presidency1976:Incumbent: advantage of being the current office holder in an electionGerald Ford was republican, not popular with the public at the timeDemocrat James Earl (Jimmy) Carter won the election by a narrow marginPersonality and experience:No national political experience Lacked an ability to win reluctant politicians over to his side.Informal approach to the presidency.As President, Carter appointed more women and minorities to his staff than previous administrations.Carters Domestic PoliciesEconomic IssuesInherited an unstable economy inflation and unemployment continued to grow.Carter cut federal spendingMostly on social programs angered liberal Democrats.Losing confidence in the President:Bond prices fell Interest rates roseCarters Domestic PoliciesDeregulationCarters Opinion:Government controls on industries hurt competition and increased consumer costs.Deregulationthe reduction or removal of government controlsaffected the energy, railroad, trucking, and airline industries. Angered many DemocratsContinued for the next two Presidential AdministrationsEnergy IssuesCarters Energy Plan To save on rising oil prices, Carter asked Americans to conserve fuel in their homes, cars, and businessesCreated a new Cabinet department, the Department of Energy.Response to Carters Energy PlanStates that produced oil and gas fiercely opposed conservation plansThe National Energy Act, passed in 1978, incorporated many of Carters directives.Alternative Energy Sources and Three Mile Island Goal to seek alternative energy sourcesA partial meltdown of a nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, eroded peoples confidence in nuclear power.

Civil Rights IssuesCarters concern for moral values influenced his civil rights actions. Granted amnesty, or a general pardon of Draft Dodgers African Americans on CarterApproved of his staff appointmentsDisapproved by weak support for social programs Affirmative actionAimed to make up for past discrimination against women and minoritiesControversial issue during Carters presidency. Regents of the University of California v. Bakke: SC ruled that race could be a factor in school admissions but that numerical quotas could not be usedCamp David Accords1978President Carter, Egyptian President Anwar el-Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin Negotiations at Camp David. Framework for Middle East Peace Terms: Israel agreed to withdraw from the Sinai PeninsulaEgypt became the first Arab country to recognize Israel officially.

Soviet American RelationsDtente was at a high point when Carter took office, by the end of his term it was effectively dead.Soviets were angered by Carters support of Soviet dissidentswriters and other activists who criticized the actions of their government.Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT II) the treaty was never ratifiedboth nations followed its terms.Soviet Invasion of AfghanistanLate in 1979Soviet Union (USSR) invaded neighboring Afghanistan to support a Soviet-supported government thereCarter : a clear threat to the peace and took steps to show American disapprovalCarter imposed a boycott on the 1980 summer Olympic Games to be held in MoscowSixty other nations eventually joined the boycott.Soviets in AfghanistanUSSR invades in 1979 when communist regime is threatened by Shiite Muslim factionSoviets get bogged down & fight long & fruitless warUS backs Muslim rebels at the time for anti-communism goalsCarter boycotts 1980 Olympics and embargoes grain salesSoviets withdraw after 10 years

The Iran Hostage CrisisIn January 1979revolution broke out in Iran, replacing its pro-American shah, Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlevi, with Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini, an anti-Western leader.Carter allowed the displaced shah to enter the United States for medical treatmentAngry Khomeini followers seized the American embassy in Tehran, Irans capitalFifty-two Americans were taken hostage and moved from place to place over the course of 444 daysCarters failed attempts to secure the hostages freedom decreased his popularity made his chances for reelection slimHuman RightsCarter vows to make human rights concerns paramount in dealing with other nations instead of strategic concernsTo facilitate cooperation, Carter overlooks violations in China, Iran, South Korea and the PhilippinesCarter recognizes Sandinistas in Nicaragua because of friendliness to USCarter pays Panamanians back for violations of national sovereignty by guiding return of Panama CanalThe 1980 ElectionBy the end of Carters term, his administration had lost the confidence of many Americans. Carter ran for reelectionNation instead chose conservative Republican candidate Ronald Reagan by a landslide.In early 1981, following months of secret talks, Iran agreed to release the hostages. President Reagan sent Carter to greet the hostages as they arrived at a U.S. military base in West Germany.