This study guide covers the key events and policies of Richard Nixon's early presidency, from his election in 1968 through his re-election in 1972. It details the 1968 and 1972 elections, Nixon's domestic initiatives like New Federalism and environmental protection, and his significant foreign policy shifts, including détente with the USSR and opening relations with China. Students should be prepared to distinguish between his domestic and foreign policy goals and understand the impact of events like the Sino-Soviet Split and the Yom Kippur War.
The 1968 Election
This section details the key candidates and their platforms in the 1968 presidential election.
Key candidates and their platforms in the 1968 election.
| Hubert Humphrey (Democrat) | Richard Nixon (Republican) | George Wallace (American Independent) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Role/Affiliation | VP to Johnson | Former VP | Governor of Alabama |
| Key Stance/Platform | Loyal to Johnson's Vietnam policies, civil rights, and social programs plans. | Ran on "law and order," appealed to the "silent majority," promised "peace with honor" in Vietnam. | Spoke for Southerners with a pro-segregation platform; advocated for a decisive victory over North Vietnam within 90 days. |
The 1968 Election Results
This section outlines the electoral and popular vote outcomes and political implications.
1968 Presidential Election Vote Counts
| Richard Nixon | Hubert Humphrey | George Wallace | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electoral Votes | 301 | 191 | 46 |
| Popular Vote | 31,710,470 | 30,898,055 | 9,906,473 |
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Narrow Margin
Nixon barely won the popular vote by a little over 500,000 votes.
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Democrat Split
Johnson's downfall, particularly his civil rights legislation, alienated moderate voters and the South, hurting the Democratic party.
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Third Party Success
Wallace won five Deep South states, marking the last time a third-party candidate outright won any state. (Source: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.)
Nixon's Domestic Policies
This section covers Nixon's key domestic initiatives across various areas.
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New Federalism
Believed in "revenue sharing" where states would get federal funds for programs to use as they wanted, shifting power from federal to state control.
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The Environment
Established new agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate industry and reduce pollution.
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The Draft and the Vote
Ended the draft in favor of an all-volunteer army and lowered the voting age to 18.
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Stagflation
A period of high inflation from the spending of the Great Society and the Vietnam War combined with low growth; took the US off the gold standard and tried price and wage controls.
Nixon's approach to Civil Rights and school desegregation.
| School Integration | Busing | |
|---|---|---|
| Nixon's Stance | Oversaw efforts for school integration. | Opposed as a means to end segregated school districts. |
| Related Policy | Set "affirmative action" hiring goals in the government. | Viewed as a controversial method for desegregation. |
Nixon's Foreign Policy: The Cold War
This section details Nixon's strategies for managing Cold War relations with China and the USSR.
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Vietnamization / Nixon Doctrine
The belief that allies should engage in "burden-sharing" and be more active, while the US was more supportive, reducing direct American involvement.
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The Sino-Soviet Split
After Khrushchev distanced the USSR from Stalin's legacy and Mao denounced this, the two countries drifted apart, leading to a border war in 1969.
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An Opportunity
Nixon and Kissinger sensed they could use China against the USSR due to their growing animosity.
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Nixon Goes to China
Nixon met Mao and toured the country; agreed with the PRC's "One China" stance on Taiwan, leading to Taiwan losing diplomatic recognition.
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Nixon Goes to Moscow
Because of Nixon's China visit, Soviet leader Brezhnev invited him for talks; Nixon became the first US president to visit the USSR during the Cold War.
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SALT Treaty
Limited anti-missile sites, froze the number of submarine and long-range missiles for five years, and allowed both sides to use satellites to monitor progress.
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Détente
The cooling of relations between the US and the Soviet Union, starting from 1969 to 1979, aimed at reducing Cold War tensions.
Nixon's Foreign Policy: The Rest of the World
This section examines Nixon's foreign policy actions beyond the major Cold War powers.
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The Indo-Pakistan War (1971)
The US supported Pakistan with a show of naval strength against India and the USSR. Pakistan was a US ally and served as a channel for the US to speak to China.
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The Yom Kippur War (1973)
After Egypt and Syria attacked Israel, Nixon authorized an emergency airlift of equipment. This led to an oil embargo from Arab nations.
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Chile and Operation Condor
The US supported the 1973 coup against the socialist president in Chile. The CIA also supported various anti-communist regimes in brutally cracking down on Leftist movements.
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Iran
The US provided Iran with top-of-the-line US weapons and ships.
The 1972 Election
This section covers Nixon's re-election campaign, his landslide victory, and the emerging Watergate scandal.
Feeling confident with his record, Nixon ran for re-election in 1972.
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Major Accomplishments
Nixon's key advantages included the moon landing, his historic visit to China, efforts to tackle inflation, and the SALT Treaty.
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Landslide Victory
Facing Democrat Senator George McGovern of Massachusetts, Nixon won 49 of 50 states (losing only Massachusetts and D.C.) and secured 18 million more votes than his opponent.
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The Silent Majority
Nixon appealed to working-class White voters by portraying McGovern as a radical.
A Future Scandal: Watergate
Multiple break-ins occurred at the Watergate Hotel in D.C. at the Democrat headquarters in May and June of 1972, aimed at gathering political intelligence. This event would later escalate into the Watergate scandal.