Chapter 21: Kennedy's and Johnson's domestic policies.
President Kennedy's domestic policy was called the New Frontier and focused on the following;
1. Economy­ Kennedy was a Keynesian which is to say that he believed in deficit spending to stimulate the economy. He lowered taxes on the middle­class and passed the Equal Pay Act.
2. Education­ Provided funding for education in the areas of math and science.
3. Civil Rights­ Kennedy took a cautious approach until the violence reach a level that demanded action, he will propose what will become the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
4. The Space Race will play a major role in Kennedy's competition with the U.S.S.R. He will not live long enough to see America win the race when Neil Armstrong steps on the moon in July, 1969 In November 1963, while in Dallas, Kennedy will be assassinated while riding in his limo. Lee
Harvey Oswald will be arrested for the killing but will be killed by Jack Ruby before any real
investigation can begin. Johnson will be sworn in as President aboard Air Force One on the
way back to D.C. An investigation into the assassination will be conducted by the Warren
Commission and the will determine the Oswald acted alone.
President Johnson's domestic policy is known as the Great Society. He will see that the Civil Rights bill that Kennedy wanted will be passed. He will declare war on poverty and get the Economic Opportunity Act passed which will form the Job Corps and VISTA, a domestic version of the Peace Corps.
Johnson will get Medicare and Medicaid added to the Social Security Act. Johnson will also increase spending in education for those schools in poorer areas.
He will also make reforms in immigration and environmental protection. With the number of people living below the poverty line going from 22% to 12%, Johnson will do more than FDR to create a welfare state in America.
The Warren Court will make some landmark rulings and
have been said to have legislated from the bench.
The most well known are;
Miranda v Arizona which mandates that people must be
informed of their rights when arrested.
Engel v Vitale which defines separation of church and state
and is said to have taken prayer out of public schools.
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Chapter 22 Key Points
Middle America­ Term used to describe mainstream America, also referred to as the "silent majority".
1968 Democratic Convention­ Protestors caused mass violence in Chicago. Delegates voted against a peace plan. The democratic party was sharply divided and lost credibility due to some walking out.
1968 election­ Nixon won the presidency but the democrats controlled both houses of Congress.
Nixon's Staff­ Haldeman, chief of staff, Ehrlichman, personal lawyer and chief domestic advisors.
John Mitchell­ Attorney General. Henry Kissinger­ Head of National Security Council and later Sec. of State.
Nixon Foreign Achievements:
Opened relations with China. Met with Brezhnev and signed SALT I.
Detente­ Policy that aimed at easing Cold War tensions. Which will lead to...
SALT I­ Put a 5 year pause on proliferation of nuclear arms and proved that nuclear arms limitation was possible. While maintaining policy of massive retaliation.
Domestic Policy­ Run away inflation which lead to deficit spending. Nixon becomes a Keynesian and puts a 90 day freeze on wages and prices.
1973 Oil Embargo­ When America supported Israel in war against Syria and Egypt, OPEC stopped shipping oil the U.S. This will cause long gas line and shortages.
Nixon on Civil Rights­ Forced bussing, he was against it and reinstated federal funding to segregated schools. "Southern Strategy", imposed a freeze on bussing.
Affirmative Action­ Set a quota system to help blacks in jobs and education. Regents of University of Ca v. Bakke a case of reverse discrimination. 2
Chapter 24- A Crisis in Confidence
Watergate
Nixon orders illegal wiretaps after information was leaked to the
press and the Pentagon Papers were published. When he
discovered that information was leaked by Daniel Ellsberg, a
former Defense Dept. official, Ehrlichman sent Howard Hunt and
G. Gordon Liddy (the plumbers) to get dirt on Ellsberg which was
leaked to the press, ruining his career.
The 1972 election polls had Nixon way ahead. The Committee to
Reelect, headed by John Mitchell sent the plumbers to hire
people to break into the National Democratic Headquarters at
the Watergate Hotel and plant bugs and steal their strategies.
The men were caught and paid hush money to keep Nixon out of
it. (Deep Throat turned out to be a FBI official, Mark Felt)
Two Washington Post reporters were given information by a man
known as "Deep Throat" giving details of the break-in and hush
money. When the story broke Nixon was informed of the
activities and he tried to protect those that protected him.
Nixon will appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the incident. Former White House counsel John Dean will testify that Nixon knew of the break in and called for the cover up. Cox ask for the tapes from the oval office but Nixon will claim "executive privilege" and refuse to turn over the tapes. Nixon's Vice President, Spiro Agnew will resign due
to a scandal unrelated to Watergate. Nixon will
appoint Gerald Ford as his new VP in accordance with
the 25th. Amendment which sets presidential
succession.
Nixon will fire Cox for not accepting a transcript of the tapes. Many of Nixon's cabinet and inner­circle will either resign or be fired. The Supreme Court will rule that executive privilege does not apply, and orders Nixon to turn over the tapes. Many of Nixon's officials are indicted for conspiracy. The tapes have places that were "accidently" erased by a secretary. Nixon will address the nation on TV and announce that he will resign. On August 9, 1974, ( my 12th birthday) Nixon leaves office and Ford becomes the first man to be Vice President and President without being elected to either position. John Dean
Agnew
<
Ford
>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEOGJJ7UKFM
President Ford will grant Nixon a full pardon to put
the Watergate scandal to rest. This action will be
political suicide for one of Washington's most
trusted men.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL0j_CN7dpw
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President Ford's term in office will be plagued with Stagflation, inflation during a period of economic stagnation. His WIN campaign will fail and coupled with an energy (gas) crisis, his administration is doomed.
Carter win the election of 1976 but his lack of international experience will lead America to one of its lowest points since the Great Depression. Due to the gas crisis, the price will jump from 40 cents in 73 to $1.20 in 76. Carter will grant amnesty to the draft dodgers who left for Canada rather than serve in Vietnam. This will divide our nation once more.
Carter will also give the Panama Canal back to Panama and see America's embassy in Iran taken over by radical students and held hostage for over a year. A rescue mission will fail miserably discrediting Carter as Commander­in­Chief of the military.
Carter will be easily defeated by Reagan in the 1980 elections.
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