Ford and Carter Presidencies

“The Ford and
Carter Years”

1974 to 1981

Match

Match the following

• Soviet Union and China

• Watergate

• Woodward and Bernstein

• OPEC

• Stagflation

2 countries Nixon visited

Scandal that ended Nixon's career

2 Journalists that uncovered the Watergate Scandal

Middle Eastern Cartel that controls 60% of the world's oil trade

High Unemployment and High Inflation

• 2 countries Nixon visited

• Scandal that ended Nixon's career

• 2 Journalists that uncovered the Watergate Scandal

• Middle Eastern Cartel that controls 60% of the world's oil trade

• High Unemployment and High Inflation

I.) Tough Road Ahead

A. President Ford faces:

1. Rough Economy

a. high inflation
b. high unemployment
c. energy problems
d. public distrust of govt.

On the Watergate Scandal:
“ Our long national nightmare is over”

After becoming vice president:
“I’m a Ford, not a Lincoln”

II.) Ford’s Policy

A. September 8, 1974: President Ford

pardon’s Nixon

B. Economy:

1. “Whip Inflation Now” (WIN):
Ford calls Americans to cut back use
of oil and gas
2. “Tight Money Policy”: cut govt.
spending & higher interest rates
Outcome: worst economic
recession in 40 years

Open Ended

Do you think that Ford was right in pardoning Nixon? WHY or WHY NOT?

C. Foreign Policy:

1. Henry Kissinger remains secretary of state
2. Détente: negotiates with China & Soviet Union
3. Helsinki Accords: 35 nations agree to cooperation

Outcome: Ford’s greatest accomplishment

4. South Vietnam surrenders; Congress sends no aide

Helsinki Accords

•Sovereign equality, respect for the rights inherent in sovereignty

•Refraining from the threat or use of force

•Inviolability of frontiers

•Territorial integrity of States

•Peaceful settlement of disputes

•Non-intervention in internal affairs

•Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the
freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief

•Equal rights and self-determination of peoples

•Co-operation among States

•Fulfillment in good faith of obligations under international law

Beginning of Human Rights Watch

III.) Election of 1976

Republican Nominee:

Gerald Ford

Democrat Nominee:

Jimmy Carter

Election Day Results: Jimmy Carter wins with 40.8
million votes to Gerald Fords 39.1 million

“I will never lie to
the American
people”

IV.) Carter Faces Problems

A. Energy Crisis:

1. reliance on foreign oil

Outcome: National Energy Act of 1979

B. Economic Crisis:

1. violence in Middle East produces fuel shortage in U.S.
2. inflation rises from 7.6% to 11.3% in 1979; 14% 1980
3. Standard of living goes from 1stto 5thplace in world

3. Changing Economy

a. less manufacturing and more service jobs
b. overseas competition

V.) Carter’s Policy

A. Civil Rights:

1. administration include
more African-Americans and
women than any before
2. Regents of UC v. Bakke

B. Human Rights & Foreign Policy:

1. rejected “Realpolitik”
2. use moral principles as guide (Wilson)
3. commit to promoting human rights

C. Establishing Human Rights

Foreign Policy:
1. 1977 U.S. & Panama Treaty
(U.S. give up ownership of Panama Canal
Dec. 31. 1999)

Outcome: improves U.S.-Latin

American relations

2. Carters human rights policies end
Détente & raise Cold War tensions

1. Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
2. SALT II signed by Carter/Brezhnev

but not ratified by Senate

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D. Camp David Accords:

1. 1977: peace negotiations begin
between Israel

(Menachem Begin) and Egypt (Anwar el-Sadat)
2. 1978: Carter, Sadat, & Begin meet
at Camp David & agree to agreement

-

Israel withdraws from Sinai

-

& Egypt recognizes Israel

E. Iran Hostage Crisis:

1. Jan. 1979: revolution in Iran
overthrows the shah of Iran with
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
2. Nov. 4, 1979: 52 Americans taken
hostage from U.S. embassy in Tehran
3. Outcome: negotiations for 444 days
result in release Jan. 20, 1981

Match

Match the following

• Camp David Accords

• 2nd agreement to limit nuclear weapons

• Iran Hostage Crisis

• Panama Canal

• National Energy Act 1979

Peace agreement between Israel and Egypt

SALT II

Americans taken hostage in Tehran

President Carter agreed to return this to its country of origin

Mandated that cars become more fuel efficient and US less dependent on foreign oil

• Peace agreement between Israel and Egypt

• SALT II

• Americans taken hostage in Tehran

• President Carter agreed to return this to its country of origin

• Mandated that cars become more fuel efficient and US less dependent on foreign oil