Nixon, Ford, Carter & Reagan Quiz

The incident illustrated by this cartoon increased cynicism toward the U.S. government because -

• The press secretary failed to keep the public informed of national policy changes

• The president directed a conspiracy to mislead the nation

• The Supreme Court overruled federal statutes that denied confidentiality

• Congress failed to pass legislation enforcing protection of privacy rights

“We must go forward now together. . . .I believe that truth is the glue that holds government together, not only our Government but civilization itself. That bond, though strained, is unbroken at home and abroad. In all my public and private acts as your President, I expect to follow my instincts of openness and candor with full confidence that honesty is always the best policy in the end. My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over.”

—Gerald Ford, August 9, 1974

Why do you think Ford made this speech immediately after gaining the presidency?

• Nixon’s scandal shook the public’s trust in government.

• Newspapers were not covering economic issues.

• Ford faced criticism for pardoning Reagan.

• Ford needed to successfully fight inflation.

What was the purpose of the Camp David Accords led by President Carter?

• to broker peace between Egypt and Israel

• to maintain good relations with the Shah

• to end the Iranian hostage crisis

• to find a way to end the economic recession

The Oil Price Safeguard Act would help to moderate sharp spikes in oil and gas prices caused by price fixing and production quotas through the judicious use of our enormous petroleum reserves.

The global oil market is dominated by an international cartel with the ability to dramatically affect the price of oil. The eleven-member countries...supply over 40 percent of the world’s oil and possess 78% of the world’s total proven crude oil reserves. Their control of the world’s oil supply allows these countries to collude to drive up the price of oil.

-Oil Price Safeguard Act Excerpt

In this excerpt, what is the proposed legislation intended to address?

• Iraqi aggression against neighboring countries

• The refusal of the Israeli government to recognize Palestine

• The collective economic power of OPEC member nations

• The formation of a military coalition among Arab states

Why did gasoline prices spike during the 1970's and early 1980's?

• A natural disaster impeded offshore drilling for oil

• Congress imposed new regulations on foreign energy companies

• Conflicts in the Middle East disrupted the distribution of oil

• Congress introduced new legislation to increase the fuel efficiency of vehicles

In 1979 the Shah of Iran was forced into exile. The U.S. government later allowed the Shah to enter the US for medical treatment. This perceived U.S. support for the Shah of Iran which resulted in which of the following?

• Iran attacked a U.S. military base in Asia

• Soviet forced began an occupation of Iran

• Israel demanded U.S. support for the strategic bombing of cities in Iran

• Revolutionaries kidnapped a group of U.S. citizens in Iran

Which of the following best characterized the changing political and social climate of the 1980s?

• The rise of popular social welfare programs strengthened the role of the federal government

• Growing Cold War tensions crated mass hysteria over the possibility of U.S. communist influences

• A surge of liberalism followed the rise of counterculture

• Popular resistance to the social changes of the 1960s and 1970s supported a new conservative movement

President Reagan hoped to spur economic growth by --

• Creating federal programs to ease unemployment

• Cutting taxes to encourage business development

• Boosting government spending on anti-poverty programs

• Encouraging individuals to invest in new technology companies

In this excerpt, President Reagan is referring to what would become known as -

• The Iran-Contra affair

• The Watergate scandal

• The Plame affair

• The Whitewater controversy

Which speaker would most likely agree with President Ronald Reagan’s national security policies?

• Speaker 1

• Speaker 2

• Speaker 3

• Speaker 4