The 1970s demonstrated, more clearly than in any other postwar decade, the limits of American power abroad. After the longest war in American history, the United States was unable to win in Vietnam and settled in 1973 for a peace treaty that functioned as little more than paper justification for a failed Asian policy. American dependence on foreign oil left the United States at the mercy of two oil shortages during the decade; the United States suffered continuing trade imbalances and witnessed a sharp decline in its domination of world markets caused by increased Japanese and European activity. There was little the United States could do to alter its oil imbalances or trade deficits. Military power was irrelevant, and economic pressure was ineffective. Similarly, efforts to acknowledge the changed status of the United States on the world stage, to conduct a less ambitious foreign policy, also failed....
On January 19, Federal Judge G. Harrold Carswell is nominated to the Supreme Court. Citing his weak civil rights record, the Senate will reject the nomination. On February 18, the antiwar radicals known as the Chicago Seven are acquitted of conspiracy to incite riots during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. On May 4, members of the National Guard kill four students during an antiwar protest at Kent State University in Ohio. On June 15, in Welsh v. United States the Supreme Court rules that the claim of conscientious-objector status can be argued on the basis of moral objection to war, rather than long-standing religious belief alone. On September 22, President Nixon signs a bill authorizing a nonvoting congressional representative to the House of Representatives for the District of Columbia. No District of Columbia representative had sat in the House since 1875....
President Nixon set the theme for Republican candidates campaigning in the congressional elections of 1970: law and order.. After the civil disruptions following May's invasion of Cambodia, law and order was a topic of intense interest to many voters. Extending the themes he had used in speeches earlier in the year, Nixon used the stump as an opportunity to During 1973 there was an oil embargo. The Arabs at this time were fighting a war with the Israelis. The Arabs would soon lose this war due to the intervention of the west in aiding the Israelis to victory. In outrage the Arabs would put an oil embargo on the western hemisphere. This was a tragic event as the negotiators of the US would frantically try to negotiate with the Arabs.
Due to this inflation rose and this would lead to a political debate over the economy. This event was a huge impact to the west. This showed that the west is so dependent on the Arabs that if they mess up politically with their relations, they will be hurt if the Arabs refuse to give them oil. This was a huge political event because it was an issue in the elections and the economy would be at the top in political discussions. During 1974 the Watergate scandal erupted into the world as the media took over. Nixon was so paranoid because he wanted to win a second term as president. He had a for sure win for his second term but he was so paranoid that he sent men called "creepers" to find out information. The creepers broke into Watergate the first time undetected to gather information on which the democrats are going to run for their ticket. The second time the creepers broke in. the security guard caught them and called the police.
The creepers had turned their walkie-talkies off so they had no chance of knowing the police were coming once the stakeout guy tried to alert them. The creepers were caught and arrested while wearing three-piece suits. Nixon would lead to his own downfall because he recorded everything he did. He kept a file of tapes so he can write an autobiography about his life. Ironically the tapes would be used against him and he would be charged with many crimes and felonies. Somehow on some of the tapes areas of importance would be erased by "accident" Nixon would hurt himself by always lying to the public and speaking half-truths. Through this time Bob Woodward would keep track of the case. He had a "deep throat" to give him inside information, which would lead to Nixon resigning. Once Nixon resigned, Gerald ford would be appointed the president. He would pardon Nixon from all of his crimes and this would lead to Ford'ss downfall at the end of his term because he pardoned Nixon of all crimes.
In the end of the sixties and in the early seventies, Richard Nixon was the president of America. During his presidency, many economical changes would erupt questioning his leadership ability. In the early seventies, there would be a nation wide rail road strike and a postal strike. This was all because of the money paid to them wasn’t enough to suffice for the high rates of inflation. This became a political affair on who would regulate the economy. At this time another huge embargo placed on the U.S. and the rest of the western hemisphere was the OPEC embargo. (Also known as the Arab Oil Embargo). This hurt the United States politically because of their relations with the Arab nations and the economy of the U.S.
The main incident that hurt Nixon was the Watergate scandal. He was so "hungry" to win that he went off to cheat so he can win. He wanted to know who he was going to run against, but this would hurt him eventually leading to his resignation. On the positive side, Nixon had the United States at an all time low for unemployment to 3.3%. He also improved relations with china and the U.S.S.R. or now Russia. A major help was when he pulled out America of the Vietnam War saving thousands of American lives from injury and harm. After this in 1974 he would be relieved by Gerald Ford who would later pardon him of all his crimes.
During the early seventies, many issues regarding politics arose. Nixon pulling out of the Vietnam War was a huge one. He also did a lot to get better relations with China and the U.S.S.R. he didn't do very much domestically but he did plenty foreign work. In 1973 there was an embargo hurting the US and also the water gate scandal erupted. These would hurt Nixon because of the economy and inflation problems. Gerald Ford would take over after Nixon until 1977 once carter would take office. From February 21 to February 28, 1972, US president Richard M. Nixon made a historic visit to China. These 7 days spawned a myriad of anecdotes and influenced the culture of an entire displaced American generation.
It was during this time that the US, its allies in NATO and most of the UN national delegations shifted diplomatic recognition of 'China' from the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the government of the People's Republic of China. The catalyst of this significant change was the fact that in the waning months of 1971, the PRC developed and tested a nuclear weapon, ushering in a third party to the 'Cold War'. Until the texts of the following documents were released, the Republic of China on Taiwan was the official representation of all of China, including that which was governed by the PRC on the mainland. This change is often overlooked as a rather trivial event in the politics of the world at the time. However, it was an act which spawned 34 years and counting of tensions between Taiwan and China and the US and China
The United States supports individual freedom and social progress for all the peoples of the world, free of outside pressure or intervention. The United States believes that the effort to reduce tensions is served by improving communication between countries that have different ideologies so as to lessen the risks of confrontation through accident, miscalculation or misunderstanding. Countries should treat each other with mutual respect and be willing to compete peacefully, letting performance be the ultimate judge. No country should claim infallibility and each country should be prepared to re-examine its own attitudes for the common good. The United States stressed that the peoples of Indochina should be al- lowed to determine their destiny without outside intervention; its constant primary objective has been a negotiated solution; the eight-point proposal put forward by the Republic of Viet Nam and the United States on January 27, 1972 represents a basis for the attainment of that objective; in the absence of a negotiated settlement the United States envisages the ultimate withdrawal of all U.S. forces from the region consistent with the aim of self-determination for each country of Indochina.
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