Gerald Ford & Jimmy Carter

Ch. 32, Sec 3, p. 963-969

Q: What problems did Gerald Ford deal with as President?

Q: What major world conflicts did Jimmy Carter deal with as President?

Q: Compare the 1970s to today.

Gerald Ford

Born:Leslie Lynch King, Jr

September 1974 = Ford becomes new

President… ONLY president to not be voted into

office?

Speaker of

the House

Gerald Ford

Issues he will have to deal with:

1.) The Watergate Scandal

2.) 1970s Economic Recession & Gas crisis

3.) Genocide in the World

Gerald Ford took over the White House during a very “crazy” time in American

history

Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme

September 5, 1975

"I stood up and waved a gun (at Ford)

for a reason," said Fromme. "I was so

relieved not to have to shoot it,

but, in truth, I came to get life. Not just my

life but clean air, healthy water and respect for

creatures and creation."

September 22, 1975

"Am I sorry I tried? Yes and no.

Yes, because it accomplished little

except to throw away the rest of my

life. And, no, I'm not

sorry I tried, because at the

time it seemed a correct expression

of my anger." Sara Jane Moore

Besides almost being killed twice…what else did Ford have to deal with as

President?

Ford#1.) Deal with the Watergate Scandal

Walter Cronkite Nixon Resigns Ford PardonsNixon

Should Ford have pardoned Nixon?

“It is believed that a trial of Richard Nixon, if it became necessary, could not fairly begin until a year or more has elapsed. In the meantime, the tranquility to which this nation has been restored by the events of recent weeks could be irreparably lost by the prospects of bringing to trial a former President of the United States. The prospects of such trial will cause prolonged and divisive debate over the propriety of exposing to further punishment and degradation a man who has already paid the unprecedented penalty of relinquishing the highest elective office of the United States.

Now, therefore, I, Gerald R. Ford, President of the United States….do grant a full, free, and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 20, 1969 through August 9, 1974.”

Should Ford have pardoned Nixon?

1) What reasons could Ford have for pardoning Nixon?

2) Do you agree with Ford’s decision to pardon Nixon? Why/why not?

3) Are pardons acts of justice for righting wrongs and healing a nation's wounds? Or do they turn justice on its head by giving special favors to a few?

Do you remember inflation?

_____ demand _____ supply ______prices

Ford #2.) Fix the Economic Recession

Rising costs due to greater competition between goods AND rising costs of OIL

Economic Crisis

• Started with LBJ and deficit funding (spending more money than you earn)

He’s paying for both the Vietnam War and Great Society programs without raising taxes

Economic Situation in 1970

STAGFLATION:(Combination of no economic growth and rising prices)

Why is this happening?

•Shift in American jobs: Manufacturing ServiceWe’re not making any products…so when we buy

something where is our money going?

Another Problem? Who needs

Manufacturing Jobs?

FORD’s Solution for Stagflation?

WIN (Whip Inflation Now)Tried to tell people to save

and spend wisely.

Ford increased

interest rates

= no one could borrow $

= no one has $

= no one spending $

= worst recession in 40 years!

Another Economic Issue for FORD:

1970s = Gas Shortage, caused gas prices to increase!

OPEC = Organization of

Petroleum Exporting

Countries

•Oil = political power•OPEC was angered by USA policies in the Middle East, so they raised oil prices by 70%•They also decided to embargo (stop shipping) oil to the US because the US supported Israel

    Algeria

    Angola

    Ecuador

    Iran

    Iraq

    Kuwait

    Libya

    Nigeria

    Qatar

    Saudi Arabia

    United Arab Emirates

    Venezuela

1st fuel shortage in the US since WWII

Ford will continue to use Détente

Ford & The World

Helsinki Accords =

35 nations (including the

USSR) meet in Finland

Goal = increase cooperation,

spread Human Rights and try to stop

genocide

Ford #3.) Deal with World Conflict

Test on Friday on Ch 32:

Friday’s test will Cover Nixon & Watergate

Gerald FordJimmy Carter

The 1976 Election

Jimmy Carter

1976 Election = Ford (R) vs. Carter (D)

“I will never tell a lie to the American People”

Carter = a White House

“outsider”-former governor of Georgia

-no national political

experience

Jimmy Carter: Foreign Policy

#1.) Gave up ownership of the Panama Canal• US had owned canal since 1914• Helped strengthen “good feelings” between the

US and Latin America

#2.) Détente:• Salt II: (Salt I with Nixon) = Negotiate with the

Soviet Union to limit the number of nuclear missile launchers built

• Congress did not agree with SALT II because they thought it put the U.S. at a disadvantage

Jimmy Carter: Foreign Policy

#3.) Camp David Accords (1978)Agreement: 1) Israel would withdraw troops from land it had taken from

Egypt. 2.) Egypt would recognize Israel as a nation.

Got Israel and Egypt to agree to work with one another!

This man is Egyptianpresident Anwar el-Sadat.

This man is Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin.

1. Notice the caption, Jimmy Kissinger. Why would the artist refer to President Jimmy Carter as Jimmy Kissinger?

2. Why is President Carter pulling on the ties of Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin?

Malaise SpeechDid Jimmy Carter just

YELL at us??

As you watch:

1.) What kind of mood is Carter in?

2.) Do you feel confident that he can solve the economic recession?

3.) What does he want Americans to do?

4.) Does he give a reason for why the gas crisis is happening?

#4.) Iran Hostage Crisis (1979)Background Story:• Iranian people were upset with current leader = Shah

Pahlavi• Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini = Muslim leader.

Organized revolution against Iran’s government and Shah Pahlavi

• Ayatollah = everyone should live by the word of the Qur’an (sacred book of Islam)

Issue: Ayatollah wants Shah Pahlavi to be executed…however, Pahlavi is in the U.S. being treated for cancer. This angers Ayatollah

Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter Iran Hostage Crisis ** (1979)Incident

• Nov. 4, 1979 = armed Iranian students take over U.S. Embassy

• Held 52 U.S. diplomats hostage.

• Held hostage for 444 days! It isn’t until Ronald Reagan becomes president that the hostages are released.

Failed Rescue Attempt

• Based on real events during the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis

• The film stars Ben Affleck as Tony Mendez, a CIA operative who leads the rescue of six U.S. diplomats from Tehran, Iran

• Details of the mission not made public until 1997

ARGO

While the Iran Hostage Crisis is distracting Carter…

The Soviets invade Afghanistan!

Communism is spreading…again!?

Carter boycotts the 1980 OlympicsBeing held in

Moscow Russia

Jimmy Carter: Domestic Policy

Dealing with the Economic Recession

Gas CrisisNational Energy Act =

• tax on gas guzzling cars• tax credits for companies that create

alternative fuels

GOAL: Americans cut back on oil consumption = decrease impact of gas shortage.

Some 1970s Firsts

Cable TV

1970s: The “Me” Decade

• Fads and Fashions– Skateboards– Mood rings– “CB” (citizens band) radios let drivers talk to each

other over a two-way frequency in a range of a few miles

– Button craze most popular: smiley face

1970s: The “Me” Decade

• Movies

1970s: The “Me” Decade

• TV shows– The Mary Tyler Moore Show

• Featured an unmarried woman with a meaningful career

• Had adventures with friends, went on dates, but never married

– All in the Family• Featuring blue-collar and bigot Archie Bunker

• Called his wife Edith “Dingbat” and liberal son-in-law “Meathead”

• Gave viewers a way to examine their own feelings (ex. Racism)

– The Jeffersons• Portrayed African Americans as successful and respected

• (Archie Bunker’s neighbors)

• George Jefferson like Archie (opinionated and prejudiced but likeable)

1970s: The “Me” Decade

• Music– More reflective and less political than music of the 1960s

“These days, nobody wants to hear songs that have a message” - from the rock group Chicago

• Disco becomes popular in the 1970s– “Do the Hustle!”

Popular Artists of the 1970s

• Barry Manilow• John Denver• Elton John• James Brown• Aretha Franklin• John Lennon• Peter Frampton• Donna Summer• Paul Simon

• Chicago• ABBA• The Eagles• Earth, Wind & Fire• The Beach Boys• Queen• Boston• Bee Gees• Jackson 5

ABBA

• Famous hits include:– Mamma Mia– Dancing Queen– Gimme Gimme Gimme!– Take a Chance on Me

• Songs from ABBA made

into the musical “Mamma Mia”

Boston

• Famous hits include:– More Than a Feeling– Long Time– Peace of Mind

Jackson 5

• Famous hits include:– I Want You Back– ABC– I’ll Be There– Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)

Earth, Wind & Fire

• Disco band

• Famous hits include:– September– Boogie Woogie Wonderland

Chicago

• Famous hits include:– 25 or 6 to 4– Saturday in the Park– Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?

Queen

• Famous hits include:– Bohemian Rhapsody– Somebody to Love– We Are the Champions– Another One Bites the Dust