Goals of the Bay of Pigs Invasion The United States government
was disturbed when Fidel Castro took over Cuba in 1959 and
developed ties to the Soviet Union. To overthrow Castro, the
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) trained a group of Cubans to
invade Cuba. President Kennedy approved the resulting Bay of Pigs
invasion, which took place on April 17, 1961.
Slide 3
The Bay of Pigs invasion proved to be both a military and
diplomatic disaster. Airstrikes failed to destroy Cubas air force,
and Cuban troops were more than a match for the invaders. The
United States lost credibility for its clumsy invasion tactics as
well as its violation of agreements not to interfere in the Western
Hemisphere.
Slide 4
Causes of the Berlin Crisis As part of the postWorld War II
division of Germany, the city of Berlin in Communist East Germany
had been divided into Communist and non-Communist zones. The
division of Berlin was planned as a temporary measure. However, the
Soviet Union demanded that the division of the city be made
permanent, hoping this would reduce the flow of East Germans
escaping through Berlin to West Germany.
Slide 5
Effects of the Berlin Crisis In response to Soviet demands,
Kennedy increased funding to the military and expanded the size of
the armed forces. To avoid a confrontation, the Soviets built a
wall to separate the Communist and non-Communist sections of Berlin
in August 1961. The Berlin Wall came to be a somber symbol of Cold
War tensions.
Slide 6
Slide 7
On October 16, 1962, photographs taken from an American spy
plane showed construction of Soviet missile bases in Cuba, about 90
miles from the coast of Florida. The American response to this
construction, and the resulting Soviet response, became known as
the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Cuban Missile Crisis brought the
superpowers to the brink of nuclear war. After much consultation
with his advisors, President Kennedy decided to authorize a naval
quarantine around Cuba. He demanded that Soviet leader Nikita
Khrushchev cease construction of the missile bases. On October 25,
Soviet ships headed for Cuba suddenly reversed direction, called
back by Khrushchev. This action led to tremendous relief since
confrontation, and the threat of nuclear war, had been
avoided.
Slide 8
The Cuban Missile Crisis did not end when Soviet ships reversed
their course, however. The end of the crisis came several days
later, when Kennedy responded to letters sent from Khrushchev,
agreeing to some terms publicly and others in secret. In the end,
the Soviet Union agreed to remove its missiles from Cuba. In
return, the United States agreed to end the quarantine, stay out of
Cuba, and remove missiles of its own from Turkey. As a result of
the crisis, Kennedy and Khrushchev established a hot line with
which they could communicate quickly in case of further crises. In
addition, the United States and the Soviet Union, together with
Great Britain, signed the Limited Test Ban Treaty in 1963. This
treaty banned nuclear testing above the ground.
Slide 9
Kennedy feared that Communist movements would attract support
in poor nations by promising people a better future. To counter
these movements, Kennedy encouraged people in the Western
Hemisphere to join an Alliance for Progress. The Alliance would
help build Western-allied stable governments that met the needs of
their people. The United States pledged billions of dollars toward
this goal. However, many people in Latin America began to view the
Alliance as only a tool of the United States to stop the spread of
communism. Because of these doubts, the Alliance for Progress was
not as much of a success as Kennedy had hoped.
Slide 10
In 1961, Kennedy established the Peace Corps to further his
goal of a world in which people worked together peacefully to solve
problems. Peace Corps volunteers were Americans who agreed to work
side by side with local citizens in poorer nations, teaching skills
and improving living conditions. Today, Peace Corps volunteers
continue to serve in nations around the world.
Slide 11
The Dominican Republic In 1965, rebels attacked the
military-backed government of the Dominican Republic. Johnson
believed that the rebels had been backed by Communist supporters.
He sent thousands of marines to the Dominican Republic, tipping the
balance against the rebels and installing a new provisional
government. It turned out that the rebels had not received
Communist support after all.
Slide 12
Vietnam Like Kennedy, Johnson was committed to preventing the
spread of communism. The ongoing conflict in Southeast Asia between
Communist North Vietnam and non-Communist South Vietnam continued
during Johnsons term. Although Johnson at first opposed further
United States action in Vietnam, American involvement soon
deepened.
Slide 13
The assassination of John F. Kennedy, the thirty-fifth
President of the United States, took place on Friday, November 22,
1963, in Dallas, Texas, at 12:30 p.m. Central Standard Time.
Slide 14
President Kennedy Assassination Facts: JFK was in Dallas, TX on
11/22/63. He was campaigning in the city that day. His motorcade
proceeded through the city and he was fatally shot in Dealey Plaza
near the end of his motorcade route. His wife, Jacqueline Kennedy
and Governor of Texas, John Connally were in the limousine with
him.
Slide 15
Slide 16
When the Presidential limousine turned and passed the Texas
School Book Depository and continued down Elm Street, shots were
fired at Kennedy. The Dallas police sealed off the entrances to the
Texas School Book Depository as eyewitnesses professed hearing
shots coming from that general direction. Upon investigation of the
building a shooting area (now referred to as the snipers nest) was
found and later linked to Lee Harvey Oswald The Snipers Nest
Slide 17
Aboard Air Force One, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn
in as President of the United States. To the left is his wife, and
to the right still stunned by what happened is Mrs. Kennedy in her
blood stained Chanel suit.
Slide 18
Lee Harvey Oswald was, according to three government
investigations, the assassin of U.S. President John F. Kennedy,
November 22, 1963. Oswalds Suspicious Background: A United States
Marine who defected to the Soviet Union and later returned. Oswald
was a Pro-Castro Supporter. Oswald on November 22, 1963: Oswald was
arrested on suspicion of killing Dallas police officer J. D. Tippit
Oswald becomes a prime Suspect: The police found his Snipers Nest
as they searched the Lee Harvey Oswald Texas School Book Depository
As he was about to be taken to the Dallas County Jail, Oswald was
shot and fatally wounded before live television cameras in the
basement of Dallas Police Headquarters by Jack Ruby, a Dallas
nightclub operator who said that he had been distraught over the
Kennedy assassination. Officer JD Tippit
Slide 19
Rubys Mug shot Ruby fatally Shooting Oswald Jack Leon
Rubenstein, who legally changed his name to Jack Leon Ruby in 1947,
was an American nightclub operator in Dallas, Texas was convicted
on March 14, 1964, of the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald on November
24, 1963, two days after Oswald was arrested for the assassination
of President John F. Kennedy. While in jail, he became ill and died
of lung cancer on January 3, 1967.
Slide 20
The cost of the funeral was $710.00. Buried at Rose Hill
Cemetery. Secret Service was in attendance.
Slide 21
His final journey was from St. Matthews to Arlington Cemetery.
Just as the 1960s debate changed politics, so did JFKs funeral as
it was watched by millions of Americans on television. The most
famous photo of JFKs son saluting his casket as he says goodbye to
his father one last time. November 25, 1963
Slide 22
"I have a piece of his brain in my hand. "My God, they have
shot his head off." I want them to see what they have done to my
husband. -All Quotes from Mrs. Kennedy The Assassination
Slide 23
Slide 24
Conflicting testimony about the autopsy performed on President
Kennedy's body. Particularly as to when the examination of the
president's brain took place. Who was present and whether or not
the photos submitted as evidence are the same as those taken during
the examination. (exit wound in the front or back of head?)
However, while the President's autopsy was underway at Bethesda
Naval Hospital, federal agents removed the X-rays of the body from
custody of the examining doctors. Though the X-rays undoubtedly
would have been valuable in determining trajectories of the bullets
hitting the President, and thus the shooter's location, they are
neither published nor alluded to in the Warren Report.
Slide 25
The conclusion of the Warren Commission Report on the JFK
Assassination was: Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the killing of
Kennedy and the wounding of Texas Governor John Connally. In the
years following the release of its report and 26 investigatory
evidence volumes in 1964, the Warren Commission has been frequently
criticized for some of its methods, important omissions, and
conclusions.
Slide 26
According to the single-bullet theory, a three-centimeter-long
copper-jacketed lead- core 6.5-millimeter rifle bullet fired from
the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository passed through
President Kennedys neck and Governor Connallys chest and wrist and
embedded itself in the Governors thigh. Horizontal View From
above
Slide 27
Bullet fired from 6 th floor of TSBD entered 5.75 BELOW
President Kennedys collar and through his neck. From his neck it
passed through Governor Connellys chest/right armpit. From his
chest/armpit area, it exited by his nipple and into his RIGHT
wrist. And from his RIGHT wrist, the bullet landed in the Governors
LEFT thigh. The Magic Bullet or Commission Exhibit 399.
Slide 28
United States House of Representatives Select Committee on
Assassinations (HSCA) was established in 1976 to investigate the
John F. Kennedy assassination. In its final report in 1979, it
concluded that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by Lee
Harvey Oswald, probably as a result of a conspiracy. The members of
this probable conspiracy were not identified.
Slide 29
Oswald fired THREE shots at JFK. Shots 2 and 3 hit him, shot 3
killed him. Scientific acoustical evidence gives high probability
of at least two gunmen fired. Assassinated as a result of a
conspiracy. But they would not say whom. They did say who was not
involved: Soviets, Castro/Anti- Castro groups, Mafia, Secret
Service, F.B.I, and C.I.A. were NOT involved in the conspiracy But
what about the Grassy Knoll???
Slide 30
The grassy knoll of Dealey Plaza is a small, sloping hill
inside the plaza that became famous following the John F. Kennedy
assassination. Of the 104 earwitness reports published by the HCSA
Commission and elsewhere, 35 recorded testimony of shots from the
direction of the grassy knoll.
Slide 31
Clockwise from Top Left: Carcano bolt action rifle. The bullets
that were taken from JFK during autopsy. A shell casing from the
murder weapon.
Slide 32
There are many conspiracy theories regarding who was behind the
assassination of John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963 that arose
soon after his death and continue to be promoted today. Some of
these include: CIA KGB American Mafia FBI director J. Edgar Hoover
Former Vice President Richard Nixon Sitting Vice President Lyndon
B. Johnson Cuban president Fidel Castro Anti-Castro Cuban exile
groups The Federal Reserve The military-industrial complex
Representatives of Big Business or some combination of those
entities and individuals
Slide 33
The Vietnam War (19541975)
Slide 34
Background of the War According to President Eisenhowers domino
theory, if one Southeast Asian nation fell to communism, others
would soon follow. Ho Chi Minh, a pro- Communist leader in Vietnam,
led a group called the Vietminh against French control of his
nation before, during, and after World War II.
Slide 35
Background of the War After the Vietminh successfully defeated
the French in 1954, a peace agreement called the Geneva Accords
divided Vietnam into Communist North Vietnam and anti-Communist
South Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh led North Vietnam, while Ngo Dinh Diem
led South Vietnam. The United States began providing economic aid
to the French in Vietnam in 1950. In 1960, President Eisenhower
sent hundreds of military advisors to help South Vietnams struggle
against the North.
Slide 36
Kennedys Vietnam Policy Diems Downfall During the early 1960s,
Ngo Dinh Diems policies lost him the support of his people.
Realizing that the struggle against communism could not be won
under Diems rule, President Kennedy told South Vietnamese military
leaders that the United States would not object to Diems overthrow.
In November 1963, military leaders seized control of South Vietnam
and assassinated Diem.
Slide 37
Kennedys Vietnam Policy McNamaras Role Robert McNamara,
President Kennedys Secretary of Defense, was influential in shaping
American policy toward Vietnam. McNamara used his strong business
background to cut costs while modernizing the armed forces. In the
coming years, McNamara would push for direct American involvement
in Vietnam.
Slide 38
President Johnson and Communist Advances Shortly after Diems
assassination in November 1963, President Kennedy was assassinated,
and Vice President Johnson assumed the presidency. In South
Vietnam, the military leaders who had taken over the government
were unsuccessful and unpopular. As a result, Communist guerrillas
in South Vietnam, known as the Viet Cong, made gains in both
territory and loyalty. The Viet Congs political wing was known as
the National Liberation Front.
Slide 39
Expanding Presidential Power The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution In
August 1964, Johnson announced that North Vietnamese torpedo boats
had attacked American destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin. However,
some people doubted that this incident had happened and believed it
was only an excuse for further U.S. involvement in Vietnam. What
Inspired the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution? The Gulf of Tonkin
Resolution, passed by Congress in 1964, regarded peace and security
in Southeast Asia as vital to American national interest, and it
gave the President additional powers to assist any Southeast Asian
country requesting assistance in defense of its freedoms. What Was
the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution? Under the resolution, the President
had authority to take all necessary measures to repel any armed
attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent
further aggression. The resolution, therefore, changed the balance
of power between Congress and the President. What Additional Powers
Did It Give the President?
Slide 40
Battlefield Conditions American Troops Had superior weapons
Were unprepared for heat, terrain, or guerrilla tactics Lacked
support of most South Vietnamese Most never saw the enemy but
constantly faced the possibility of sudden danger. Viet Cong Troops
Fought as guerrillas; avoided head- on clashes Were familiar with
terrain; had support of many South Vietnamese Built and hid in
elaborate underground tunnels
Slide 41
The Air and Ground Wars Some Weapons Used in the Vietnam War
Land Mines Land mines,which can be set off by the pressure of a
footstep, are explosive devices planted in the ground. Viet Cong
landmines killed and wounded both American GIs and Vietnamese
civilians. Saturation Bombing American B-52 bomber planes dropped
thousands of tons of explosives, resulting in saturation bombing of
North Vietnam.
Slide 42
The Air and Ground Wars Fragmentation Bombs Fragmentation
bombs, dropped by Americans over both North and South Vietnam,
threw pieces of their thick metal casings in all directions when
they exploded. In South Vietnam, fragmentation bombs killed and
maimed countless civilians. Agent Orange American pilots dropped an
herbicide called Agent Orange over Vietnamese jungles, killing
vegetation and exposing Viet Cong hiding places. Agent Orange was
later discovered to cause health problems in livestock and humans.
Napalm Another chemical weapon used in Vietnam, napalm,was a
jellylike substance which, when dropped from planes splattered, and
burned uncontrollably.
Slide 43
The Ho Chi Minh Trail North Vietnamese troops and supplies
entered South Vietnam via the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a route that
passed through Laos and Cambodia.
Slide 44
The Tet Offensive: A Turning Point On January 30, 1960, the
Viet Cong and North Vietnam launched a major offensive. This series
of attacks was called the Tet Offensive since it occurred during
Tet, the Vietnamese New Year. During and after the Tet Offensive,
both sides were guilty of brutal atrocities. Communists slaughtered
anyone they labeled an enemy; Americans massacred hundreds of
civilians at My Lai, a small village in South Vietnam. A helicopter
crew that stopped the massacre was later rewarded, and the officer
who had ordered it was imprisoned. Because Americans now knew that
the Viet Cong could launch massive attacks, and because no end to
the war was in sight, the Tet Offensive proved to be a major
psychological victory for the Viet Cong and a turning point in the
war.
Slide 45
Student Activism Student Activism in the 1960s Generation Gap
Young Americans in the 1960s had many opportunities unknown to
previous generations; many also questioned the values of their
parents. These factors contributed to a wider generation gap
between college-aged youths and their parents. Students for a
Democratic Society and the New Left Organized in 1960, Students for
a Democratic Society (SDS) had a major impact on the New Left, a
political movement that advocated radical changes to deal with
problems such as poverty and racism.
Slide 46
Student Activism The Free Speech Movement Student protests for
free speech at the University of California at Berkeley inspired
similar movements elsewhere, including challenges to social
restrictions on campuses. The Teach-in Movement Begun at the
University of Michigan in March 1965, teach-ins, or special
sessions at which issues concerning the war could be discussed,
soon became a popular means of expressing antiwar sentiment.
Continued Protests Hundreds of demonstrations continued at colleges
and universities around the country. One of the most dramatic, at
Columbia University in New York City, linked the issues of civil
rights and the war.
Slide 47
Draft Resistance To increase the available fighting force, the
United States invoked the Selective Service Act of 1951, drafting
young men between the ages of 18 and 26 into the armed forces. Most
of those who refused to be drafted in the early 1960s were
conscientious objectors, people who opposed fighting on moral or
religious grounds. As the Vietnam War progressed, the
draft-resistance movement grew, with many young men burning their
draft cards or fleeing the country to avoid the draft. At first,
college students could receive a deferment, or postponement of
their call to serve. Deferments were eliminated in 1971 in response
to complaints that they were unfair to those who could not afford
college.
Slide 48
Nixons Vietnam Policy Toward the end of his term as President,
Johnson had called for peace negotiations to end the Vietnam War.
However, the resulting Paris peace talks, which began in May 1968,
failed to produce an agreement. President Nixon campaigned on the
claim that he had a secret plan to end the war. In June 1969, he
began the policy of Vietnamization, replacing American troops in
Vietnam with South Vietnamese soldiers. Although Nixon wanted to
end the war, he did not want to lose it. He therefore launched
secret bombing raids and expanded the war to Cambodia, hoping to
destroy Viet Cong camps there. Nixon hoped his Cambodian attacks
would help America in peace negotiations. Instead, the attacks
resulted in both civil war in Cambodia and more antiwar protests in
the United States.
Slide 49
Nixon Calls for Law and Order The Silent Majority Nixon had
campaigned promising a return to law and order. As President, he
strengthened this position, discouraging protest against the war.
In a 1969 speech, Nixon appealed to those who, he felt, quietly
supported his policies. He referred to this group of Americans as
the silent majority. Kent State and Jackson State When student
antiwar protesters at Kent State University in Ohio reacted angrily
to Nixons invasion of Cambodia, Nixon ordered the National Guard to
Kent State. After students threw rocks at the guardsmen, the troops
opened fire, killing and wounding both protesters and bystanders.
The violence at Kent State, and a similar incident at Jackson State
in Mississippi, horrified Americans.
Slide 50
American Withdrawal Provisions of Peace Settlement Between the
United States, South Vietnam, North Vietnam, and the Viet
Cong,Signed in Paris in January 1973 The United States would
withdraw all its forces from South Vietnam within 60 days. All
prisoners of war would be released. All parties to the agreement
would end military activities in Laos and Cambodia. The 17th
parallel would continue to divide North and South Vietnam until the
country could be reunited.
Slide 51
Aftermath of the War in Asia South Vietnam Falls After American
forces had withdrawn, North Vietnam attacked strategic cities in
South Vietnam, ending with its capital, Saigon. Following a
last-minute evacuation of both American soldiers and Vietnamese
refugees, South Vietnam surrendered in April 1975, and Vietnam
became unified under a Communist government. Southeast Asia After
the War In April 1975, Cambodia fell to the Khmer Rouge, a
Communist force led by Pol Pot. The Khmer Rouge killed a quarter of
the Cambodian population, claiming they were tainted with Western
ways. Vietnams new leaders forced hundreds of thousands of
Vietnamese into reeducation camps; refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia,
and newly Communist Laos fled their home countries.
Slide 52
The Legacy of the War With a cost of at least $150 billion, and
hundreds of thousands of American soldiers killed or wounded, the
Vietnam War was the longest and least successful war in American
history. Thousands of American soldiers who did not return home
after the war were listed as POWs (prisoners of war) or MIAs
(missing in action). Many remain unaccounted for today. In Vietnam,
millions were dead or wounded, many of them civilians. The war also
heavily damaged the landscape of Vietnam. In 1994, the United
States lifted its trade embargo against Vietnam; in 1995, full
diplomatic relations were restored.
Slide 53
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Designed by 21-year old Maya Ying
Lin and completed in 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial stands
near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. It consists of a long
wall of black granite, listing the names of every American who died
in the Vietnam War. Since its completion, visitors have added to
the memorial by leaving personal tokens at the wall in memory of
their loved ones.
Slide 54
Slide 55
Nixon in Person Although he had a reserved and remote
personality, many Americans respected Nixon for his experience and
service. Nixon was willing to say or do anything to defeat his
enemies, who included political opponents, the government
bureaucracy, the press corps, and leaders of the antiwar movement.
Believing that the executive branch needed to be strong, Nixon
gathered a close circle of trusted advisors around him.
Slide 56
Nixons Staff Nixons Close Advisors H. R. Haldeman After
campaigning tirelessly for Nixon, advertising executive H. R.
Haldeman became Nixons chief of staff. John Ehrlichman Lawyer John
Ehrlichman served as Nixons personal lawyer and rose to the post of
chief domestic advisor. John Mitchell Asked to be Attorney General
after working with Nixons campaign in New York, Mitchell often
spoke with Nixon several times a day. Henry Kissinger Although he
had no previous ties to Nixon, Harvard government professor Henry
Kissinger first became Nixons national security advisor and later
his Secretary of State.
Slide 57
Domestic PolicyOil and Inflation During Nixons first few years
in office, unemployment and inflation rose, and federal spending
proved difficult to control. In response, Nixon turned to the
practice of deficit spending, or spending more money in a year than
the government receives in revenues. He also imposed two price
freezes lasting several months each. When the United States
supported its ally Israel in a war against Egypt and Syria in 1973,
the Arab members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries (OPEC) imposed an embargo, or ban, on shipping oil to the
United States. The resulting shortage resulted in high oil prices,
which in turn drove inflation even higher.
Slide 58
Slide 59
Domestic PolicySocial Programs Although Nixon himself supported
cutting back or eliminating federal social programs, he did not
want to alienate those voters who favored them. Under Nixons New
Federalism, states were asked to assume greater responsibility for
the well-being of their citizens, taking some of this
responsibility away from the federal government.
Slide 60
The Southern Strategy Nixons Views on Civil Rights Nixon did
not support advances in civil rights, believing that to do so would
cost him the support of many white southern voters. Hoping to win
over white southern Democrats, Nixon sought a southern strategy
which would keep his supporters happy. Results of Nixons Views
Nixons views resulted in a slowdown of desegregation. Although
Nixon tried to prevent the extension of certain provisions of the
Voting Rights Act of 1965, Congress went ahead with the extension.
Busing to end segregation in schools was slowed, but not halted
entirely, by Nixons opposition to it.
Slide 61
Nixons Supreme Court During Nixons first term in office, four
of the nine Supreme Court justices either died, resigned, or
retired. This gave him the opportunity to name four new justices
and, thus, reshape the court. Warren Burger, Nixons choice for
Chief Justice, was a moderate. However, Nixons later appointees
reflected his conservative views. The Senate rejected two of Nixons
nominees from the South, charging that they showed racial
bias.
Slide 62
The First Moon Landing During Nixons presidency, the United
States achieved its goal of a successful moon landing. On July 20,
1969, Neil A. Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon.
He was joined by Edwin E. Buzz Aldrin, Jr., a fellow crewman on the
Apollo 11 spacecraft. Television viewers around the world watched
the moon landing, and Apollo 11s crew were treated as heroes when
they returned.
Slide 63
Henry Kissinger Practical Politics Kissinger admired the
European political philosophy of practical politics. Under this
policy, nations make decisions based on maintaining their strength
rather than on moral principles. Kissinger applied this approach to
his dealings with China and the Soviet Union, which led to better
diplomatic relations with both nations.
Slide 64
Public Opinion Kissinger understood the power of the media and
was able to use it to shape public opinion. Kissingers efforts in
ending the Vietnam War and easing Cold War tensions made him a
celebrity. He topped a list of most-admired Americans, was often
featured on the cover of Time magazine, and in 1973 shared the
Nobel peace prize.
Slide 65
Dtente Although Nixon had built a reputation as a strong
anti-Communist, he and Kissinger reversed the direction of postwar
American foreign policy by holding talks with China and the Soviet
Union. Nixon and Kissingers greatest accomplishment was in bringing
about dtente, or a relaxation in tensions, between the United
States and these Communist nations.
Slide 66
Complex Foreign Affairs Kissinger understood that foreign
affairs were more complicated than just a standoff between the
United States and communism. The Soviet Union and China, once
allies, had become bitter enemies. This development had the
potential to reshape global politics.
Slide 67
A New Approach to China Easing Relations Between the United
States and China Historical Background After its Communist takeover
in 1949, the United States refused to recognize the Peoples
Republic of China, viewing the government of Taiwan as the
legitimate Chinese rulers. Steps to Ease Relations During the early
1970s, relations eased between the United States and the Peoples
Republic of China. Nixon referred to the nation by name, travel and
trade restrictions were lifted, and American table-tennis players
visited China, beginning Ping-Pong diplomacy. Nixons Visit to China
In February 1972, Nixon became the first American President to
visit China. Touring Chinese sites in front of television cameras,
Nixon established the basis for future diplomatic ties during his
visit. Recognizing the Chinese Government The United States decided
to join other nations in recognizing the Chinese government. In
October 1971, Taiwan lost its seat in the United Nations to the
Peoples Republic of China.
Slide 68
Limiting Nuclear Arms Nixon viewed arms control as a vital part
of his foreign policy. Although he had taken office planning to
build more nuclear weapons, Nixon came to believe that achieving
balance between the superpowers was a better strategy than an
increasing nuclear arms race. In 1972, the United States and the
Soviet Union signed the first Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty,
known as SALT I. In this treaty, both nations agreed to freeze the
number of certain types of missiles at 1972 levels. SALT I
demonstrated that arms control agreements between the superpowers
were possible. However, it did not reduce the number of weapons
that either nation possessed, nor did it halt the development of
conventional weapon technologies.
Slide 69
Battling Political Enemies Nixons suspicious and secretive
nature caused the White House to operate as if it were surrounded
by political enemies. One result of this mind-set was the creation
of an enemies list, a list of prominent people seen as
unsympathetic to the administration. When someone in the National
Security Council appeared to have leaked secret government
information to the New York Times, Nixon ordered that wiretaps, or
listening devices, be installed on the telephones of some news
reporters and members of his staff. Leaks to the press continued,
including former Defense Department official Daniel Ellsbergs leak
of the Pentagon Papers, a government study that revealed widespread
deception about the situation in Vietnam. In response, Nixon
organized a special White House unit, nicknamed the Plumbers, to
stop government leaks. In September 1971, the Plumbers broke into
the office of Ellsbergs psychiatrist, hoping to punish Ellsberg by
disclosing damaging personal information about him.
Slide 70
Nixons Reelection Campaign Campaign Funding The Committee to
Reelect the President, led by John Mitchell, aimed to collect as
much campaign money as possible before a new law required such
contributions to be reported. The money that the Committee
collected was intended to fund both routine campaign activities and
secret unethical actions. Dirty Tricks Attempts to sabotage Nixons
political opponents came to be known as dirty tricks. These efforts
included sending hecklers to disrupt Democratic campaign meetings
and assigning spies to join the campaigns of opposing candidates.
One particularly damaging dirty trick involved a faked letter that
seriously hurt the candidacy of Edmund Muskie, a leading Democratic
presidential contender.
Slide 71
The Watergate Break-In In March 1972, a group within the
Committee to Reelect the President made plans to wiretap the phones
at the Democratic National Committee Headquarters at the Watergate
apartment complex in Washington, D.C. This group was led by E.
Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy. The groups first attempt failed.
During their second attempt on June 17, 1972, five men were
arrested. The money they carried was traced directly to Nixons
reelection campaign, linking the break-in to the campaign. The
break-in and the coverup which resulted became known as the
Watergate scandal.
Slide 72
The Watergate Coverup Although Nixon had not been involved in
the break- in, he became involved in its coverup. He illegally
authorized the CIA to try to persuade the FBI to stop its
investigation of the break-in, on the grounds that the matter
involved national security. Nixon advisors launched a scheme to
bribe the Watergate defendants into silence, as well as coaching
them on how to lie in court. During the months following the
break-in, the incident was barely noticed by the public. Nixon won
the 1972 election by a landslide.
Slide 73
The Scandal Unfolds The Watergate Trial At the trial of the
Watergate burglars in early 1973, all the defendants either pleaded
guilty or were found guilty. Judge John J. Sirica, presiding over
the trial, was not convinced that the full story had been told. He
sentenced the burglars to long prison terms, suggesting that their
terms could be reduced if they cooperated with upcoming Senate
hearings on Watergate. Woodward and Bernstein Two young Washington
Post reporters, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, were influential
in tracking down information to uncover the Watergate story.
Woodward and Bernstein believed that the White House would prove to
be involved in the Watergate scandal.
Slide 74
The Scandal Unfolds The Senate Investigates Aided by Woodward
and Bernstein and by the testimony of one of the Watergate
burglars, a Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign
Activities began to investigate the Watergate affair. Millions of
Americans watched the Senate hearings unfold on national
television. Nixon attempted to protect himself by forcing two top
aides to resign and by proclaiming that he would take final
responsibility for the mistakes of others. A Secret Taping System
During the Senate hearings, Alexander Butterfield, a former
presidential assistant, revealed the existence of a secret taping
system in the Presidents office. The taping system had been set up
to provide a historical record of Nixons presidency. Now it could
be used to show whether or not Nixon had been involved in the
Watergate coverup.
Slide 75
The Saturday Night Massacre In an effort to demonstrate his
honesty, in May 1973 Nixon agreed to the appointment of a special
prosecutor for the Watergate affair. A special prosecutor works for
the Justice Department and conducts an investigation into claims of
wrongdoing by government officials. The Watergate special
prosecutor, Archibald Cox, insisted that Nixon release the White
House tapes. Nixon ordered him fired on Saturday, October 20, 1973,
beginning a series of resignations and firings that became known as
the Saturday Night Massacre.
Slide 76
An Administration in Jeopardy Problems in the Nixon
Administration, 19731974 Nixons public approval rating plummeted
after his firing of Cox. When Coxs replacement, Leon Jaworski, also
requested that Nixon turn over the tapes, Nixon turned over edited
transcripts instead. Feelings of anger and disillusionment arose
among many who read them. Vice President Spiro Agnew, accused of
evading income taxes and taking bribes, resigned in early October
1973. His successor, Gerald Ford, was not confirmed until two
months later.
Slide 77
Impeachment Hearings and Nixons Resignation After the Saturday
Night Massacre, Congress began the process of determining if they
should impeach the President, or charge him with misconduct while
in office. In the summer of 1974, the House Judiciary Committee
voted to impeach Nixon on numerous charges. Conviction, and removal
from office, seemed likely. On August 5, 1974, Nixon released the
White House tapes, with an 18 1/2 minute gap. Even with this gap,
the tapes revealed his involvement in the Watergate coverup. On
August 9, 1974, Nixon resigned, the first President ever to do so.
Gerald Ford was sworn in as the new President.
Slide 78
Ford Becomes President When Gerald Ford took over the
Presidency following Nixons resignation, he was viewed as a popular
and noncontroversial political figure. Ford named New York Governor
Nelson Rockefeller as Vice President, rounding off an
administration in which neither the President nor the Vice
President had been elected.
Slide 79
The Nixon Pardon At the beginning of Fords presidency, Time
magazine noted a mood of good feeling and even exhilaration in
Washington. However, this was soon to change. A month after Nixons
resignation, Ford pardoned the former President for all offenses he
might have committed, avoiding future prosecution. This decision
proved to be unpopular, both among the general public and among
Nixon loyalists still facing prosecution. As a result, many
Republicans were voted out of office in the 1974 congressional
elections.
Slide 80
Economic Problems The Economy Stalls Preoccupation with
Watergate had prevented Nixon from dealing with the economy. By
1974, both inflation and unemployment were rising, making the
economy stagnant. Economists named this situation stagflation.
Although Ford tried to restore public confidence in the economy
with the voluntary Whip Inflation Now, or WIN program, he later
recognized the need for more direct action. Government Spending and
Conflicts With Congress Although Ford was generally against
government spending, he supported an increase in unemployment
benefits and a tax cut in an effort to help the economy. Ford was
often at odds with the Democratic-controlled Congress, which wanted
the government to take a more active role in the economy. In
response to Fords vetoes, Congress created the highest percentage
of veto overrides since the 1850s.
Slide 81
Foreign PolicySoutheast Asia When North Vietnam began a new
offensive against the South in the spring of 1975, Ford asked for
military aid to help South Vietnam. However, both Congress and the
American people were against further involvement in Vietnam. To
prevent such involvement, Congress was prepared the invoke the War
Powers Act, a Nixon-era law limiting the Presidents ability to
involve the United States in foreign conflicts without receiving a
formal declaration of war from Congress. When Communist Cambodia
captured the American merchant ship Mayaguez, Ford sent the marines
to recapture the ship. Forty- one American lives were lost in the
effort, but the incident dispelled impressions of American weakness
in Southeast Asia.
Slide 82
Foreign Policy - Asia, Europe, and Africa Asia Ford continued
Nixons goals of friendship with China and was the first American
President to visit Japan. Europe and the Soviet Union In 1975, Ford
signed the Helsinki Accords, a series of agreements on European
security. He also continued Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT)
with the Soviet Union. Africa Fords administration aimed to develop
relationships with African countries newly independent from
colonial rule.
Slide 83
The Nations Birthday Americas bicentennial, or 200th
anniversary, provided Americans, discouraged by Watergate, Vietnam,
and the economy, an opportunity to celebrate. Parades, concerts,
air shows, political speeches, and fireworks took place on and
around July 4, 1976, the 200th anniversary of the signing of the
Declaration of Independence.
Slide 84
To understand todays troubles we have to go back way back.
There have been 4 attempts to invade and control its people. 1).
Alexander the Great 320 B.C.E. 2). Genghis Khan 1200 C.E. 3). The
British Empire (3 times)! 4). The Soviet Union
Slide 85
Alexander the Great - Led the worlds largest army across the
known world, conquering every empire in his path. - Died in Babylon
(Iraq) on his way home at 32. - On his death bed whispered his last
words: "I defeated the Persians, and I swung through the Pyramids,
But, I wept in Bactria" (ancient name for Afghanistan)
Slide 86
Genghis Khan Well known as a bad dude. Remembered for his
willingness to kill EVERYONE! While he had some success in
Afghanistan it was the only place his empire couldnt hang on
to.
Slide 87
What do all of these nations have in common? They were all the
biggest army in the world at the time of their involvement in
Afghanistan. They relied on huge shows of military force using
advanced military technology and brute force. They underestimated
the power of the tribal groups of this region. Each new invader
brought new religious beliefs. Losses: Geography and tribal
infrastructure.
Slide 88
The Soviets USSR invades Afghanistan to support the communist
government against Northern India. The US helps the Mujahadeen
overthrow the USSR why?
Slide 89
1979 was during the Cold War, a time when the USA was a rival
to the Soviet Union. The USA wanted to help Afghans fight the
Soviets. The CIA sent stinger missiles to Afghans to shoot down
Soviet helicopters.
Slide 90
MujahadeenThe Freedom Fighters - Using guerilla tactics,
Mujahedeen fighters destroyed both military and civilian targets
like bridges, roads and buildings. - They assassinated key military
and political leaders.
Slide 91
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan had many lasting effects.
1). Some of these include: Nearly 1.5 million undetonated land
mines. Some statistics say that up to 1 in every 5 children have
lost a limb to unexploded mines and artillery. Mines shaped like
toys. 2). Afghanistan has the distinct honor of having one of the
highest numbers of orphans in any country. This is a result of
nearly constant war since 1979. Life expectancy is 45 years.
Slide 92
Lasting effects of the Soviet Invasion 3). A generation of
Afghan children orphaned by the war with little guidance, education
or support. The Result: A perfect place to be recruited by groups
like the Taliban and Al Qaeda (Madrassas)
Slide 93
Lasting Effects of the Soviet Invasion 4). The Birth of Global
Jihad The single most lasting effect of the invasion by the Soviet
Union was the gathering of Islamic fighters to the cause of
defending their version of Islam.
Slide 94
The Fight for Control of Afghanistan After the final Soviet
troops left in 1989, the battle for who would run Afghanistan
began.
Slide 95
Rise of the Taliban According to our experts on the Taliban, it
was during this time that the various Mujahedeen fighters saw an
opportunity to spread their control over Afghanistan. Battle Royale
for Control of Afghanistan! The Northern Alliance The Taliban VS.
Ahmed Shah Masood Mullah Omar
Slide 96
Rise of the Taliban From the withdrawal of the Soviet army in
1989 until the Taliban (some were former Mujahadeen) take control
of the capital Kabul, the nation was thrown into yet another period
of destruction. In September of 1996 the Taliban became the
official government of Afghanistan. They threw out the existing
constitution and established strict Sharia Law.
Slide 97
Life under the Taliban According to The Encyclopedia of the
Muslim World,edited by Richard C. Martin The Taliban enjoyed great
support of the population of Afghanistan following decades of
endless fighting. According to the NY Times reporter Amy Pines
Under the Taliban regime, Sharia Law was interpreted to ban a wide
variety of activities hitherto lawful in Afghanistan: employment,
education and sports for women, movies, television, videos, music,
dancing, hanging pictures in homes, clapping during sports events,
kite flying, and beard trimming. Life under the Taliban Pines. NY
Times, Nov. 23 2001. One Taliban list of prohibitions included:
pork, pig, pig oil, anything made from human hair, satellite
dishes, cinematography, and equipment that produces the joy of
music, pool tables, chess, masks, alcohol, tapes, computers, VCRs,
television, anything that propagates sex and is full of music,
wine, lobster, nail polish, firecrackers, statues, sewing catalogs,
pictures, Christmas cards. [11] Theft was punished by the
amputation of a hand, rape and murder by public execution. Married
adulterers were stoned to death. In Kabul, punishments were carried
out in front of crowds in the city's former soccer stadium.
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/taliban/life-under-the-taliban
Slide 98
Talibans Islam Women covered in full covering, a Chadri. No
education for girls. Global Jihad Focus on destruction of all
things modern and western, or even other Muslim countries that
communicate with non-Muslim countries. The desire to return to the
golden era of Islam (the 1400s) Everyone Elses Islam Head covered,
a Hijab. Internal Jihad According to the Averroes Foundation
Developing in the modern world, developing relationships with other
nations, being a citizen of the world
Slide 99
What is al-Qaeda? Al Qaeda is a stateless (meaning without a
country) terrorist organization. It is led and financed by Osama
bin Laden, a radical Shia Muslim.
Slide 100
When did al-Qaeda form? The beginnings of al-Qaeda go back to
1979 when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.
Slide 101
The Birth ofAl Qaeda During the Soviet occupation of
Afghanistan Osama Bin Laden played a huge role in recruiting young
Muslim fighters to the cause of global jihad. While he participated
in few actual battles in Afghanistan, Bin Laden became known for
his generous funding of the jihad against the Soviets. While the
Taliban wanted only Afghanistan for their own, Bin Laden had dreams
of spreading this movement all around the world.
Slide 102
Slide 103
What changes did Jimmy Carter bring to the presidency? How did
Carter deal with domestic issues? What ideals guided Carters
foreign policy? What factors influenced the outcome of the 1980
election?
Slide 104
Although Gerald Ford had the advantage of being the incumbent,
or current office holder, he faced strong opposition from
Republicans inside his own party during the 1976 presidential
election. Democrat James Earl (Jimmy) Carter won the election by a
narrow margin. Carter had no national political experience and
lacked an ability to win reluctant politicians over to his side.
Nevertheless, he was well-liked for his informal approach to the
presidency. As President, Carter appointed more women and
minorities to his staff than previous administrations.
Slide 105
Economic Issues Carter had inherited an unstable economy in
which inflation and unemployment continued to grow. In response,
Carter cut federal spending, mostly on social programs. This cut
angered liberal Democrats. As bond prices fell and interest rates
rose, Americans lost confidence in Carter and his economic
advisors.
Slide 106
Deregulation Carter felt that government controls on certain
industries, put in place in the 1800s and early 1900s, hurt
competition and increased consumer costs. His move toward
deregulation, the reduction or removal of government controls,
affected the energy, railroad, trucking, and airline industries.
This move, which continued during the next two administrations,
also angered many Democrats.
Slide 107
Energy Issues During Carters Presidency Carters Energy Plan To
save on rising oil prices, Carter asked Americans to conserve fuel
in their homes, cars, and businesses. He also created a new Cabinet
department, the Department of Energy. Response to Carters Energy
Plan States that produced oil and gas fiercely opposed Carters
conservation plans. The National Energy Act, passed in 1978,
incorporated many of Carters directives. Alternative Energy Sources
and Three Mile Island One of Carters goals was to seek alternative
energy sources. A partial meltdown of a nuclear reactor at Three
Mile Island near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, eroded peoples
confidence in nuclear power.
Slide 108
Carters concern for moral values influenced his civil rights
actions. Soon after taking office, he granted amnesty, or a general
pardon, to those who had evaded the draft during the Vietnam War.
Many of Carters staff appointments won the approval of African
Americans. However, many African Americans were disappointed by his
weak support for social programs. Affirmative action policies,
which aimed to make up for past discrimination against women and
minorities, were a controversial issue during Carters presidency.
In the landmark case Regents of the University of California v.
Bakke, the Supreme Court ruled that race could be a factor in
school admissions but that numerical quotas could not be used.
Slide 109
Camp David Accords In 1978, Carter brought Egyptian President
Anwar el-Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin together
for negotiations at Camp David. The resulting framework for Middle
East peace, known as the Camp David Accords, was an important step
toward peace in the Middle East. Under its terms, Israel agreed to
withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula, and Egypt became the first Arab
country to recognize Israel officially.
Slide 110
Soviet-American Relations Although dtente was at a high point
when Carter took office, by the end of his term it was effectively
dead. Soviets were angered by Carters support of Soviet dissidents,
writers and other activists who criticized the actions of their
government. Although a second round of Strategic Arms Limitation
Talks (SALT II) was begun, the resulting treaty was never ratified.
Still, both nations followed its terms.
Slide 111
Late in 1979, the Soviet Union invaded neighboring Afghanistan
to bolster a Soviet- supported government there. Carter called the
invasion a clear threat to the peace and took steps to show
American disapproval of the Soviet aggression. As one of these
steps, Carter imposed a boycott on the 1980 summer Olympic Games to
be held in Moscow. Sixty other nations eventually joined the
boycott.
Slide 112
In January 1979, revolution broke out in Iran, replacing its
pro-American shah, Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlevi, with Ayatollah
Ruholla Khomeini, an anti- Western leader. When Carter allowed the
displaced shah to enter the United States for medical treatment,
angry Khomeini followers seized the American embassy in Tehran,
Irans capital. Fifty-two Americans were taken hostage and moved
from place to place over the course of 444 days. Carters failed
attempts to secure the hostages freedom decreased his popularity
and made his chances for reelection appear slim.
Slide 113
By the end of Carters term, his administration had lost the
confidence of many Americans. Although Carter ran for reelection,
the nation instead chose conservative Republican candidate Ronald
Reagan by a landslide. In early 1981, following months of secret
talks, Iran agreed to release the hostages. President Reagan sent
Carter to greet the hostages as they arrived at a U.S. military
base in West Germany.