Kimberly Williamson
HIS/135
May 31, 2015
Instructor Kathleen Stillio
Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon was elected the 37th
President of the United States (19691974) after previously serving as a U.S.
Representative and a U.S. Senator from
California. After successfully ending
American fighting in Vietnam and improving international relations with the U.S.S.R. and China, he became the only President to ever resign the office, as a result of the Watergate scandal.
Richard Nixon 's detente policies
• President Nixon was looking to better the relations with Russia.
• Limited Nuclear Weapons.
• Produce the first strategic arms limitation Treaty ( SALT 1) which froze the nuclear missiles (ICBMs) of both sides at present levels.
The Watergate Scandal
The Watergate scandal was a major political scandal that occurred in the United States in the 1970s as a result of the June 17, 1972 break-in at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington,
D.C., and the Nixon administration 's attempted cover-up of its involvement. The Watergate Scandal Effects
Positive
• Created a set of standards for all future presidents.
• Freedom of information act.
• Inspired investigative journalism. Negative
• Distrust of politicians.
• Resignation of president
Nixon.
• Americans are less likely to vote and less like to think that their vote matters.
Gerald Ford
When Gerald R. Ford took the oath of office on August 9,
1974 as our 38th President, he declared, "I assume the
Presidency under extraordinary circumstances...This is an hour of history that troubles our minds and hurts our hearts."
Gerald Ford and the Watergate Scandal
After being sworn in as president, Ford pardoned Richard Nixon for his part in the Watergate Scandal.
Gerald Ford inherited the presidency under unenviable circumstances. He had to try to rebuild the confidence in the government after the Watergate Scandals and also had to restore the economic
References: Gerald R. Ford | whitehouse.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/presidents/geraldford James Carter | whitehouse.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/presidents/jimmycarter Richard M. Nixon | whitehouse.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/presidents/richardnixon Watergate Scandal - Facts & Summary - HISTORY.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/watergate