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American Society in Transition
In the 1970s, social changes were significant, with half of all Americans living in the rapidly growing South and West.
The population was aging, with senior citizens being the fastest-growing age group.
The racial and ethnic makeup of the U.S. was changing, with minorities making up 25% of the population by 1990.
Cultural pluralism was replacing the melting pot model, as various ethnic groups sought to celebrate their traditions while fighting discrimination.
The Nixon Presidency
Nixon, aware of being a minority president, formed a strategy to appeal to the "silent majority" of conservative Americans disaffected by civil rights, liberal policies, and counterculture excesses.
His appeal brought together southern Whites, northern blue-collar workers, and suburbanites into a new Republican majority.
Election of 1972
Nixon’s Southern strategy was successful, helping him win majorities
in every Southern state.Key factors in his landslide victory included foreign policy successes,
George Wallace's exit from the race, and the Democrats nominating liberal candidate George McGovern.Nixon’s victory signaled a political realignment toward a new Republican majority in the Sun Belt and suburbs.
Watergate Scandal
The scandal began with a break-in at the Democratic national headquarters by men hired by Nixon’s reelection committee.
This was part of broader illegal activities by the Nixon administration, including wiretaps, a "plumbers" unit to stop leaks, and an "enemies list" targeting Nixon’s critics.
Nixon did not order the break-in but was involved in the cover-up, leading to a Senate investigation and televised hearings.
The discovery of the Oval Office tapes led to Nixon’s eventual resignation under threat of impeachment.
Gerald Ford in the White House
Gerald Ford, who replaced Vice President Agnew, became president after Nixon's resignation.
Ford lost public goodwill by pardoning Nixon for any crimes he might
have committed, a move intended to end the national turmoil but criticized for preventing the full truth from emerging.
Election of 1976
Watergate negatively affected the Republican Party, making the 1976 election challenging.
President Ford faced a strong challenge from Ronald Reagan for the Republican nomination, which he narrowly won.
Jimmy Carter, a lesser-known former governor of Georgia, ran as an outsider, gaining support due to the public's distrust of Washington post-Watergate.
Carter won the election with 287 electoral votes to Ford’s 241, largely by winning the South and securing 97% of the African American vote.
Democrats gained strong majorities in both houses of Congress.
An Outsider in the White House
Carter aimed to end the "imperial presidency" with his informal style, symbolized by walking to the White House on inauguration day.
Despite his relatable image, Carter was seen as an outsider in Washington and depended heavily on his inexperienced advisers from Georgia.
His detailed focus on governance was viewed as a drawback, leading to the criticism that he missed the bigger picture.
Loss of Popularity
The Iranian hostage crisis and economic problems severely damaged Carter's approval ratings.
In 1979, Carter’s "national malaise" speech blamed a "moral and spiritual crisis" in America, but this further hurt his image.
By 1980, his approval rating was only 23%, making him vulnerable in the upcoming election.
The Burger Court
Nixon appointed Warren E. Burger as Chief Justice in 1969, leading to a more conservative Supreme Court, though not as conservative as Nixon had hoped.
The Court ruled against Nixon in the Watergate scandal, ordering him to turn over tapes (United States v. Nixon, 1974).
Abortion Rights
The Burger Court’s most controversial ruling was Roe v. Wade (1973), which struck down many state laws prohibiting abortion as a violation of a woman’s right to privacy.
This ruling became a major focus of the conservative movement, with opposition to abortion becoming a key issue for Republican candidates in future elections.
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