Gerald Ford’s Administration
“A Ford, Not a Lincoln”
I. Ford doesn’t know where to start. His Presidency marked the first time the 25th Amendment had been used to settle the crisis of presidential succession.
Ford wants to Heal the Nation= Place the WATERGATE Scandal behind us.
He Pardons Nixon= result—Nation angry at Ford.
II. Inflation Crisis
OPEC had increased the price of oil.
Inflation rockets to 10% in US.
- Ford urges oil conservation. Limit daily usage to drive prices back down.
-Ford urges Government to cut spending on Federal Programs and restrict credit. = Causes national recession
III. Foreign Policy= Ford continues Nixon’s talks with potential enemies. He signs the Helsinki Accords= a 35 nation promise of greater cooperation among nations. Eases cold war tensions.
Ford botches a rescue attempt to save lives of 39 kidnapped Americans in Cambodia. The attempt kills 41 soldiers.
Ford only served two years. His failed war on inflation and his controversial pardon for Nixon killed his chances of election.
Jimmy Carter “A peanut farmer form Georgia”
Won election in 1976. Americans did not trust the Republican party. However, Carter narrowly won the election as a Democrat. Served from January 1977 to January 1981
Carter resumes FDR’S fireside chats. He knew that Americans no longer trusted the government since Watergate.
Energy Crisis and Inflation
Carter creates the National Energy Act= tax on gas-guzzling cars.
Carter urges conservation of oil and energy.
Fuel Shortage= Long lines for gas. People wait hours for gas as OPEC cuts production and increases prices again.
People lost confidence in Carter.
Carter on Foreign Policy
Carter makes a deal to hand the Panama Canal back to Panama by 1999.
Détente collapse= Carter gets tough with USSR and China over human rights violations.
CAMP DAVID ACCORDS= For 12 days, Carter met with Egyptian and Israeli leaders to work out a middle east peace agreement at Camp David.
It worked. It was Carter’s greatest moment.
Carter’s WORST MOMENT= Iran Hostage Crisis. Rebels in Iran led by Ayatollah Khomeini took 52 Americans hostage. Carter was not able to get them released.
Can we Save our Environment?
Rachel Carson= Silent Spring. This book advocated environmental protection and warned against chemical hazards.
Earth Day 1970. Schools and Colleges advocate environmental aid.
EPA= Environmental Protection Agency= set and enforce pollution standards
Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act help conserve species and combat air pollution.
Three Mile Island Disaster= Nuclear power Plant leaks radiation.