Modern Presidents

SSUSH 22 & 23
 GSE Standards
SSUSH22 Analyze U.S. international and domestic policies including their influences on
technological advancements and social changes during the Nixon, Ford, and Carter
administrations.
a. Analyze the international policies and actions taken as a response to the Cold
War including the opening of and establishment of diplomatic relations with
China, the end of U.S. involvement in Vietnam, the War Powers Act, the Camp
David Accords, and Carter’s response to the 1979 Iranian Revolution and hostage
crisis.
b. Connect major domestic issues to their social effects including the creation of
the Environmental Protection Agency, the emergence of the National
Organization for Women, Nixon’s resignation due to the Watergate scandal, and
his pardon by Ford.

SSUSH23 Assess the political, economic, and technological changes during the Reagan,
George H.W. Bush, Clinton, George W. Bush, and Obama administrations.
a. Analyze challenges faced by recent presidents including the collapse of the
Soviet Union, Clinton’s impeachment, the attacks of September 11, 2001, and
the war against terrorism.
b. Examine economic policies of recent presidents including Reaganomics.
c. Examine the influence of technological changes on society including the personal
computer, the Internet, and social media.
d. Examine the historic nature of the presidential election of 2008
 Détente-Nixon Opens China
• Nixon’s visit to China in 1972 was a major
success
• As a result, the USA and China signed SALT I,
which limited nuclear missiles.
 Watergate Scandal
• A scandal that occurred
during Richard Nixon’s
2nd term in office
• The scandal centered on
an attempt to cover up a
burglary of the offices of
the Democratic Party in
the Watergate office
complex in Washington,
D.C.
• The crime was
committed by Nixon’s
reelection team in 1972
• Nixon and other top
government officials
attempted to cover-up
the crime but were not
successful.
• Eventually President
Nixon resigned from
office rather than face
an impeachment trial.
• The scandal left
Americans dismayed by
Nixon’s actions and
cynical about politics in
general.
“I am not a Crook”
 Gerald Ford
• Nixon was succeeded by Gerald Ford in 1974
• Ford’s reputation was damaged when he pardoned
Nixon.
• A major bright spot for Ford was ending the
Vietnam War by following a path established
by Nixon
• Domestically, Ford failed to stop growing
inflation and unemployment
 Jimmy Carter
• Elected president in 1976 as a Washington outsider.
• His presidency was dominated by international
issues.
 Camp David Accords
Jimmy Carter negotiated a peace in the Middle
East between Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and
Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin with the
Camp David Accords in 1978.
 Iranian Hostage Crisis
• In 1978, the Iranian Revolution replaced a shah (king)
friendly to America with a Muslim religious leader
unfriendly to America
• When Carter let the shah enter the U.S. for medical
treatment, angry Iranian Revolutionaries invaded the
U.S. embassy in Iran and took 52 Americans hostage
• The Iranian Hostage Crisis lasted 444 days,
until the captives were released after the
inauguration of Ronald Reagan as president.
• It nurtured anti-Americanism among Muslims
around the world.
 Ronald Reagan
• Elected president in 1980 & 1984.
• Reagan was a conservative who
wanted to decrease the size and
role of the federal government.
 Reagan’s
Background
 Reaganomics
• Nickname given to Reagan’s economic policies
– 25% tax cut
– Severe cuts on social programs
– Triple defense spending
-His policies hurt lower-income Americans by
cutting social welfare budgets.

-Reaganomics ultimately led to a severe

recession.
 Iran-Contra Scandal
• Reagan’s biggest international policy failure
• Administration officials sold weapons to Iran and then used
those profits to help fund a rebellion in Nicaragua fought by
rebels known as Contras
 Collapse of the Soviet Union
• Reagan’s biggest success in international policy
• Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet’s last leader, set up
policies allowing freedom of speech, freedom of the
press, and other reforms
The Berlin Wall (1961-1989)
• This put the Soviets on a path to democratic
government
• These reforms got out of Gorbachev’s control
and led to the break up of the 15 states that
were the Soviet Union
• Five of those states now comprise Russia and
the other 10 are independent countries
 George H.W. Bush
- Reagan’s Vice
President
- Served one term:
1989-1993
 George H.W. Bush
He was successful in the use of military resources in the 1991 Persian
Gulf War.
- Iraq (Saddam Hussein is the leader) invaded Kuwait. America will
lead air strikes. Then, troops will invade on land for a very short time.
Hussein decided to leave Kuwait, ending the war.

While campaigning in 1988, Bush promised he would not raise taxes.

Due to the enormous deficits of Reaganomics, George H.W. Bush will
have to go back on his word and will raise taxes.
 Bill Clinton

• Elected
president in
1992 and
1996.
• North American Free
NAFTA
Trade Agreement
• NAFTA brought Mexico
into a free-trade (tariff-
free) zone already
existing between the
U.S. and Canada
• Opponents believed
NAFTA would send U.S.
jobs to Mexico and
harm the environment
• Supporters believed it
would open up the
growing Mexican
market to U.S.
companies
 Impeachment
• Clinton became the 2nd U.S.
President to be impeached
(Remember Andrew
Johnson?).
• The charges were based on
accusations of improper use of
money from a real estate deal
and allegations he lied under
oath about an improper
relationship with Monica
Lewinsky, a White House
intern
• The House
charged him with
perjury and
obstruction of
justice.
• Clinton denied
the Charges and
the Senate
acquitted him.
• Clinton remained
in office to finish
his 2nd term.
 2000 Presidential Election
• Clinton’s vice president, Al Gore, was running against
the Republican governor of Texas, George W. Bush.
• Ralph Nader was running as a third party candidate,
too.
• Polls predicted a close race and it turned out to one of
the closest in American history.
• Gore won the popular vote by over 500,000
(out of over 105 million votes total)
• Bush won the electoral college vote by 271 –
266 for Gore
• Bush became the 43rd president of the U.S.
 George W. Bush
• Elected president in
2000 and 2004.
 9/11
• The terrorist organization known as al-Qaeda attacked the
U.S. on September 11, 2001.
 Results of 9/11
USA PATRIOT Act Department of
• allows the government to hold
foreign citizens suspected of Homeland Security
being terrorists for up to seven The purpose is to protect
days without charging them the U.S. from terrorist
with a crime. attacks and to respond to
• Also increases the ability of law natural disasters
enforcement agencies to search
private communications and
personal records.
Another Result: War on Terrorism
Operation Enduring Operation Iraqi Freedom
Freedom
 Enduring Freedom
• Code name for the invasion of
Afghanistan by the U.S. military
and allied forces.
• Authorized by Bush in October
2001
• Afghanistan’s Taliban
government was harboring al-
Qaeda leadership
• The Allied forces quickly defeated
the Taliban government and
destroyed the al-Qaeda network
in Afghanistan.
• al-Qaeda leader Osama bin
Laden escaped, however.
 Operation Iraqi Freedom
• In March 2003, American and British troops invaded Iraq
in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• Iraq’s president, Sadam Hussein, went into hiding while
U.S. forces searched for Weapons of Mass Destruction
(WMD)
• Bush was fearful that Hussein had WMD and would supply
terrorist groups for use against the U.S.
• No WMD were found when Hussein was captured.
• Hussein was convicted of crimes against humanity and
executed in 2006.
 Election of 2008
The candidates in the presidential election of
2008 campaigned on the issues of the lagging
economy and the war to fight terrorism.
This election resulted in a historic outcome of in
which the first person of color was elected to be
President of the United States.
 Barack Obama
• Elected
president in
2008 and
2012.
 Major Milestone: Domestic
Healthcare Reform (Obamacare) in 2010
 Major Milestone: Foreign
His foreign policy effort was highlighted by the
elimination of Osama bin Laden, who was
America's prime target in the War on Terror
after the September 11th attack. A Navy SEAL
team killed bin Laden on May 11, 2011.
Throughout Obama's historic presidency there
was a growing conservative movement that
opposed the efforts of the President and the
Democratic Party. The result was a deep
political divide in the United States that pitted
Democrats and Republicans in bitter state and
national elections.
 Technology in the late Twentieth
Century dramatically changed society
• Computers will be made small enough for personal
use.
• Email is an immediate method of information
transfer. Email changed the way business
communication is conducted and the way
individuals often communicate.
 Don’t Forget about Social Media!
• Social Media allows individuals to share
information in online communities.
• Social media is becoming a source for news.
While popular, there are growing concerns
about the credibility that comes from social
media. Cyber bullying is another problem that
has resulted from the advent of social media.