THE USA AFTER NIXON, 1974-1980
FORD AND CARTER AS PRESIDENTS
Revulsion generated by N = distance from ‘imperial presidency’/WG – US hoped for ‘regular guy’ in WH
FORD: took VP after Agnew resigned + joked that he was “a Ford not a Lincoln”, victim of media coverage eg.
footage of him falling down some stairs showed ELEVEN times in one newscast lol
CARTER: rejected excessive formality, walked down Pennsylvania Av after inauguration = unprecedented
DRAFT DODGING:
Time Magazine: ‘time for healing’ was needed – bitter divisions eg. clemency for VW draft dodgers – Ford
believed clemency helped heal but cons = furious + libs = ‘shamnesty’ as it was not unconditional
WOMEN’S RIGHTS:
-1970s: 2/3+ female college students agreed idea ‘woman’s place is in the home is nonsense’
-entered traditionally masculine domains eg. law but only 73% pay – still dominant in low-paid jobs
THE ERA:
1972 dem-controlled congress voted in favour – Libs = delighted but opponents = gay marriages
PHYLLIS SCHLAFLY: biggest opponent, mother of 6 = ‘sweetheart of the silent majority’, est STOP ERA in 1972
= 50,000 members – “the American people do not want the Equal Rights Amendment”
-Con states agreed + ERA never obtained support of 75% of states for constitutional amendment
-Carter insisted at least 1 woman considered for each cabinet post + appt more women to high-level posts
than any prev POTUS - supported ERA but many = antagonised by opposition to abortion
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:
Pre1973 abortion: crime in 30 states = backstreet abortions
FEMINIST ACTIVIST: “none of them means a…thing if we don’t own the flesh we stand in”
RESPONSES 1971: NATIONAL ABORTION RIGHTS ACTION LEAGUE = lobbied state leg for abortion
TO SOCIAL 1973 ROE V. WADE: Texan woman who did not want to raise child in poverty – legalised abortion in first 13
DIVISIONS weeks = DIVISIVE - libs + PlannedP = thrilled vs Cons = outraged
-Betty Ford called it a “great decision” but Ford and Carter opposed
CONSERVATIVE OPPOSITION:
1976: Nat Right to Life Comm (Cath) campaigned against RvW
1976: Reps led C in passage of law banning fed funded abortion
1978: anti-abortion mass mailing: “STOP THE BABY KILLERS”
1979: ‘Concerned Women for America’ fight against ERA/abortion = 500,000 members 1980s, want women to
stay at home = resurgent social conservatism beginning to greatly affect US politics
-70% contact by Nat right to Life Comm voted in 1978 Congressional elections = 2x nat average
OVERALL: RvW = big part in mobilising social cons that revitalised Rep party + ‘culture wars’ of 1980s
POVERTY:
FORD: self-help = no impact on poverty/welfare - 1978: Edward Kennedy “devmt of permanent underclass”
Problems Carter (expected to go further) faced:
- Fastest growing = elderly – inc fed exp on Social Security/healthcare
- Continuing ‘white flight’ of MC taxpayers = urban blight in Northern city centres
- No. living in poverty rose from 11.2% 1974 – 12.5% 1976 – suffering economic recession
C made little progress despite $4bn for public works in 1977 – taxpayer did not want subsidise poor
REASONS FOR THE GROWTH OF HOMELESSNESS: 200k – 1million
-no. institutions for mentally ill decreased = former residents homeless + rising unemployment = depression,
budget cuts restricted ‘welfare safety net’
AFRICAN AMERICANS:
1970s 35-45% BLACK FAMILIES = MIDDLE CLASS
-Cities with AA mayors: 1960s = 0 vs 1970s= many inc Birmingham, LA, Atlanta
1970s: seg schools in south down from 68% - 8%
PROBLEMS:
- Black youth unemployment = 50%
FORD AND CARTER AS PRESIDENTS
Revulsion generated by N = distance from ‘imperial presidency’/WG – US hoped for ‘regular guy’ in WH
FORD: took VP after Agnew resigned + joked that he was “a Ford not a Lincoln”, victim of media coverage eg.
footage of him falling down some stairs showed ELEVEN times in one newscast lol
CARTER: rejected excessive formality, walked down Pennsylvania Av after inauguration = unprecedented
DRAFT DODGING:
Time Magazine: ‘time for healing’ was needed – bitter divisions eg. clemency for VW draft dodgers – Ford
believed clemency helped heal but cons = furious + libs = ‘shamnesty’ as it was not unconditional
WOMEN’S RIGHTS:
-1970s: 2/3+ female college students agreed idea ‘woman’s place is in the home is nonsense’
-entered traditionally masculine domains eg. law but only 73% pay – still dominant in low-paid jobs
THE ERA:
1972 dem-controlled congress voted in favour – Libs = delighted but opponents = gay marriages
PHYLLIS SCHLAFLY: biggest opponent, mother of 6 = ‘sweetheart of the silent majority’, est STOP ERA in 1972
= 50,000 members – “the American people do not want the Equal Rights Amendment”
-Con states agreed + ERA never obtained support of 75% of states for constitutional amendment
-Carter insisted at least 1 woman considered for each cabinet post + appt more women to high-level posts
than any prev POTUS - supported ERA but many = antagonised by opposition to abortion
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:
Pre1973 abortion: crime in 30 states = backstreet abortions
FEMINIST ACTIVIST: “none of them means a…thing if we don’t own the flesh we stand in”
RESPONSES 1971: NATIONAL ABORTION RIGHTS ACTION LEAGUE = lobbied state leg for abortion
TO SOCIAL 1973 ROE V. WADE: Texan woman who did not want to raise child in poverty – legalised abortion in first 13
DIVISIONS weeks = DIVISIVE - libs + PlannedP = thrilled vs Cons = outraged
-Betty Ford called it a “great decision” but Ford and Carter opposed
CONSERVATIVE OPPOSITION:
1976: Nat Right to Life Comm (Cath) campaigned against RvW
1976: Reps led C in passage of law banning fed funded abortion
1978: anti-abortion mass mailing: “STOP THE BABY KILLERS”
1979: ‘Concerned Women for America’ fight against ERA/abortion = 500,000 members 1980s, want women to
stay at home = resurgent social conservatism beginning to greatly affect US politics
-70% contact by Nat right to Life Comm voted in 1978 Congressional elections = 2x nat average
OVERALL: RvW = big part in mobilising social cons that revitalised Rep party + ‘culture wars’ of 1980s
POVERTY:
FORD: self-help = no impact on poverty/welfare - 1978: Edward Kennedy “devmt of permanent underclass”
Problems Carter (expected to go further) faced:
- Fastest growing = elderly – inc fed exp on Social Security/healthcare
- Continuing ‘white flight’ of MC taxpayers = urban blight in Northern city centres
- No. living in poverty rose from 11.2% 1974 – 12.5% 1976 – suffering economic recession
C made little progress despite $4bn for public works in 1977 – taxpayer did not want subsidise poor
REASONS FOR THE GROWTH OF HOMELESSNESS: 200k – 1million
-no. institutions for mentally ill decreased = former residents homeless + rising unemployment = depression,
budget cuts restricted ‘welfare safety net’
AFRICAN AMERICANS:
1970s 35-45% BLACK FAMILIES = MIDDLE CLASS
-Cities with AA mayors: 1960s = 0 vs 1970s= many inc Birmingham, LA, Atlanta
1970s: seg schools in south down from 68% - 8%
PROBLEMS:
- Black youth unemployment = 50%
