The Presidencies of Ford and Carter

 

Ford took office upon Nixon’s resignation

 

Nominated Nelson Rockefeller as vice President (former NY governor)

 

Granted Nixon an unconditional pardon  for all federal offenses

 

Ford faced an “Inflationary Recession” in 74 and 75

     Republicans wanted to limit govt services

           and keep down spending

     Democrats wanted to increase spending

           to stimulate the economy

 

Laws:

     Campaign Reform Act 1974:

           provides federal funding for

           Presidential campaigns

     established a Federal Elections

           Commission

     limit contributions by the wealthy

    

     Government in Sunshine Act: required

           federal agencies to act in full view of

          the press and public

 

Investigations of CIA and FBI to expose abuses such as wiretapping which led to a reorganization of these departments, and created a Civilian Oversight Board to “watch over” these groups

 

In 1975, the Hanoi government launched the Ho Chi Minh Campaign to unify Vietnam in violation of the peace agreements

 

Ford secured funding to bring some refugees to the US from Vietnam

 

Clark Amendment was passed to eliminate covert aid to one side in Civil War situations (such as Angola)

 

President Carter:

 

Defeated Ford/Dole ticket by a slim margin in 1976

Faced important economic problems such as inflation, high unemployment, high interest rates

 

Carter had difficulty steering legislation

     through Congress (inexperience and

     backlash against Watergate)

 

Did pass several environmental and Energy  laws for conservation

 

Other laws:

     raised the minimum wage

     reform civil service to facilitate removal of

           incompetent workers

     permit additional refugees into the U.S.

     raised the mandatory retirement age to 70

     provide loans to Chrysler and Lockheed to

           prevent bankruptcy

     create Cabinet departments of Energy

           and Education

     partial deregulation of banking, trucking,

           and railroads

     strengthen safety standards for nuclear

           plants

Foreign Affairs:

    

     Human Rights campaign

     Panama Canal Treaties to return

           ownership to Panama by 2000

     Camp David Summit to facilitate Middle

           East Peace process

     Diplomatic Recognition of China

     Condemned Soviet Invasion of

           Afghanistan in 1979 and asked for

           sanctions

     Carter Doctrine: US will use force if

           necessary to repel Soviet aggression 

           in the Persian Gulf Region

     Iran Hostage Crisis: failed to negotiate for

           their release, failed military rescue

           hurt Carter’s Presidency