APUSH Chapter 39

Nixon's policy toward the conflict in Vietnam aimed at placating the American public; 540,000 US troops would be withdrawn over an extended period with the South Vietnamese gradually taking over the fighting, with American money, weapons, and training.

Policy that proclaimed that the US would honor existing defense commitments, but that in the future other nations would have to fight their own wars without the aid of American troops; a response to the war in Vietnam.

Segment of the population who Nixon believed still supported the Vietnam war; when his policies for the gradual withdrawal from the conflict were rejected by anti-war protesters, he appealed to this group for support, launching a counteroffensive that proved deeply divisive.

1968 massacre of innocent women and children in a Vietnamese village by US troops; the incident disgusted the American public when revealed in 1970, leading to deeper demoralization and discontent.

Site of an anti-war demonstration following the invasion of Cambodia in 1970; National Guard members responded to the protest by firing into the crown, killing four and wounding many more.

Top-secret Pentagon study that documented the blunders and deceptions of the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, especially the provoking of the 1964 North Vietnamese attack in the Gulf of Tonkin; leaked to the New York Times by a former Pentagon official, fueling the fires of antiwar discontent.

Era of relaxed tension with the Soviet Union, following Nixon's visit in 1972; the US promised to sell the Soviets much-needed grain, an anti-ballistic missile treaty (ABM) was signed, and both sides agreed to a series of arms reduction negotiations (SALT).

Warning that informs someone accused of a crime that they have the right to remain silent and are entitled to other protections; established by the ruling in the controversial Miranda Supreme Court case, presided over by Chief Justice Warren.

Nixon's controversial affirmative action plan; required construction trade unions to establish "goals and timetables" for the hiring of black apprentices, effectively creating hiring quotas for minorities.

Federal agency established by Nixon to protect and preserve the environment; along with the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the establishment of OSHA, this agency made notable progress in reducing automobile emissions and cleaning up waterways and toxic dump sites.

Day of celebration and awareness of global environmental issues launched by conservationists on April 22, 1970; reflected the growing concern and interest in environmentalism.

Nixon's plan to achieve a solid majority vote in 1972 (he had been elected as a minority president) by courting southern voters; his plan included appointing conservative Supreme Court justices, soft-pedaling civil rights, and opposing school busing to achieve racial balance.

Legislation passed over Nixon's veto which required the president to report to Congress within 48 hours after committing troops to a foreign conflict or substantially enlarging American combat units in a foreign country; a response to the administration's secretive actions in Cambodia and a reflection of the "New Isolationism" that arose after America's involvement in Vietnam.

Scandal that erupted when five men from CREEP (the Republican Committee for the Reelection of the President) were arrested after a failed attempt to "bug" the Democratic party headquarters; the Senate conducted televised hearings into the matter and Nixon was accused of obstructing justice by covering up the break-in; he refused to hand over incriminating taped conversations and fired his attorney general and other legal counsel; eventually the tapes were released and, facing impeachment, Nixon resigned in shame.

Tapes that had recorded Nixon giving orders to use the CIA to hold back an inquiry by the FBI into the Watergate scandal; Nixon initially refused to hand over the tapes, but was forced by subpoena to provide them to the House Judiciary Committee.

Constitutional amendment that declared that equal rights under the law could not be denied or abridged on account of sex; championed by the women's movement and approved in Congress, it was quickly ratified by 26 states, but unable to achieve the required 38.

Landmark Supreme Court case that struck down laws prohibiting abortion, arguing that a woman's decision to terminate a pregnancy was protected by the constitutional right to privacy.

Carter's speech criticizing Americans for causing the energy crisis by falling into a "moral and spiritual crisis" and being too concerned with material goods; his words stunned Americans who felt he was losing touch with the people.

US-Soviet treaty placing limits on strategic weapons arsenals; signed by Carter and Brezhnev in 1979, the treaty was never ratified in Congress after the Iranian hostage crisis and the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan changed the political climate.

A group of anti-American Muslim militants stormed the US embassy in Tehran, taking all occupants hostage and demanding the return of the exiled Iranian shah; after economic sanctions and political pressure failed, Carter launched a ill-fated rescue mission and the crisis continued throughout his presidency.

As Nixon's national security advisor he met secretly with North Vietnamese officials to negotiate peace; later, as Secretary of State, he aided the Israelis, who were under attack from Soviet-armed Syrians and Egyptians.

Conservative Supreme Court chief justice who succeeded Warren; Nixon sought appointees who would strictly interpret the Constitution and refrain from engaging in social and political questions; despite Nixon's intentions, his court was reluctant to dismantle the liberal rulings of the Warren Court and even produced the controversial Roe v. Wade ruling.

Called the "mother of the modern conservation movement" because of her 1962 book, Silent Spring, which exposed the poisonous effects of pesticides.

Democratic candidate in the presidential election of 1972; appealed to antiwar supporters, racial minorities, feminists, leftists, and youth, but alienated the working-class segment of the party; lost to Nixon, who won every state but Massachusetts.

The first man to be made president solely by a vote of Congress after the resignations of President Nixon and Vice President Agnew; outraged Democrats by granting Nixon a complete pardon; lost to Carter in the 1976 election.

Former White House lawyer who accused top officials, including the president, of obstructing justice by attempting to cover up the Watergate scandal; his testimony before Congress was later corroborated by Nixon's taped conversations.

Elected president in 1976; helped negotiate the Camp David Agreement between Egypt and Israel but alienated the American public with his reaction to the energy crisis and his failure to end the Iranian hostage crisis.

Soviet leader who met with Carter to sign the SALT II agreements.