KEY TERMS Key Terms and People to Know for the Regents Exam
Nixon and Détente
Nixon’s Cold War foreign policy attempted to ease tensions with the Soviet Union and China. Nixon visited China and the Soviet Union to hold talks with the leaders. Nixon’s policy of Vietnamization eventually ended the US war in Vietnam.
SALT Treaty
The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks were part of Nixon’s détente policy. The US and the Soviet Union agreed to limit the Cold War arms race between the two countries.
Watergate Scandal
Men working for Nixon broke into the Democratic headquarters in the Watergate building to steal information. When they were arrested, Nixon used the CIA to block the investigation. Nixon resigned from office when the scandal became public.
US v. Nixon
Nixon had recorded meetings about Watergate in the White House. Congress demanded the tapes, but Nixon said it was his “executive privilege” to keep the tapes secret. The Supreme Court ruled that Nixon was not above the law, must turn over tapes.
Ford Pardons Nixon
When Nixon resigned, Gerald Ford became president (he had been appointed VP when the VP had resigned). Ford pardoned (officially forgave) Nixon for his role in the Watergate scandal, which outraged many Americans.