President Ford and Carter

Question 1

What type of personality does Carter have?

Answer 1

Outsider personality

This personality was considered useful post-Watergate.

Question 2

What is a notable aspect of Ford’s personality at the beginning of his presidency?

Answer 2

Trustworthy personality

This perception changes after he pardons Nixon.

Question 3

What significant action did Ford take that affected his trustworthy image?

Answer 3

Pardons Nixon

This action led many to view Ford as corrupt.

Question 4

What belief did many hold regarding Ford’s presidency and Nixon?

Answer 4

Many believed he made a deal with Nixon

This belief contributed to the perception of Ford as corrupt.

Question 5

What was the federal government deficit in 1968?

Answer 5

$25.3 billion

Question 6

What percentage of the population lived below the poverty line in 1968?

Answer 6

12.5%

Question 7

What percentage of those living below the poverty line were black female heads of households?

Answer 7

50%

Question 8

How many people were using food stamps in 1980 vs 1976?

Answer 8

20 million in 1980
18.5 million in 1976

Question 9

How much was spent on public works in 1977?

Answer 9

$4 billion

Question 10

How many people were reported homeless?

Answer 10

1 million

Question 11

What happened to Skid Row hotels that housed the exceptionally poor?

Answer 11

They were demolished

Question 12

What effect did budget cuts have on welfare benefits?

Answer 12

Reduced welfare benefits

Question 13

What did a 1978 poll reveal about American concerns?

Answer 13

63% considered inflation their greatest concern

Question 14

What was the unemployment rate in 1974 vs 75?

Answer 14

6.5% in ‘74 vs 8.9% in ‘75

Question 15

What was the federal minimum wage in 1981 vs 1975?

Answer 15

$3.35 in 1980
$2.10 in 1975

Question 16

What was the price hike percentage due to the OPEC Oil Embargo?

Answer 16

387%

Question 17

What significant event occurred in Levittown in 1979?

Answer 17

First American energy riot

Question 18

What percentage of petrol stations were without fuel during the 1979 energy crisis? And what was the impact on petrol prices?

Answer 18

50% had no fuel
Those that did charged 50% more

Question 19

What industry declined by 1980?

Answer 19

Car industry

Question 20

What was a defining aspect of Carter’s foreign policy?

Answer 20

Actions in the Middle East

Question 21

What significant event occurred in Vietnam in 1973?

Answer 21

Congress cut economic aid by 50%

Question 22

What was the outcome of Ford’s military and humanitarian aid in Vietnam?

Answer 22

Humiliating retreat from Saigon

Question 23

What action did Ford take regarding the Mayaguez?

Answer 23

Ordered US marines to retake the American cargo ship

Question 24

What was the result of the Mayaguez operation?

Answer 24

40 Americans died but Ford’s approval ratings soared

Question 25

What was Carter's aim regarding human rights?

Answer 25

To protect 'human freedom'

Question 26

Which countries did Carter criticize for human rights violations?

Answer 26

* USSR * Eastern European countries * South Korea

Question 27

What was the result of Carter's human rights approach?

Answer 27

Cuts economic aid to Nicaragua, Uganda, Chile but partial success with USSR and China

Question 28

What event in Afghanistan occurred in December 1979?

Answer 28

100K Soviet troops invaded

Question 29

What was Carter's response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?

Answer 29

Congress refused to ratify SALT II and issued grain embargo on USSR

Question 30

What action did Carter take regarding the 1980 Olympics?

Answer 30

Boycotted the Olympics

Question 31

What was the perception of Carter's response to the Afghanistan invasion?

Answer 31

Seen as weak

Question 32

When did Carter formally recognize China?

Answer 32

January 1979

Question 33

What treaty did Carter revoke when recognizing China?

Answer 33

The 1955 Mutual Defence Treaty with Taiwan

Question 34

What legal challenge arose from Carter's recognition of China?

Answer 34

Carter v. Goldwell in Supreme Court

Question 35

What was the result of Carter's recognition of China for trade?

Answer 35

Trade flourished in Southeast Asia

Question 36

What did conservatives think of the Helsinki Accords?

Answer 36

Opposed to the accords

Question 37

What was a key criticism of the Helsinki Accords?

Answer 37

Americans saw Soviets taking advantage

Question 38

What was the outcome of the Yom Kippur War for the US?

Answer 38

Detrimental to the economy due to oil embargo

Question 39

What were the Camp David Accords about?

Answer 39

Israel's withdrawal and US monitoring of peace

Question 40

What did Carter receive for the Camp David Accords?

Answer 40

No recognition

Question 41

What happened to the Shah of Iran in 1979?

Answer 41

He was overthrown

Question 42

What mistake did Carter make regarding the Shah?

Answer 42

Treated him for cancer

Question 43

What crisis occurred in Iran during Carter's presidency?

Answer 43

66 Americans taken hostage

Question 44

What were Carter's attempts to resolve the hostage crisis?

Answer 44

* Freezing billions of dollars * Secret military incursion

Question 45

How did Carter eventually free the hostages?

Answer 45

By unfreezing funds and promising non-interference

Question 46

What was the political consequence of Ford's pardon of Nixon in 1974?

Answer 46

Loss of 43 Republican seats in the Senate, resulting in a 61 to 39 advantage for Democrats ## Footnote This shift in power highlighted the political fallout from the Watergate scandal.

Question 47

What did the Church Committee reveal about the CIA?

Answer 47

Activities of the CIA since its creation in 1947 ## Footnote The Church Committee investigated abuses by the CIA and other intelligence agencies.

Question 48

What percentage of Americans felt that the government would 'do what is right most of the time' by 1979?

Answer 48

29% ## Footnote This reflects a significant decline in public trust in government following various scandals.

Question 49

What is 'BillyGate' and what was the outcome for Carter?

Answer 49

'BillyGate' involved $220,000 from the Libyan government, with Carter acquitted for all involvement except using ties during the hostage crisis ## Footnote This scandal raised questions about Carter's connections and decisions during his presidency.

Question 50

What was 'KoreaGate' about?

Answer 50

30 congressmen accused of taking bribes from the South Korean government to reverse Nixon's decision to remove troops from South Korea ## Footnote This scandal highlighted issues of corruption and foreign influence in U.S. politics.

Question 51

Who was Bert Lance and what was he accused of?

Answer 51

Budget director accused of dubious banking practices, found not guilty but tainted public view of Carter's executive ## Footnote Lance's controversy contributed to the perception of mismanagement within the Carter administration.

Question 52

What is the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977?

Answer 52

Legislation that emerged after revelations that American defense was paying Saudi Arabians abroad 'commissions' ## Footnote This act aimed to combat corruption in international business transactions.

Question 53

What percentage of salaries were women paid compared to professional men?

Answer 53

73%

Question 54

What was the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and when did the Democrat congress vote overwhelmingly for it?

Answer 54

A proposed amendment for gender equality, voted on in 1972

Question 55

Who opposed the Equal Rights Amendment and what organization did she establish?

Answer 55

Phyllis Schlafly established the 'Stop ERA' organization

Question 56

How many female cabinet members did Carter appoint?

Answer 56

2

Question 57

What percentage of women were in the workforce by 1980?

Answer 57

52%

Question 58

What did the Equal Credit Opportunity Act outlaw?

Answer 58

Credit discrimination based on sex, marital status, and age

Question 59

What was made illegal by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978?

Answer 59

Employment discrimination based on pregnancy

Question 60

When was the first law against marital rape passed in South Dakota? Byt when did it become a crime in all 50 states?

Answer 60

1975 vs 1993

Question 61

What organization was established for abortion rights?

Answer 61

National Abortion Rights League

Question 62

What did Roe v. Wade (1973) establish regarding abortion?

Answer 62

Abortion was permitted for the first 13 weeks

Question 63

Who established Concerned Women for America (CWA) and what was its purpose?

Answer 63

Beverly LaHaye to fight ERA and abortion

Question 64

What did Henry Hyde lead Congress to pass regarding abortion?

Answer 64

A law banning the use of federal funds for abortion

Question 65

What was the outcome of Bryan v. Itasca County (1976)?

Answer 65

States did not have the right to assess a tax on a reservation

Question 66

What was significant about the 1977 visit of 14 Gay and Lesbian activists to the White House?

Answer 66

It was the first official visit of its kind

Question 67

What percentage of African Americans were living in poverty?

Answer 67

33%

Question 68

What was the life expectancy of Black Americans vs White Americans in 1980?

Answer 68

68.1 years vs 74.4 years

Question 69

How many Black federal judges were appointed during Carter's presidency?

Answer 69

38

Question 70

What did the 1977 Public Works Act support?

Answer 70

Minority workers receiving 10% of federal grants

Question 71

Who was the first African American Secretary of Housing and Urban Development?

Answer 71

Patricia Harris

Question 72

What was the outcome of Bakke v. Regents of the University of California (1978)?

Answer 72

Upholding affirmative action, not quotas

Question 73

By what percentage did Nixon’s war on drugs increase the US prison population?

Answer 73

800%

Question 74

What did the federal district court find Boston guilty of in 1974?

Answer 74

Unconstitutional segregation of schools

Question 75

What was the stance of Ford regarding anti-busing groups?

Answer 75

He expressed disagreement with school desegregation orders

Question 76

What was the ruling in Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg (1971)?

Answer 76

Full implementation of school desegregation

Question 77

What did Milliken v. Bradley (1974) rule regarding white suburbs?

Answer 77

No constitutional obligation to merge with predominantly black cities ## Footnote On the issue of Busing

Question 78

By 1974, what was the percentage decrease in segregated schools in the South?

Answer 78

From 68% to 8%

Question 79

How many African Americans were in Congress by 1980?

Answer 79

18

Question 80

What percentage of black families were earning over $100,000 in 1971?

Answer 80

31%

Question 81

What was the likelihood of a Black child being murdered compared to others?

Answer 81

4x more likely

Question 82

What percentage of elected officials were Black by 1980?

Answer 82

1%

Question 83

How many Black Panthers were left by 1980?

Answer 83

27

Question 84

What organization did Vernon Jordan work with to prepare high school dropouts for college?

Answer 84

National Urban League

Question 85

What was the Combahee River Collective?

Answer 85

A Black feminist group established in 1975

Question 86

Who was Atlanta’s first black mayor?

Answer 86

Maynard Jackson

Question 87

What percentage of Black public employment in professional positions rose to under Maynard Jackson?

Answer 87

42.2%

Question 88

What percentage of Black families in Atlanta were below the poverty line?

Answer 88

33%