Chapter 20: The Seventies: Under Control? Notes.

In the early seventies, the government couldn't hold the loyalty of the public.

• In early 1970 the trust in the government was low in every part of the populaton. (For professional people 40% had low trust in the government and for blue-collar workers it was 66%)
• The people didn't want to give aid to countries , even if they were allied to the U.S. in NATO.
• In Boston, people were protesting Honeywell Corporation and its production of antipersonnel weapons like the cluster bomb.
• Many people thought the government was being run by "a few big interests looking out for themselves."
• Courts and juries were acquitting radicals that the government wanted to be put away.

Zinn points out that most of the hostility to the government came out of the Vietnam war and its casualties, and exposure of government lies. During the presidential campaign in June 1972, five burglars were caught breaking into the Democratic National Committees offices in the Watergate apartment complex.

• They were carrying wiretapping and photo equipment.
• One of the burglars, James McCord Jr. worked for Nixon’s campaign, and was security officer for the Committee to Re-elect the President or CREEP.
• McCord, as well as some of the other burglars had big connections to President Nixon and members of his committee.
• Attorney General, John Mitchell was caught with control over a secret fund of $350,000 to $700,000 that was to be used against the Democratic Party.
• Some of the burglars gave information linking officials in Nixon’s campaign committee, as well as Nixon himself, to the burglary, among other illegal actions against opponents.
• Nixon denied that he and his party had anything to do with the scandal.

The testimonies revealed Nixon's involvement with the scandal, among other things.

• Major American corporations made illegal contributions to the Nixon campaign
• Nixon promised some of the burglars that were caught "hush money" to keep them quiet.
• Files of illegal wiretaps that were taken from FBI files were found in the safe of Nixons adviser.
• One of the burglars told the Senate committee that he was going to physically attack Daniel Ellsberg (who had released top-secret Pentagon Papers) when speaking at an antiwar rally.
• A deputy director of the CIA said that Nixon wanted the CIA to tell the FBI not to investigate beyond the Watergat e burglary.
• It was revealed that Nixon had tapes of personal and phone conversations at the White House. Nixon was reluctant to give the tapes up, but when he finally did it was found that they were tampered with.
• Nixons Vice-President was recieving bribes from Maryland contractors in return for political favors.
• Nixon was given $10 million in government money to use in his private homes, and he illegally took a $576,000 tax deduction.
• It was discovered that the U.S. had been secretly bombing Cambodia.

Although Nixon resigned, his foreign policy remained since Henry Kissinger was still Secretary of State. Zinn quotes a Wall Street financier saying if Nixon resigned "What we have is the same play with different players." Everyone wanted to get rid of Nixon, but keep the system. Theodore Sorensen said "..All the rotten apples should be thrown out. But save the barrel." They didnt want to punish the Watergates too hard because they were afraid it would "tear the country apart and affect foreign policy."

Gerald Ford then moved into office, promising Americans victory in Vietnam, saying that victory was in sight. However on April 29, 1975 the North Vietnamese went into Siagon and the war was over. This left the people of the U.S. doubting that they were an actual power, and questioning the government.

Then came the Mayaguez affair. When an American cargo ship the Mayaguez came close to Cambodia, it was stopped and taken to a port on an island. The crew was put on the mainland. The crew later said the Cambodians were nice, courteous, welcoming, and that they werent harmed at all. President Ford sent a message to the Cambodian government telling them to release the ship and crew. The crew was released but when the Cambodian government didn't reply to the message within 36 hours Ford decided to bomb the island anyway. He sent in military troups and in the end 41 men died to save 39 crew members.

What did this prove?

• That the United States was still powerful.

The media during all of this was only giving limited information about selected events. Newspapers, columnists who previously criticized the Vietnam war, and the Watergate scandal were now praising the Mayaguez affair.

Why?

• Zinn believes that newspapers and the television were starting to agree with the idea that American authority should be asserted.

The media gave out just enough information and told it in the right way to make it sound like the U.S. was "an honest society correcting itself."

Ch. 24 Notes

• Clinton barely won both of his elections with not even half of the elegible voters turning out.
• If any of the people in his administration became too bold or outspoken he would ask them to resign.
• Clinton's "Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act" quickly elevated the number of prisons and prisoners as well as the deportation of immigrants.
• Anger was often diverted from what Clinton was doing to the minorities and other groups that didn't have the resources to defend themselves from political attacks.
• The cutting off of funds to the poor families of America were diverted to fund the ever growing military budget.
• The United States quickly picked up the title of world arms dealer Sikorski attack-copters were sold primarily in the Balkan region to the governments to suppress kurdish and other rebelious people.
• Despite the constant massacres that were caused by American made weapons we turned a blind eye and kept on selling.
• The United States also seemed to have racial discimination between nations. When tribal conflict appeared in Rwanda the United States pulled back and left a skeleton force to deal with any problems. A year later almost 1 million people would be dead by genocide.
• However when small conflicts appeared in the Balkans the US went in full force.
• In the last year or so in his second term Clinton's affaor with an intern, Monica Lewinsky, was exposed and he was impeached.
• Congress however chose not to remove him from office since there were only a few months left in his term.
• Clinton did little to change the taxation policy on big business and the rich.
• He raised the "rich tax" from 31% to 37% and the tax on big business from 34% to 35%, not even enough to help rid ourselves of the 4 trillion dollar deficetmthat Reagen and Bush had built up.

Chapter 20 Notes. The Seventies: under control?

In the seventies, the political system couldn't seem to control the public's loyalty to the government, especially the loyalty of unskilled workers.

What led to this disloyalty?

• The US role in Vietnam for seven years with 55,000 casualties, immorality, and the unnecessary loss of lives.
• Many began to think that the government was run only looking into a few large interests, which would not benefit the majority of people.
• Consequence: Radical juries began to support those on trial for cases against the government. More people turned to the independent party rather than republic or democratic. 

The watergate scandal led to even more distrust in the public, five burglars were caught breaking into the Democratic National Committee offices with burglars from high positions- a security officer of the committee to reelect the president (called CREEP), cuban veterans, CIA,  and even an assistant that was special counsel to President Nixon himself!  

What had happened behind the scenes while Nixon was in office?

• Nixon had used illegal actions against  opponents and people protesting the war
• A secret fund existed for using against the democratics- to fake out the media, forge letters, and steal files
• Huge american corporations contributes millions to Nixon's campaign  (this may suggest where the government interests would be if elected)
• Nixon asked the people who had been burglars caught at the watergate to keep quiet and promised massive sums of money 
• An adviser to Nixon had been found with files stolen from the FBI in his safe
• Spiro Agnew, the vice president would take bribes for political favors
• Over 10 million dollars were taken and used for Nixon's private homes, claimed to be for "security purposes" and he gave himself an illegal massive tax reduction
• Secret bombing was done in Cambodia by the president in 1969-1970, of which the public and congress had no knowledge
• Consequence: Impeachment was introduced three times, and when Nixon heard he had no chance, he resigned. 

 After Nixon left, his foreign policy still stayed. Henry Kissinger, his secretary of state remained as well. Alexander Haig, his close adviser, stayed to head NATO forces. However, a lot had still been wrong with the government's large interests, like the American public said. 

Many things had happened with money and corporations-

• The International Telephone and Telegraph company (ITT) merged with the Hartford Fire Insurance, the biggest merge ever. Although this broke antitrust laws, it was dismissed from court! This happened after the company had paid $400,000 to the republicans.
• The milk industry gave a lot of money to Nixon's campaign when their prices would not rise. After that, the prices of milk sky rocketed, pulling in a huge profit.
• Oil company economists held oil until prices went up, then sold it for more profit. In 1973, it had been $1, and went up in a year to $4.50!
• Consequence: The companies actually were let off really easy! They were said to have contributed unwillingly and were simply fined under $5000, when they could have faced jail or a $10,000 fine.

Ford went into office and pardoned Nixon, who would have faced hard punishment otherwise. He tried to promise Americans victory, and remained confident in the Vietnam situation. North Vietnam moved into Saigon and the war ended, proving the president wrong and breaking his promise. 

How did this affect Americans?

• They thought the leaders of the country didn't tell the truth
• Americans now had doubt in the military action overseas
• They developed less national will 
• There was doubt that they were a world power
• There was less will to fight

After this an American ship was sailing, The Mayaguez, when it was stopped and asked to come to the mainland of Cambodia. Although they were treated kindly, when the Ford didn't get them back in 36 hours after a message was supposedly sent, he set out to show them all of America's power, and try to win over American will and trust. 

What happened with this situation?

• The US bombed ships in Cambodia, including the Mayaguez. 
• The crewmen were sent on their way home to return, but the president ordered assault on Tang Island (where the crew had been) anyways. The president was warned they would return too, but still carried through.
• Consequence: No casualties were necessary, but the assault killed people on both sides.
•  The president thought this was done for "the well being of this society" to prove America was fast acting and had authority

The need to gain the public loyalty continued, and this was done by keeping the structure of the system, but kicking out and certain people as the bad guys. Now the CIA and FBI were in trouble because of the watergate scandal, and their involvement came out.

What did the CIA and FBI do?

• The CIA had been preforming illegal actions and giving LSD to unsuspecting people as an experiment. One man killed himself while on the LSD they had given him.
• The CIA had put the African Swine fever virus in Cuba and killed thousands of pigs.
• There were plans of assassinations against heads of state in the CIA and a plan to destabilize the government in Chile.
• The FBI had destroyed radical groups illegally.
• The FBI had committed 92 burglaries in 6 years, and illegally opened mail.
• The FBI also murdered Fred Hampton, a Black Panther leader.
• Consequence: By exposing the CIA, they tried to regain trust in the people. People still were suspicious and hostile towards military, leaders, and businesses.

The American situation:

• Americans were unhappy about the bad economy and faced a lot of inflation and unemployment. 
• The amount of legally poor Americans rose by 10% in one year. 
• The government claimed the amount of poors was lower to make it look better.
• The situation happened because in the 60s the federal budget shifted to spend less on foreign affairs and more on social spending. 
• The democratic surge in the 60s also challenged authority systems that had already been in place.
• The more rebellious American attitude made the presidents authority go down, and the ability to govern the country hard without the Establishment's backup. 
• The bicentennial celebration of the signing of the declaration of Independence was the system's opportunity to regain American patriotism, but there was still no enthusiasm. 
• The people united to dump packages of large corporations into the Boston Harbor to oppose the power of businesses, like the Boston Tea Party.

Chapter 25

Chapter 25 Notes

· Bush accused Gore of appealing to “class warfare”

· Bush raised $50 million more then Gore in his campaign

· Neither of them had a plan for free national health care, environmental control, or low cost housing

· Both supported the death penalty, and favored a large military establishment

· They predicted that half the country would not even vote and didn’t care about them because they didn’t think they cared enough about them

· Gore did win the popular vote but Bush won the elector vote, it was so close that Florida ended up being the state that decided

· Bush had an advantage on Florida seeing as his brother was the governor

· The liberal judges of the Florida supreme court argued that there should be an new election in Florida

· The votes in Florida were never completely counted and the ruling was done by the Florida supreme court

· After Bush was elected the democratic party went along almost completely with Bush’s foreign policy and only differed a bit on his domestic policy

· Bush wanted to “privatize” social security which meant that it would depend of the stock market

· He was all for increasing military funding and the “Star Wars” program

· When Bush started the “War on Terrorism” he said that nations harboring terrorists are just as good as the terrorists

· After the bombing of Afghanistan the pentagon said that they are only bombing military targets and that any civilian casualties are an accident, between 1000 to 4000 civilians were thought to have been killed

· The destruction and damage done to Afghanistan was keep out of the news

· After 9/11 the population was overwhelmingly supportive of Bush’s “War on Terrorism”

· The United States bomb the largest TV station in the middle east

· Congress passed the “USA Patriot Act” which says that we can detain any noncitizen without a cause because they look or acted suspicious

· Some people were confined to 23 hours of solitary confinement a day

· Critics of the bombing campaign think that terrorism is rooted in deep grievances against the United States, such as stationing troops in Saudi Arabia and years of sanctions against Iraq

Zinn Chapter 25, 2000 election and war on terrorism

Zinn starts this chapter by commenting on the 2000 presidential election. His main points:

-Bush and Gore had same political ideas.

-Ralph Nader was the best candidate, but he didn't have enough money to compete.

-Bush only won the election because his buddies in the Supreme Court voted to not recount the votes.

Zinn continues on by criticizing George Bush's decisions after the September 11 attacks. He says:

-Bush overreacted by calling for a war on terror.

-The bombings in Afghanistan weren't justified.

-The US government is corrupt and militaristic.

The rest of the chapter focuses on how the media affected public opinion on the war. Zinn gives accounts of Afghanis injured and killed during the bombing, while only mentioning American victims of the violence when proving a point about the use of propaganda in the news. All of the information and sources he presents are one-sided and sympathetic towards the Middle East. Zinn’s viewpoints are hateful and anti-American, and I disagree with almost everything he says.

Chapter 24: The Clinton Presidency (Notes)

Thesis: While Bill Clinton claimed to want to bring change and progress to the country, his eight-year presidential term actually retained many of the same aspects and characteristics as his conservative predecessors.

Election and Appointments
1. Bill Clinton never won by a large percentage of votes. In the 1992 election, he received 43% of the vote. In 1996, he received 49%.
Note: About half the population did not vote in either election.
2. In 1992, his rivals were George H.W Bush and Ross Perot.
3. In 1996, his rival was Bob Dole.
4. Clinton appointed liberals but concerning his key appointments, they were absent.
If the voices of appointees became too bold, Clinton would withdraw his support.
· Lani Guinier
· Jocelyn Elders

Crime and Immigration
1. While Clinton ran for president in 1992, he told the public he was tough on crime.
2.Clinton’s crime bill was produced with the intention of emphasizing punishment. It was to give money towards the construction of prisons.
3. Clinton approved an attack on a group of religious zealots in Waco Texas (Waco Siege) that resulted in the deaths of eighty-six men, women and children
4. Clinton like the previous presidents would divert the displeasure of the American population towards the minorities that were unable to defend themselves.
5. Clinton’s cabinet would often exaggerate the problems of other countries to hide the faults of America.
6. Timothy McVeigh was the Oklahoma City bomber, which cost 168 lives.
Note: This further encouraged the death penalty and proper punishments for crimes.
7. Clinton passed the “Anti-Terrorism and effective death penalty act” in 1996. The act allowed the deportation of any immigrant previously convicted of a crime.
· Alien sedition laws of 1798
· McCarran-Walter act

Welfare
1. Clinton ended the government’s guarantee of financial aid to poor families with the responsibilities and work opportunity act of 1996.
2. The purpose of the “welfare reforms” was to cut off the financial benefits after two years, forcing the poor to find jobs that they were unable to get.

Military, war and foreign policy
Note: Clinton opposed the war in Vietnam and rejected military service.
1. During his presidency, Clinton continued to increase military spending.
2. At least $250 billion a year was used in military spending.
Note: Clinton further increased the national deficit left by the Bush and Reagan administrations (4 trillion dollars).
3. During Clinton’s presidency, the United States replaced the Soviet Union as the world’s leading arms dealer.
4. Clinton’s foreign policies were bipartisan and continued trade with those in power and disregarded their records concerning human rights.
5. Somalia: The United States intervened in a conflict in Somalia.
Note: casualties: America 19, Somalia: 2000
6. Rwanda: America insisted that the UN force in Rwanda be cut back. Rwandan genocide ensued.
7. Clintons foreign policy centered on keeping friendly relations with the governments in power and reaping the benefits of being in favor with them.
Note: We still aided Indonesia after discovering their mass murders!

Chapter 24: The Clinton Presidency Notes

• Clinton barely won both elections receiving 43% of votes in the 1992 election and 49% in the 1996 election
• People at this time were not enthusiastic to vote in the 1992 election 45% of the population did not vote and in the 1996 election 50% of the population did not vote.
• In Clinton’s eight years as president he showed more interest in electoral victory than social change
  
• The FBI attack on the Waco building in Texas killing 86 men, women, and children, was approved by Clinton and Attorney General Janet Reno
• Clinton endorsed the “Crime Bill” of 1996 that extended the death penalty and provided 8 billion dollars for the building of new prisons.
• Clinton and Congress passed the “Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act” in 1996 this allowed the deportation of any immigrant ever convicted of a crime, no matter how long ago or how serious.
• In 1996 Clinton signed a law known as the welfare reform. The purpose of this law was to force poor families receiving cash benefits to go to work by giving them a 5-year limit on federal aid.
• The welfare cuts were to save 50 billion dollars over five years.
• In 1997 legislation was passed to remove welfare benefits from illegal and legal immigrants unless they became citizens.
• Clinton focused on lowering the nation debt of 4 trillion dollars that had been made under Reagan and Bush cutting down the budget of many programs but never cutting the budget of the military.
• During Clinton’s presidency the government continued to spend 250 billion dollars a year to maintain the “military machine.”
• Clinton’s foreign policy had very much the traditional bipartisan emphasis on maintaining friendly relations with whatever governments were in power and promoting profitable trade arrangements with them whatever their record in protecting human rights.
• After U.S. embassies were bombed in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 the Clinton administration responded by bombing targets in Afghanistan and Sudan.
• In 1998 the nation learned that a young government worker named Monica Lewinsky had been making secret visits to the White House for “sexual liaisons” with the President.
• The House of Representatives voted to impeach Clinton on the terms of him lying about having “sexual relations” with Lewinsky and having obstructed justice by trying to conceal information about their relationship
• The Senate did not vote for the removal of Clinton
• In 1998 one of every three working people in the United States had jobs paying at or below the federal poverty level.
• During the Clinton administration the program providing housing units getting subsidies was ended.
• Despite Clintons Inauguration Day promise for a “new government” his presidency offered no bold programs to take care of these needs for a change in government.
• In March of 1999 NATO forced began bombing Yugoslavia with the hope to stop “ethnic cleansing” of Kosovo
• Due to changes in the tax structure by 1995 the richest 1% of the population had gained 1 trillion dollars.
• Clinton claimed he was moderating his policies to match public opinion, however surveys show people favored bold policies.
  

Chapter 17 "Or Does It Explode?"

• Zinn theorizes that the black revolt, which happened in the 50's and 60's, should not have come as such a surprise as it did.
  





• Clues showed up in black writing, music, and performances of just how discontent the blacks were with how they were being treated.






• Many blacks joined the Communist party; a party who payed specific attention to racial equality issues.






• Black Communist party member Angelo Herndon, along with fellow Communists, formed block committees of Unemployment Councils, which gained rent relief for the needy.






• Herndon was then arrested for breaking a Georgia law against insurrection; he spent five years in prison. In 1937 he was released when the Supreme Court declared the Georgia law unconstitutional.






• During World War II, the nation was publicly against racism, while still having segregated armed forces, and placing blacks in the lower-paying jobs.






• When the Cold War began, the question of a black revolt became a huge problem, not just at home, but in former colonies as well.





• A quote from W.E.B. DuBois rang true in 1945, "The problem of the 20th century is the problem of the color line."





• President Truman created a Committee on Civil Rights. This committee advised that Congress pass laws against lynching, voting discrimination, and the ending of racial discrimination in jobs.





• There were three objects in creating this committee; first, a moral reason, "a matter of conscience," second, an economic reason, discriminating was costly to the country. and third, an international reason, our "civil rights record" was a problem in international politics.





• While Congress did not put into action the laws that the Committee advised, Truman put forth an order that all the armed forces integrate "as rapidly as possible." He may have said this due to an upcoming election, but also, as the possibility of war grew, Truman wanted the black soldiers morale to stay positive.




• While the 14th and 15th Amendments, and a set of laws passed in the 1860s and 70s, the President had enough power to rid the nation of racial discrimination. None of the Presidents used this power.




• The Supreme Court was the authoritative body taking measures to institute racial equality. They declared the "white primary" used to keep the blacks from voting in Democratic primaries, was unconstitutional.




• In 1954, the "separate but equal" doctrine that had been in place since the 1890's, was questioned by the Court and the NAACP. After the case Brown vs. Board of Education, the Court stated the the "separate but equal" clause had no place in education, as it "may affect their [being the children involved] hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone."




• While many may have thought this quick progress, it wasn't quick enough for the blacks. In the 60s rebellion broke out in the South. Blacks had the memory of the hate and pain they suffered, shown by their music and writings. For the blacks, with these memories, revolt was just one step away; and could be set off by any "unpredictable set of events."



• The arrest of Rosa Parks was the event that set of the start of a revolution. She was arrested for sitting in the "white" section of the bus.



• Blacks in Montgomery, Alabama, where this took place, called for a mass meeting. At the meeting, the decision was made to boycott city buses; carpools were organized, while most walked. Many leaders of the boycott were arrested.



• White segregationists became violent; bombing black churches and homes.



• Robert Williams, president of the NAACP in Monroe, North Carolina, believed that blacks should defend themselves however they could, even if it involved violence and guns.



• February 1, 1960 was the first sit-in. Four black college freshmen sat at a lunch counter designated for whites only. No one would serve them, and when they didn't leave, the counter shut down. The freshmen came back day after day, bringing other blacks with them each time. The idea of the sit-in spread quickly all over the South.



• About a year after that incident, a group was formed called CORE, or Congress of Racial Equality, which organized "Freedom Rides" where groups of both black and white traveled together trying to end segregation in interstate travel.


• Blacks traveled to Washington to testify about the struggles they face. They argued that the national government could give protection from violence, but they were completely ignored by the President.
• The Voting Rights Law allowed for blacks to vote under federal protection.
• The Civil Rights Law passed in 1968 supposedly made stronger laws prohibiting violence against blacks, and increased penalites against those taking black rights away from them.
• When Martin Luther King Jr. was killed there were outbreaks everywhere.
• By 1977, blacks were going to college, universities, and law and medical schools. There had been created a middle class of blacks.

Chapter 20: The Seventies: Under Control? (notes)

Chapter 20 Notes: The Seventies: Under Control?

- In the 1970’s 40% of “professional people” had low political trust in the government, while 66% of “unskilled blue-collar workers” had low trust.

- Americans showed to be unwilling to come to the aid of countries in need after 7 years of intervention in Vietnam.

- In 1971 Honeywell Corporation was being picketed by antiwar supporters because of their production of “antipersonnel weapons” in Vietnam.

- Honeywell Corporation created a “deadly cluster that had riddled thousands of Vietnamese civilians with painful, hard-to-extricate pellets”.

- 131 of the 231 Honeywell employers surveyed believed they should stop making excessively dangerous weapons. (“How may we have pride in our work when the entire basis for this work is immoral?”)

- Polls in the early 1970’s began showing “widespread, basic discontent and political alienation”.

- The number of voters who classified themselves as “independent” rose from 20% in 1940, to 34% in 1974.

- Juries were freeing and refusing cases in where citizens spoke out or acted in rebellion towards the government, as if they wanted to allow it.

- The Watergate scandal was a large contribution to the national mood of hostility towards the government.

- The Watergate scandal led Richard Nixon to the first historic resignation from presidency in August 1974.

- One of the 5 men caught breaking into the offices of the Democratic National was James McCord, Jr. who worked for the Nixon campaign as “security officer” for the Committee to Re-elect the President (CREEP).

- The burglars were accidentally connected to Nixon’s administration and Nixon himself when the police announced the arrest of the burglars unaware of their connections to the White House and the CIA.

- During the grand jury trial of the burglars a whole series of illegal actions against political opponents and antiwar activists were discovered, most leading back to Nixon or his advisors.

- Attorney General, John Mitchell, was discovered to control a secret fund of $350,000 to $700,000 (for usage against the Democratic Party) that went towards forging letters, leaking false news items to the press, and stealing campaign information.

- Corporations such as Gulf Oil Corporation, ITT, and American Airlines made illegal contributions of millions of dollars to the Nixon campaign.

- Nixon paid off the caught burglars $450,000 for their promise to keep quiet.

- Nixon’s advisor, John Erlichman, kept material from a series of illegal wiretaps from government officials and journalists that once belonged to the FBI, in his safe at the White House.

- The US had secretly bombed Cambodia between 1969-1970 without telling the American public or even Congress.

- A poll of three hundred corporate executives was taken 6 months before Nixon resigned, and almost all had voted for Nixon in the 1972 election. However, now “90% of Wall Street would cheer if Nixon resigns”.

- After the departure of Nixon from office and the election of Ford as his replacement, there was a “mood of relief, of gratitude” because it gave the opportunity for restoration.

- Even though Nixon resigned from office and was considered for impeachment due to the Watergate affair, his policies (foreign and domestic) were still continued to be used.

- The best quote to summarize what happened after Nixon’s resignation regarding his policies was stated by a Wall Street financer: “What we will have is the same play with different players”.

• Gerald Ford was a conservative Republican who supported all of Nixon's policies previous to the Watergate scandal, he was nominated for president in 1974.

• The House Committee on Impeachment against Nixon wanted to hide the characteristics of his behavior which were also found in other presidents, and could be repeated in the future.

• The House Committee on Impeachment against Nixon did not mention his dealings with powerful corporations, the bombing of Cambodia, and on “fundamental policies continuous among American Presidents”.

• Interesting quote: “All the rotten apples should be thrown out. But save the barrel” - Theodore Sorensen.

• Alexander Haig, one of Nixon's closest advisers, had helped “process” the tapes of Watergate before turning them over to the public and providing them with misleading information, was then appointed by president Ford to be head of the armed forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

• One of Ford's first actions was to pardon Nixon, which would save him from “possible criminal proceedings”.

• Those who were punished for breaking the rules were let off easier than usual, with short jail sentences in “easygoing federal institutions”, as well as given special privileges not given to other prisoners.

• Corporations would donate money to both political parties, so that which ever side won they would have friends in the administration.

• For more than ten years (starting in 1963), many government officials and journalists has been promising victory in Vietnam, but finally it was Ford in 1975 who predicted correctly, for two weeks later the war was over.

• In March of 1975 a Catholic organization poll stated: “The people running this country (government, political, church and civic leaders) don't tell us the truth.” To this statement, more than 83% agreed.

• The US began concerning itself with showing its determination to continue being a world power. Without the support of its citizens and the media exploiting the mistakes of their officials, their power was slowly decreasing in the eyes of other countries.

• Ford bombed the Cambodia mainland without having proven an attack or threat against the US because “it was necessary to show the world that giant America, defeated by tiny Vietnam, was still powerful and resolute”.

• “The Establishment” began believing in the idea that American authority needed to be asserted around the world, therefore they praised the attack on Cambodia with words such as “admirable efficiency” and “melodramatic and successful”.

• In the 1950s, the CIA had tested the drug LSD to random Americans for research on its effects. One of the people given this drug was an American scientist who ended up leaping from a New York hotel window and instantly dying. This was one of the many “secret operations” being performed by the CIA.

• The CIA had introduced African swine fever into Cuba in 1971 to bring disease and slaughter as well as plotted the assassination of Cuban leader, Castro.

• Most of the hidden “top secret” information was edited out of investigations, press coverage, mild television coverage, and thick books of reports. But usually this information was limited to the public and not thorough, it was only enough insight to give the “impression of an honest society correcting itself”.

• The Church Committee believed that to attempt to kill a hear of state (Fidel Castro) was more of a crime than military interventions in where civilians were accidentally killed.

• The Church Committee also discovered that the CIA was using American academics (in universities and colleges) as strategic propaganda. More than a thousand books had been sponsored or produced by the CIA before the end of 1967.

• By the middle of the 70s, the US was attempting to rid itself of its “rascals” and restore it to a respectable state. They did this through the resignation of Nixon, succession of Ford, and exposure of CIA and FBI secrets. All these things were aimed to regain whatever confidence what left in the American people.

• Most Americans were unhappy with the government because of their current economic state of crisis. Inflation and unemployment rates were rising and this troubled citizens.

• Not even those with higher incomes were as optimistic about the Government as they used to be.

• The government was underestimating the amount of poverty as well as the amount of unemployment. Instead, they averaged the “annual figure” , which always seemed better than the real number.

• In 1976, America restored its patriotism as well as united people to put aside their protest, however not all were united. Rebellion was still present in places like the Boston Harbor, where “Gulf Oil” and “Exxon” packages were dumped into the water.

Chapter 18 Notes

The Impossible Victory: Vietnam

• The US lunched military endeavor against a revolutionary movement in a peasant country an lost
• modern technology vs. human beings, the humans won
• brought the largest anti-war movement in the country, helped to end the war
• Ho Chi Minh, a communist, led a revolution to end Indochina’s colonial status, expelled the Japanese (used to be French colony, Japan took it in WWII, western powers it returned to France )
• Indochina created a declaration of independence in 1945
• Issues against the French were: inhumane laws, killed patriots, ruined the public opinion, took their fields, mines, and raw materials, and unfair taxes resulting in extreme poverty
• England and China, who occupied parts of Indochina returned it to the French
• Minh wrote to the UN and Truman to remind him of self-determination, letter were ignored
• In Oct. 1946, the French bombed Northern Vietnam, started 8 year war between the French and Vietminh
• US gave military aid to the French and by ’54 it financed 80% of the French war effort
• The public in the US believed the US was trying to stop communism
• Domino Theory- that like a row of dominos if one country fell to communism then others would fall too
• ’53- state department knew the French were losing the war, if they withdrew the US would consider taking up in Indochina
• ’54- unable to get popular support from natives, the French withdrew
• Peace conference in Geneva, French removed to South and Vietminh stayed in the north. An election was planned to unify Vietnam, they would decide their own government
• US prevented unification, and set up Ngo Dinh Diem as the head of government in Saigon and pressured him to not hold elections
• Diem was unpopular, his land reforms did nothing, and imprisoned many who spoke against him
• ’58 guerrilla attacks began against the regime, communist helped them
• ’60- the National Liberation Front was made, it untied the opposition against the government, and was powered by the peasantry
• Kennedy continued the policies of Truman and Eisenhower
• In June ’63, a Buddhist monk set himself on fire in a public square, others monks did the same to protest the Diem government, many other people began to protest in mass demonstrations
• Vietnamese generals plotted with a CIA agent and others to overthrow Diem, Diem was given no warning of the coup and was executed
• In August ’64 President Johnson lunch full scale war on Vietnam, the public was told American destroyers were attacked unprovoked, but it was fake and the CIA actually lunched an attack
• The Tonkin Resolution gave Johnson the right to attack without a declaration of war
• free fire zone, where anyone who remained was considered enemies, including children and civilians, and bombs could be dropped there at will
• search and destroy missions were used on villages accused of harboring Viet Cong, all men of military age were kill, the homes burned, and the women, children and elderly were marched to refugee camps
• “Operation Phoenix” was a CIA program that kill about 20 thousand civilians, secretly without trial, who were suspected communist
• March 16, 1968 soldiers ordered civilians into a ditch and murdered them, later investigations showed two other mass grave sites
• ’68 the NLF infiltrated Saigon and paralyzed the airfield, they were beaten back, but proved to the US they weren’t broken yet
• in Laos, the CIA installed government was facing a rebellion
• ’68 Johnson’s popularity was diminishing, he didn’t run for president again, and said negotiations with the Vietnamese would start
• Nixon was the next president, and promised to remove troops, by ’72 150,00 were left
• Vietnamization was Nixon’s policy, the Saigon government, with Vietnamese troops and US money and air power would continue the war
• In ’70 the US invaded Cambodia, it was a failure and led to protest, and Nixon wasn’t allowed to use Us troops without the congress’s approval
• In ’71, US supported the South Vietnam’s invasion of Laos, which failed
• The beginnings of protest in the US started with civil rights movements
• The Student Nonviolence Coordinating Committee called for withdrawal, blacks and whites joined together in protest, men refused to register for the draft or be inducted, registered men would burn their draft cards, in October ’67, all over the nation men returned their draft cards to the government
• In ’65 two people burned themselves, and that year a hundred gathered on Boston common, four years later the numbers were up to a hundred thousand. In ’71 twenty thousand were in Washington protesting, 14 thousand were arrested, the Peace Corp volunteers spoke out.
• Priest and nuns of the catholic church voiced their anger against the war and joined the antiwar movement
• Students were greatly involved with the early protest against the war, at Kent University there was a demonstration that was fired upon, 4 students died and one paralyzed, 400 collages/universities went on strike in protest of that, ROTC programs were canceled in 40 schools
• In ’65 61% of the population was for the war and believed it was right, by ’71 61% thought the US involvement was wrong
• Separate incidents of refusing to go to Vietnam, or fight, acts began to increase, desertion to Western Europe and Canada grew. A GI antiwar movement got organized, they had underground newspapers, and even on the war front, soldiers wore black armbands to show their support. Veterans formed Vietnam Veterans Against the War, they testified about the atrocities they had witnessed
• In April 1975 North Vietnamese troops entered Saigon, the government fell, and the war was over. Reunified into the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
• During the war judges and juries were less likely to convict demonstrators and the antiwar movement
• This was the first defeat to the American empire (that was formed after WWII), it lost to a strong peasantry overseas and a large protest movement at home.

Chapter 18 Notes

America, a super power, goes to war with Vietnam, a peasant country, and loses.
Vietnam belonged to France but rebelled to gain its independence.
We send aid to France
Vietnam follows a communist named Ho Chi Minh
We put Ngo Dinh Diem “in charge” of South Vietnam
Vietnam forms the NLF, National Liberation Front
Ho Chi Minh wrote eight letters to Truman. Truman never responded
Around 1958, guerrilla activities began
South Vietnamese oppose Diem, and with the help of some Americans, overthrow him
Domino Theory: If one country falls to communism, the next one will fall and so on and so forth
President John F. Kennedy continues the policies of Truman and Eisenhower
When Kennedy was assassinated, Lyndon B. Johnson, the Vice President, took his place
Generals that succeeded Diem failed to suppress the NLF
The Tonkin “attack” allowed a resolution to be passed in the House that allowed Johnson to take military action in Southeast Asia
Young men refused to register for the draft and had widely publicized the slogan “We Won’t Go” as early as May 1964. Some men who had already registered began to publicly burn their draft cards as a form of protest.
Some antiwar students formed the SNCC, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, around 1966
Black uprisings occurred in the U.S. in 1967
In October 1967, there were draft card “turn-ins” all over the country. In San Francisco alone, three hundred draft cards were returned to the government
In the fall of 1967, a Josephite priest and WWII veteran, Father Phillip Berrigan, along with artist Tom Lewis, with their friends David Eberhardt and James Mengel, went to a draft board in Baltimore, drenched the draft records in blood, and waited to be arrested. They served prison terms two to six years
By 1968, more than 500,000 American troops are in Southeast Asia
Large areas in South Vietnam were called “free-fire-zones”. This meant that anyone inside of these zones-men, women, children, and the elderly- were enemies and bombs could be dropped on these zones at will
Villages suspected of harboring Viet Cong were subject to “search and destroy” missions. This meant that all men of military age were killed and women, children, and the old were sent to refugee camps
It became illegal to protest the war or be involved with antiwar activities
Juries became more reluctant to sentence antiwar protestors. Also, logical judges were treating antiwar protestors differently
Muhammad Ali refused to serve in what he called a “white man’s war”. Because of this, the boxing committee took away his title and Ali was not allowed to box for some time
Martin Luther King Jr. was against the war in Vietnam
In London, two Americans crashed the American ambassador’s Fourth of July reception and made a toast “To all the dead and dying in Vietnam”
Daniel Ellsberg, a former marine officer, helped write the Department of Defense’s history of the war in Vietnam. Then, with the help of Anthony Russo, they began to copy the 7,000 page document, later known as the Pentagon Papers, and sent copies to some congressmen and the New York Times
Some priests and nuns of the Catholic church joined the antiwar movement
The troops began leaving Vietnam in 1973. When the troops got home, they were not greeted kindly by the public or the press
By the end of the war, 7 million tons of bombs had been dropped on Vietnam. Planes dropped poison gas on Vietnam to kill growth, however, the gas led to birth defects all over Vietnam

Zinn Chapter 25 Notes

The 2000 Election and the “War on Terrorism”

-The two men serving as candidates for their political parties were Albert Gore (Democrat) and George W. Bush, Jr. (Republican)

-Gore was accused by Bush of “class warfare”

-Bush’s campaign raised $220 million while Gore’s raised $170 million

-Both Gore and Bush were supportive of the growth of prisons and the death penalty, they favored a large military establishment, the use of sanctions against the people of Cuba and Iraq, and the continued use of land mines

-Neither candidate had plans for extensive low-cost housing, free national health care, or dramatic changes in environmental controls

-A third-party candidate (Ralph Nader) proposed a “sharply different” program- emphasizing health care, the environment, and education

-Nader, being largely ignored by national programs, was forced to raise money from the small contributions provided by hopeful people who believed in his program, however, he could not raise enough without support from large businesses

-Many Americans didn’t even care about the outcome of the election, thinking that their lives would remain the same

-The election was very controversial- Gore won the popular vote, but Bush won an extremely close electoral vote.

-The race was so close that the electors of Florida were the deciding factor. This had only happened twice before, in 1876 and 1888.

-There was a large amount of controversy over the accuracy of the votes that were counted and/or not counted

-Bush’s advantage was that his brother (Jeb Bush) was the governor of Florida, and the secretary of state in Florida was a Republican (Katherine Harris)

-The partial recount that took place left Bush the winner

-Although Harris was ordered not to certify a winner because of the large amount of disputed ballots, she set a deadline and certified Bush the winner while there were still thousands of disputed ballots

-The case was brought to the US Supreme Court, where Bush remained the winner

-As soon as he took office, Bush proceeded with his agenda immediately. His program included tax cuts for the rich, opposing strict environmental regulations that would cost money for the business interests, and plans to “privatize” Social Security

-September 11, 2001 – a large event that moved to the forefront

-19 Middle Eastern hijackers flew three planes into the Twin Towers in NY and the Pentagon in DC

-Bush immediately declared a “war on terrorism,” defining his objective the apprehension of Osama bin Laden

-There is a large amount of historical evidence that shows that terrorism cannot be defeated by force.

-The Pentagon said that it was only bombing military targets; however, between 1,000 and 4,000 Afghan civilians were killed as a result of American bombs

-According to Zinn, the US was killing innocent people out of revenge for the innocent Americans who had been killed

-The American public was in support of Bush’s “war on terrorism”

-The full extent of the devastation caused by the bombing was not being shown via mainstream press/major TV networks

-The US bombed the largest television station in the Middle East in hopes to control the flow of information from Afghanistan; and showed images of the bombing

-The "USA Patriot Act" granted the Department of Justice the power to detain noncitizens based only on suspicion without charges. It also said that the Secretary of State could designate any group as “Terrorist”

-Even though Bush warned the nation not to react with hostility toward Arab Americans, the government rounded up a large amount of people for questioning- almost all Moslems.

-According to Zinn, the money that went toward the military and policies in Iraq could be used in a better manner by putting it towards improving the living conditions of Americans and people across the world

-In the end of the chapter, Robert Bowman is quoted, stating that other countries would not hate us if we sent people to the Middle East to supply clean water, feed starving children, and rebuild infrastructure, instead of killing Arabs for oil.

Zinn Chapter 25 Notes

The 2000 Election and the "War on Terrorism"

· Albert Gore "faithfully" served as Clinton's vice president

· Next Election was Gore v. Bush

· Zinn says Bush was known for his connection to oil interests and he held the record number of executions while in office. The fact that Zinn mentions these two things shows that he believes he was concerned in the matters of the wealthy through his oil interests and the fact that Zinn mentioned he had the record number of executions shows he is against death penalty

· Zinn says you can measure their rankings through corporate support as Bush had $220 million of it and Gore had $170 million.

· Zinn mentions that neither had plans free national health care, extensive low-cost housing, or changes in environmental controls.

· Both candidates, however, supported death penalty and the growth of prisons (Zinn writes this in a tone that shows he is against it). They both also favored large military establishments, continued use of land mines, and use of "sanctions against the people of Cuba and Iraq"

· Many lower income citizens did not even vote as they felt that neither candidate would bring them any changes. The third party candidate, Ralph Nader, supported many changes for these groups, but because of his lack of funding and since he wasn't in a major party, he had a very little chance of being elected.

· During the Election, Gore was ahead by 100,000s of votes but electoral votes were what mattered and the election came down to the electoral votes of Florida

· Zinn makes it seem as if Bush didn't deserve to win as he mentions that he had the "advantage" of his brother being governor in Florida and another Republican, Katherine Harris, as Secretary of State. He continues with this attitude as he believes the election was corrupt and says that Katherine Harris had to certify the votes and due to some issues in the ballots, she had to "quickly" recount the votes. The case was brought to the democrat dominated Florida Supreme Court and a recount was ordered. Once again, Zinn tries to point out that it was corrupt as he says that Harris set a deadline when it is clear that a fair recount was granted and Bush still won the election

· The case was brought to the US supreme Court and denied. Zinn says this was so that "its [the government's] favorite candidate, Bush, would be President."

· Zinn mentions things he feels Bush did that were wrong as he cut the taxes imposed on the wealthy, was against strict environmental protection regulations, wanted to "privatize" social security, increase the military budget, and pursued the "Star Wars" program. However, he doesn't mention any good plans Bush had or the reasons that he imposed or opposed those plans Zinn points out.

· The events of September 11, 2001 occurred (Terrorists hijacked planes and flew them into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon and killed thousands of people.

· Bush then declared a "War on Terrorism'

· Zinn makes Bush's actions seem useless and too forceful as he believes that we should not be handling force with force.

· He thinks it is hypocritical that we focus on all the destruction and deaths of innocent civilians in our country and in retaliation, we kill innocent Afghan people.

· Zinn talks of how the US would control what the media showed of the war as they showed very little of civilians being harmed in the Middle East and when they did they justified it

· The government passed the USA Patriot Act which allowed them to detain suspicious noncitizens and they were able to claim any group "terrorists" and were allowed to arrest any member or supporter of that group and they would eventually deport them.

· Critics of the war believed that the US must address the grievances that these groups had against the US instead of responding with violence. These groups' grievances included the stationing of US troops in Saudi Arabia, 10 years of sanctions against Iraq, and the support of Israel in their occupation of Palestinian land.

· People wanted the US to give up their role as a military superpower and become a humanitarian superpower by withdrawing from all of their worldwide military efforts and spending all this money on the health and living conditions of those of the US and various other peoples worldwide in need

Chapter 25

I just posted the notes for chapter 25. Those were pure facts from what Zinn had written in the chapter. While reading this chapter however, i took great offense and was very taken back by some of the opinions of Zinn. Due to the fact that the war on terrorism is occuring as we speak and for that the knowledge of many Americans is great on this subject, I feel this is one of Zinn's weakest arguments. Coming from a military family with several of my relatives being over in Iraq, I strongly disagree with Zinn's argument in this chapter. As I was reading I continually had to stop when Zinn spoke of the wounded Afghans and ask myself "what about all of those who lost family members and loved ones in New York and the Pentagon?". Zinn skipped over the American heros from 9/11 and seemed to not focus on the harm done to America. While he condemns the U.S for bombing the Middle East, he seems to have a sense of approval for the terrorists and their acts and seems to show no condemnation towards them. The main duty of a government is to protect its citizens from their enemies. If no action had been taken towards the terrorists, their acts of terrorism would have continued. By declaring war, Bush was simply fulfilling his duty to protect the United States from harm. Zinn makes a point in this chapter that i feel dismisses many of the arguments he made in previous chapters. Throughout the book Zinn brings up the point that war should bring a nation together but says this result has continually not been shown. In this chapter however, Zinn seems raged that the Americans came together in supporting Bush during the war. This feeling also continues when he speaks of the American flags being hung in windows and the spread of nationalism within our country. The next point that caught my eyes was the "USA Patriot Act". Although I must say this Act was a bit extreme, I feel it was necessary. Let me put it this way: If this Act had not been put into place and one of the noncitizens commited an act of terrorism, Bush would have been scolded for not taking better precautions. America would have been furious with the government for letting another act occur. So while I believe the Act was quite extreme, it was completely necessary for the protection of the American citizens. Another point that I felt was controversial was the point of the 1,000-4,000 civilians dying in the Middle East. This is a WAR! People dying is a direct cause of war and can never be avoided. Once again Zinn points out the number of Afghans that died but what about the Americans that have been killed both from 9/11 and on the war front in the Middle East? Are they not important as well? My final point comes from the last statement made in reference to the lack of aid to other countries by America. For a lack of better words, that is not our problem. Why should the U.S be penalized or harmed because of the low status of other countries. In cross refernce to what Zinn says, America has put many acts into affect such as UNICEF and Water Relief Organizations to help the sanitation in many third world countries.

Chapter 25 The 2000 Election and the "War on Terrorism" Notes

-Al Gore was the Democratic candidate for president


-George W. Bush, Jr. was the Repubican candidate for president


-During the election Bush accused Gore of appealing to "class warfare"


-The Bush campaign raised $220 million while Gore's campaign raised $170 million


-Neither candidate had plans for free national health care, for extensive low-cost housing, or for dramatic changes in environmental controls


-Both candidates supported the death penalty and the growth of prisons


-They also favored large military establishment, the continued use of land mines, and the use of sanctions against the people of Cuba and Iraq


-Ralph Nader was the third-party candidate


-Nader's program emphasized health care, education, and the environment


-Nader was shut out of the nationally televised debates and could not raise enough money without the support of big businesses


-Gore won the popular vote


-Bush won the electoral vote after a very close election


-Voting came down to the state of Florida, whoever won Florida would win the election


-There was great controversy over votes being counted or not counted for that matter


-Bush had an edge in Florida with his brother Jeb Buh being governor and a republican Kathering Harris as the secretary of state


-A partial recounting occured leaving Bush ahead


-Although asked not to certify a winner due to a large number of disputed ballots, Harris declared Bush the winner


-The case was taken to the U.S Supreme Court


-Bush remained the winner


-When Bush took office he began taking action immediately


-tax cuts for the wealthy, opposed environmental regulations that would cost money for the business interest, and planned to "privatize" Social Security











-September 11, 2001


-Hijackers (19 men from the Middle East) flew three planes into the twin towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C


-Bush declares a "war on terrorism"


-Bush declares for the apprehension of Osama bin Laden


-historical evidence that shows force would not defeat terrorism:


-British reacted to terrorist acts by the Irish Republican Army with military only to face more terrorism; Isrealis responded to Palestinian terrorism with military strikes which resulted in more Palestinian bombings; Clinton after the attack on the U.S embassies in Tanzania and Kenya bombed Afghanistan and the Sudan (September 11, shows this had not stopped terrorism)


-Pentagon claimed they were only bombing "military targets" but 1,000-4,000 Afghan civilians were killed by the bombing


-Zinn feels the U.S was acting in revenge; killing innocent people for the innocent Americans who had lost their lives


-American public was supportive of Bush's "war on terrorism"


-U.S bombed the largest television station in the Middle East and showed photos of the bombing


-"USA Patriot Act": gave the Department of Justice the power to detain noncitizens on suspicion and the Secretary of State could designate any group as "Terrorist"


-Zinn says the money used for the military and policies going on in Iraq would be better used to improve living conditions for Americans and people in other parts of the world.


-Zinn quotes Robert Bowman who says if we sent people to the Middle East to rebuild infrastructure, supply clean water, and feed starving children, rather then kill Arabs to get oil, other countries would not hate us.