The term “New Federalism” refers to a policy of increasing the power of the States, at the expense of Federal authority. Nixon used the term to include an additional reduction in programs providing for social-welfare. By 1971 approximately two-thirds of Americans disapproved of the ongoing war in Vietnam. Nixon was aware that in order to win the election of 1972, he had to bring the troops home, which he did; however, this decision does not fit under the umbrella of “New Federalism." Nixon also encouraged more familiar relations with the USSR, in an attempt to discourage armament, a move thatalso opened relations with China.

Blue laws are a type of law designed to ensure the observance of some religious code of morality. Typically in American history they have been used to ensure the observance of a religious holiday or feast day, or to ensure that minority religious groups do not break with Christian law. Today, most (but not all) Blue laws have been rendered illegal, unconstitutional, or both; many Blue laws persist in the form of alcohol prohibition, however. 

The above quote comes from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first inauguration speech, after he defeated the incumbent Republican, Herbert Hoover, in the election of 1932. At the time the United States was firmly mired in the worst of the Great Depression, and the country was in desperate need of a man with Roosevelt’s leadership qualities. In this quote, Roosevelt asserts that the country must not fear change, because change is all that could drive the country forward. 

The above quote was spoken by Martin Luther King Jr, in an address to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1967. The speech was titled Where do we go from here? It was something of a call to arms (as was much of what King said and did). He called on people to start correcting the racial injustices that had existed in the United States throughout its history—before the injustices started to correct themselves—in a less peaceful manner. 

The above quote reflects the political and economic views of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He was President during the Great Depression, and during his thirteen years as President he did a great deal to expand welfare, social security, and healthcare, as well as helping to reduce the massive financial gap between the wealthy and the poor. 

President Bill Clinton was revealed to have had an affair with a White House Intern, Monica Lewinsky, in 1998. Initially, Clinton attempted to deny the affair, but evidence was provided to make it clear he had the affair. Thanks to his denial in front of Congress, a Republican led House brought impeachment charges. Clinton was acquitted by the Senate, and remained President.

The media and President Truman's staff presented a united face behind the decision to drop the atomic bombs, announcing that the cultural climate in Japan would not allow the Japanese to surrender until every American and Japanese soldier had died; therefore, dropping the bomb would allow the American soldiers to return home.

The above quote is credited to President Harry S. Truman. He famously kept a note on his desk that read “The buck stops here.” It was Truman’s view that in politics, responsibility is generally passed upwards in order to transfer responsibility in the event of failure.

The document detailing House Republican policies and promises was titled the "Contract with America." Proposed bills in the document included the Fiscal Responsibility Act and the National Security Restoration Act. The Pledge to America was a similar document drafted by House Republicans in advance of the 2010 midterm elections.

The Equal Rights Amendment stated simply that "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex." First introduced in 1923, the Amendment finally gained momentum in the early 1970s, being ratified by 35 of the 38 states needed to make it official; however, a group of conservative women led by Phyllis Schlafly began a campaign against the ERA, which largely centered on the argument that the Amendment would enforce new strictures that would eliminate the traditional role of women and reshape society to a deleterious effect. The ERA was never ratified.