1. The Watergate Scandal

2. Task: Analyze this cartoon, in three sentences tell me what you think is going on.

3. Watergate scandal rocked the USA in early 1970s.
Phases of Watergate
Watergate scandal rocked the USA in early 1970s.
Let’s examine it in four phases:
Phase 1: CREEP
Phase 2: Did Nixon Know?
Phase 3: Battle For The Tapes
Phase 4: The End

4. Phase 1: CREEP suspected
17 June 1972: Five ‘burglars’ arrested in Democratic Party Head Quarters in Watergate Hotel
Not stealing, but planting bugging devices
One was former CIA agent
All linked to Committee for the Re-election of the President (CREEP)

5. FBI investigates CREEP
John Mitchell, CREEP director, used ‘dirty tricks’ to discredit Democrats
Two Washington Post reporters Woodward and Bernstein pursued their own investigation
Nixon denied he or close advisors were involved

6. Nov. 1972: Nixon won landslide election
Nixon thought Watergate was behind him
He was wrong

7. Phase 2: Did Nixon Know?
January 1973:
Watergate burglars on trial
All found guilty
One claimed White House involved
Nixon reacts:
Denied allegation
Appointed Archibald Cox as special Watergate prosecutor

8. Senate investigates:
May-Nov. 1973: Televised independent Senate investigation
Three of Nixon’s advisors resigned
One, John Dean (member of White House Counsel), claimed he discussed burglary at least 35 times with Nixon
Nixon denied any involvement, fired Dean (White House Counsel member are appointed by the president)

9. Phase 3: Battle for the Tapes
Nixon’s tapes
Senate Investigation revealed Nixon recorded all conversations in oval office since 1971
Senate & Cox wanted tapes
Nixon refused, citing “presidential privilege”

10. Phase 3: Battle for the Tapes
20 October 1973: “Saturday Night Massacre”
Nixon ordered Attorney General to fire Cox
He refuses, then resigns under pressure
New special investigator, Leon Jaworski who also demands the tapes
Nixon released some tapes, but 18 ½ crucial minutes had been “accidentally” erased
April 1974: Battle over tapes continued
Nixon released 1200 heavily edited pages
Jaworski appealed to Supreme court

11. Phase 4: The End
Supreme Court ordered tapes turned over
27 July 1974:
House Judiciary Committee voted to impeach Nixon for obstruction of justice
8 August:
Nixon resigned to avoid impeachment
President Ford pardoned him

13. The Aftermath Congress passed laws due to scandal
Privacy Act (1974): Americans can inspect government files on them
Budget Act (1974): President has to account for all money spent
(Nixon believed to have spent millions of government money on personal properties & evaded $400,000 of taxes)
Election Campaign Act: Limited campaign contributions; Limiting the influence of wealthy individuals and special interest groups on the outcome of federal elections
Scandal utterly destroyed Nixon’s reputation
Nicknamed “Tricky Dick” and sadly most achievements are forgotten

14. Watergate’s deeper damage
Undermined America’s confidence in government
Press turned from hiding info to seeking scandal
Confidence & idealism of 60’s replaced with skepticism and doubt

15. Watergate’s impact on Americans?
Study these three cartoons, which do you think makes the following points? (Write these three things down in your notebook)
Nixon is a liar
America is in crisis
Don ‘t trust politicians

16. Cartoon # 1

17. Cartoon # 2

18. Cartoon # 3

19. One day the two of you see a newspaper headline of Nixon’s resignation
The skeptic turns and says, “Well, it’s about time! Tricky Dick sure was a crook!”
The optimist replies, “How can you say that, after all of the good he has done!
Now its your turn…Write 12 additional lines of dialogue using facts from your notes!