1. 1970s Pt 1- Nixon, Watergate, and Ford

2. Background
Nixon first elected in spent 1st term dealing with Vietnam War
Nixon & advisors worried about re-election in 1972 election

3. Hired people to break-in of Democratic office in the Watergate Hotel in D.C. to find info about campaign
Burglars caught and arrested
Nixon and advisors denied any connection- claimed “I am not a crook” when asked about it
Forrest Gump??

5. Investigation Senate had hearings to investigate wrongdoing
FBI connected money the burglars had back to the Committee to Re-Elect the President (CREEP) (Nixon’s advisors)
Public didn’t care, Nixon re-elected easily in ’72
Senate had hearings to investigate wrongdoing
Evidence that Nixon was involved in cover-up, found out Oval Office conversations had been taped
Investigators wanted tapes to prove Nixon knew about it - Nixon refused

6. Nixon worried about losing re-election
Hired people to break into the Democratic headquarters
Watergate Scandal - Nixon denies any involvement

7. Impeachment Begins
Supreme Court (US v Nixon) ordered Nixon to surrender tapes
Proved even presidents are not above the law
Example of checks and balances
When he did turn them over, large sections had been deleted

8. Impeachment Begins
July ‘74, House of Rep. voted to impeach Nixon for: (Impeach = formally accuse, not remove from office)
Obstruction of justice, violating constitutional rights of U.S. citizens, failing to comply with Congressional subpoenas
August 7, 1974

9. What did US v. Nixon prove about the office of the president?

10. Resignation
To avoid impeachment and removal from office, Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974
The only president in U.S. history to resign
Gerald Ford, recently made VP after the old one was caught in a tax scandal, was sworn in as Pres
Ford is the only president never elected to office of Pres or VP
Only served ½ of a term
Ran again in 1976 and lost - Public still mad about pardon of Nixon

12. Pardon
Ford pardoned Nixon in Sept ‘74 (forgive of wrongdoing so not punished)
Ford thought a trial would further damage the country
Several Nixon administration officials were convicted and went to prison

13. Why was Ford’s decision to pardon Nixon so controversial?

14. Results of the Scandal
Increased skepticism/distrust about the fed government
During Vietnam, so distrust was already high
Addition of “-gate” to the end of words associated with scandals
Congress passed campaign finance reform to track money used
Investigation of presidential wrongdoing became normal- support of checks and balances

15. Watergate Scandal More distrust of government (right after Vietnam)
Checks and balances- checked power of executive

16. STAAR Practice
The incident illustrated by this cartoon increased cynicism toward the US government because
The press secretary failed to keep the public informed of national policy changes
The president directed a conspiracy to mislead the nation
The Supreme Court overruled federal statutes that defined confidentiality
Congress failed to pass legislation enforcing protection of privacy rights

17. STAAR Practice
The incident illustrated by this cartoon increased cynicism toward the US government because
The press secretary failed to keep the public informed of national policy changes
The president directed a conspiracy to mislead the nation
The Supreme Court overruled federal statutes that defined confidentiality
Congress failed to pass legislation enforcing protection of privacy rights

18. Big Idea
Why was Watergate significant?