The Watergate Scandal

1. The Watergate Scandal

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

3. 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 toCommittee 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!