■Essential Question: –What was the Watergate scandal & how did it change American politics in the 1970s? ■Warm-Up Question: –What was Nixon’s greatest feat in foreign policy: Vietnam, China, or the Soviet Union? Explain

Quick Review: Why was Nixon overwhelmingly re-elected as president in 1972? Why was Nixon so popular? Conservative domestic policy: Lowered gov’t spending Reduced social programs Active foreign policy: Ended the war in Vietnam “Opened” China Détente with the USSR

Nixon was insecure & paranoid about power: He kept an “enemies list” of people he suspected were out to undermine his policies “Tricky Dick” used his position as president to spy on, infiltrate, & sabotage his “enemies” These tactics & fears were the reasons for the Watergate scandal that ended his presidency In what ways might Nixon have been “his own worst enemy”? What do you see in this image?

Watergate Inquiry Activity ■ Student Handout A: THE BREAK-IN – Read the background information – With your partners, discuss “Critical Thinking Question A” – After a brief class discussion, fill in the missing information on your cartoon from the image on the next slide

The Watergate Scandal: A Visual Review Gordon Liddy & the “Plumbers”

Watergate Inquiry Activity ■ Student Handout B: INVESTIGATION – Read the background information – With your partners, discuss “Critical Thinking Question B” – After a brief class discussion, fill in the missing information on your cartoon from the image on the next slide

The Watergate Scandal: A Visual Review

Watergate Inquiry Activity ■ Student Handout C: CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS – Read the background information – With your partners, discuss “Critical Thinking Question C” – After a brief class discussion, fill in the missing information on your cartoon from the image on the next slide

The Watergate Scandal: A Visual Review

Watergate Inquiry Activity ■ Student Handout D: THE SECRET TAPES – Read the background information – With your partners, discuss “Critical Thinking Question D” – After a brief class discussion, fill in the missing information on your cartoon from the image on the next slide

The Watergate Scandal: A Visual Review

Watergate Inquiry Activity ■ Student Handout E: NIXON RESIGNS – Read the background information – With your partners, discuss “Critical Thinking Question E” – After a brief class discussion, fill in the missing information on your cartoon from the image on the next slide

The Watergate Scandal: A Visual Review

Why is Watergate such an important event in U.S. history? How did Watergate change the way Americans perceive their political leaders? Do you think Nixon’s actions were different from most politicians? Should Nixon’s presidency be judged more in his foreign policy successes or the Watergate scandal? Why?

Effects of Watergate ■ The Watergate scandal changed America: – The scandal eroded public trust in their political leaders; Added to the distrust created by the Vietnam War – Revealed the importance of the media in serving as a “watchdog” of the gov’t – Congress assumed more leadership – Uncertainty whether prosecutors would charge Nixon with crimes