Watergate & Forgettable Years Unit 5 Lesson 9 (Section )

Objectives Review Nixon’s domestic & foreign policy goals. Identify key elements of the Watergate scandal that led to his resignation.

Warm Up How did Nixon’s personality influence his administration? Withdrawn, Secretive & Insecure = Small group advisors Believed in power of govt, law & order, respect Hated to lose = Enemies list, Vietnam, Watergate…

Review What were Nixon’s major domestic goals? ▫Reduce inflation ▫New Federalism – decrease size & role fed govt ▫Strengthen law & order ▫Southern Strategy – slow civil rights, appt conservative justices What is realpolitik and how did it influence Nixon’s foreign policy? ▫Kissinger - evaluate nation’s power, not poly leaning, in determining threats ▫Withdrew Vietnam ▫Eased tensions with China & USSR (Détente)

Nixon’s Downfall Suspicion and Deceit ▫Not enough credit for accomplishments ▫Fear of losing ▫“Enemies List” ▫“Plumbers” stop leaks w/wiretaps of staff and reporters, mail

CREEP Committee to Reelect the President ▫John Mitchell  Fund-raising ▫G. Gordon Liddy  Dirty Tricks  Fake letters, gossip  Hecklers  Spies

Watergate DNC headquarters June 17, 1972 “Burglary” ▫Tap phones ▫Photograph strategies ▫CAUGHT…with CREEP $!!!!!!

Activity: The Cover Up Use the reading handout to complete the timeline of major Watergate events. Video: ▫

Effects of Watergate Nixon resigns in light of impeachment ▫69 charged, 48 guilty ▫25 ppl in admin serve prison terms American public is disillusioned w/govt ▫Balance of powers Media is cynical about public officials

Who was Deep Throat? FBI Deputy Dir Mark Felt ▫Widely suspected from start ▫Didn’t like Nixon or his men ▫Nixon didn’t out him b/c Felt knew too much about too many ppl & events

The Unlikely President Aug 8, 1974 VP Gerald Ford becomes 1 st non- elected President Nation distrusts govt Angry Congress Unstable economy

Ford’s Foibles Watergate Scandal ▫Pardon costs support Economic Troubles ▫Recession, “WIN” Combative Congress ▫Veto (66x’s) Cold War Tensions ▫Détente, Helsinki Accords SE Asia ▫Vietnam Falls, Khmer Rouge in Cambodia (War Powers Act)

Mr. Carter, Peanut Farmer DC outsider Religious man Plain spoken, but intelligent Informal, low-key image

Carter’s Conundrums Domestic Issues ▫DC Outsider  Inexperience, lack support ▫Economy  Inflation: Deficits, then social cuts  Deregulation  “Misery Index” ▫Civil Rights  Bakke & Affirm Action ▫Environment  3 Mile Island ▫Energy Crisis  DOE, NEA, conservation  OPEC shortages, lines, prices Foreign Policy ▫Human Rights ▫Middle East  Camp David Accords ▫Soviet Union  SALT II, Afghan Invasion = 1980 Olympic Boycott, end detente ▫IRAN HOSTAGE CRISIS  52 US embassy  Held 444 days  Failed rescue attempt = 8 dead  Released day Reagan took office

Closure How did Watergate define Nixon’s presidency? What was its significance?