1. Chapter 24: An age of limits
President Nixon reaches out to Communist nations, but leaves office disgraced by the Watergate scandal. His successors face a sluggish economy, environmental concerns, and a revolution in Iran.

2. Do Now: The reputation of Nixon/Watergate in 2017
President Donald Trump sent the following tweets on November 5th 2012 (pre-campaign) March 4th, 2017 in which he compared former President Obama to former President Nixon and his Watergate scandal. Using the information provided by the tweet, as well as prior knowledge, what do you think Trump is trying to say about both former President’s?
Was Trump correct in his comparison of the Obama and Nixon administrations? Why or why not?
Does this comparison of Obama and Nixon by a sitting President effect the legacy of Barack Obama? Richard Nixon? Donald Trump? Explain your answer

3. Video Questions: History vs Richard Nixon
While watching Nixon go on “Trial” for his actions as President (and for the protection of his legacy) , collect facts that support both “sides” of this argument. There should be at least 3 arguments on each side of the T-chart.
Richard Nixon
History

4. Chapter 24-1: The Nixon Administration
President Richard M. Nixon tries to steer the country in a conservative direction and away from federal control.

5. Nixon’s New conservatism
New Federalism
Richard M. Nixon: decrease size and influence of federal government
New Federalism —give part of federal power to state, local government
Nixon proposes revenue sharing, which becomes law in 1972:
state, local governments now decide how to spend federal money
Welfare Reform
Family Assistance Plan gives family of four a base income
Senate liberals, conservatives defeat bill

6. Nixon’s New Conservatism (Continued)
New Federalism Wears Two Faces
Nixon backs some social spending increases to win Democratic support
Tries to dismantle some programs, impounds funds for others
courts order release of impounded funds
Law and Order Politics
Nixon moves aggressively to end war, mend divisiveness in country
Begins law and order policies to end riots, demonstrations
sometimes uses illegal tactics

7. Nixon’s Southern Strategy
Law and Order Politics
Nixon moves aggressively to end war, mend divisiveness in country
Begins law and order policies to end riots, demonstrations
sometimes uses illegal tactics
Nixon Slows Integration
To attract white voters in South, Nixon slows desegregation
Supreme Court orders Nixon to comply with Brown ruling
Nixon opposes extension of Voting Rights Act but Congress extends it
Controversy over Busing
Supreme Court rules school districts may bus to end segregation
Students, parents in some cities protest angrily
Nixon goes on national tv to urge Congress to halt busing

8. Nixon’s Foreign Policy Triumphs
Kissinger and Realpolitik
Henry Kissinger—national security adviser, later secretary of state
Realpolitik —foreign policy based on power issues, not ideals, morals
Realpolitik calls for U.S. to confront powerful nations, ignore weak
Nixon, Kissinger follow policy of détente —easing Cold War tensions
Nixon Visits China
1971, Nixon’s visit to China a huge success; U.S., China agree to:
cooperate over disputes, have scientific, cultural exchange
Takes advantage of rift between China, Soviet Union
Nixon Travels to Moscow
1972, Nixon visits Moscow; he, Brezhnev sign SALTI Treaty:
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks limit missiles to 1972 levels
Foreign policy triumphs, expected Vietnam peace help win reelection

9. Do Now: Current events Nixon in popular culture
A popular way to critique (or compliment) current Presidents is to compare them to past administrations. In the political cartoons on the left, you see both former President Obama and Current President Trump satirized and compared to Presideent Nixon .
What is the message of the 1st cartoon? How does it use the legacy of Richard Nixon to criticize the Obama administration? Is the criticism valid
What is the message of the 2nd cartoon? How does it use the legacy of Richard Nixon to criticize the Trump administration? Is the criticism valid?

10. Mr Betts: Nixon Video Questions
1) How does this video portray Richard Nixon’s views on the following:
Foreign Policy (China):
Vietnam and Cambodia:
Vietnam Protesters (Kent State)
2) With regards to the “Watergate Scandal” describe the role of the following:
DNC Headquarters
Woodward and Bernstein
Gerald Ford

11. Chapter 24-2: Watergate: Nixon’s downfall
President Richard Nixon’s involvement in the Watergate scandal forces him to resign from office.

12. President Nixon and his white house
An Imperial Presidency
Depression, WW II, Cold War make executive most powerful branch
Nixon expands presidential powers, ignores Congress
The President’s Men
Nixon has small, loyal group of advisers; like him, desire secrecy
H. R. Haldeman, White House chief of staff
John Ehrlichman, chief domestic adviser
John Mitchell, Nixon’s former attorney general

13. The Drive toward re-election
A Bungled Burglary
Committee to Reelect the President break into Democratic headquarters
Watergate scandal is administration’s attempt to cover up break-in
destroy documents, try to stop investigation, buy burglars’ silence
Washington Post reporters link administration to break-in
White House denies allegations; little public interest in charges
Nixon reelected by landslide over liberal Democrat George McGovern

14. The Cover up unravels A Bungled Burglary
Judge John Sirica presides burglars’ trial, thinks did not act alone
Burglar leader James McCord says lied under oath, advisers involved
Nixon dismisses White House counsel John Dean; others resign
Senator Samuel J. Ervin heads investigative committee
Startling Testimony
Dean declares Nixon involved in cover-up
Alexander Butterfield says Nixon tapes presidential conversations

15. The Cover up unravels (Continued)
The Saturday Night Massacre
Special prosecutor Archibald Cox subpoenas tapes; Nixon refuses
Nixon orders Cox fired, attorney general Elliot Richardson refuses
Saturday Night Massacre: Richardson resigns; deputy refuses, fired
Cox’s replacement, Leon Jaworski, also calls for tapes
Vice President Spiro Agnew resigns, revealed he accepted bribes
Nixon nominates, Congress confirms Gerald R. Ford as vice-president

16. Nixon Releases the Tapes The Effects of Watergate
The Fall of a president
Nixon Releases the Tapes
March 1974, grand jury indicts 7 presidential aides
charges: conspiracy, obstruction of justice, perjury
Nixon tells TV audience he is releasing edited transcripts
July, Supreme Court rules unanimously Nixon must surrender tapes
The President Resigns
House Judiciary Committee approves 3 articles of impeachment
formal accusation of wrongdoing while in office
charges: obstruction of justice, abuse of power, contempt of Congress
Nixon releases tapes; show knows of administration role, cover up
Before full House votes on impeachment, Nixon resigns
The Effects of Watergate
25 members of administration convicted, serve prison terms

17. “Stupid Watergate”: john Oliver Video Questions
1) What does John Oliver mean by the term “Stupid Watergate”
2) What proof does the President have to back up his claims that he was being “wire- tapped” as he claimed?
3) In this scandal, which President is being accused of being Nixonian, Trump or Obama? Is this an accurate criticism? Explain your answer.
4) Does “Stupid Watergate” as Oliver describes, have any real connections or similarities to the real Watergate scandal? If so what are they? If not, why do you think Oliver chose to title his segment after Watergate?

18. Homework ACE Vocab 24-1 and 24-2 (Catch up on Chapter 21 and 22 Vocab)
Article Review (On website) OR watch minutes of coverage of the Sally Yates testimony today and compare the Trump-Russia hearings to the Watergate hearings. (ALL major news networks will cover this, testimony and clips should also be on youtube later tonight)

19. Do Now: Breaking news
Just yesterday (May 9th, 2017) it was announced that President Trump fired FBI Director James Comey saying Comey had lost the “confidence of the organization.”
This highly controversial decision comes only weeks after Comey announced that there was a federal FBI probe into whether or not the Trump Campaign participated in Russian hacking into the 2017 election and one day after former acting attorney General Sally Yates confirmed that the White House ignored her information for 18 days about National Security Advisor Mike Flynn being compromised by Russia.
1) Does this firing compare to Nixon’s “Saturday Night Massacre”? Explain
2) What does this firing mean for the future of the Trump- Russia investigation?

20. Donald Trump’s Letter to James Comey: You’re fired!!!
Why does Trump say that Comey is being removed from office? Is his reasoning valid
Why do you think Trump mentions that he was told by Comey 3x that he is not under federal investigation?
Does this letter itself signify any wrongdoing by President Trump, or is it simply the timing of the firing that has people suspicious?

21. Watergate vs Russiagate

22. The ford and carter years
The Ford and Carter administrations attempt to remedy the nation’s worst economic crisis in decades

23. Ford travels a rough road
“A Ford, Not a Lincoln”
September 1974, new president Gerald R. Ford pardons Nixon
Tries to move country past Watergate; loses much public support
Ford Tries to “Whip” Inflation
Unsuccessfully asks public to cut back use of oil, gas, save energy
Cuts government spending; urges higher interest to restrict credit
“Tight money” policy triggers recession
Continually battles Democratic Congress with own economic agenda

24. Ford’s Foreign Policy Carrying Out Nixon’s Foreign Policies
Ford continues negotiations with China, Soviet Union
Signs Helsinki Accords—cooperation between Eastern, Western Europe
Ongoing Turmoil in Southeast Asia
Vietnam cease-fire breaks down; Ford asks Congress for aid to South
Congress refuses; South Vietnam surrenders in 1975
Cambodia seizes U.S. merchant ship Mayagüez
Ford uses big military response; 41 die to rescue 39, is criticized

25. Carter enters the White house
Mr. Carter Goes to Washington
Jimmy Carter promises to restore integrity to presidency
defeats Ford by narrow margin
Has down-to-earth style; holds “fireside chats” on radio, TV
Does not make deals with Congress; relies on Georgia advisers
Both parties in Congress join to sink Carter budgets, major reforms