1010thth American History American HistoryUnit VI – Looking Toward Unit VI – Looking Toward

the Futurethe Future

Chapter 21 – A Search for Chapter 21 – A Search for OrderOrder

Section 2 – From Watergate to Section 2 – From Watergate to FordFord

From Watergate to FordFrom Watergate to Ford

The Main Idea

The Nixon presidency became bogged down in scandal, leading to the first presidential resignation in American

history and the administration of Gerald Ford.

Reading Focus

• What were the main events of the presidential election of 1972?

• How did the Watergate scandal unfold?

• Who was Gerald Ford, and what were the highlights of his presidency?

Watergate (07:06) Watergate (07:06)

Main events in the presidential Main events in the presidential election of 1972election of 1972

Nixon was concerned about winning the 1972 presidential election and was not above using illegal actions to help ensure his re-election.

During his first term, Nixon advisors created a group that came to be known as the “Plumbers.”• Their job was to respond to “leaks” of secret information and to

investigate Nixon’s political enemies.

• In 1971 the Plumbers tried to damage the reputation of Daniel Ellsberg—the man who had leaked the Pentagon Papers—by breaking into Ellsberg’s psychiatrist’s office and looking for information on Ellsberg.

In early 1972 the Plumbers decided to break into the offices of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate hotel to collect information about the Democratic strategy for the 1972 election.

The Election of 1972The Election of 1972

What were the main events of the What were the main events of the presidential election of 1972?presidential election of 1972?

Explain – Why do you think Republican – Why do you think Republican presidential advisors agreed to break into presidential advisors agreed to break into the Democratic National Committee the Democratic National Committee headquarters?headquarters?

Summarize – How did the – How did the administrations role in the burglaries administrations role in the burglaries come to light?come to light?

Make Inferences- Why could the work of Why could the work of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein be Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein be considered brave and patriotic?considered brave and patriotic?

Watergate Watergate On June 17, 1972, police arrested five men who had broken into the offices of the Democratic National Committee.

Although the break-in barely made the news when it happened, it quickly became clear that the men had connections to the president.

Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of the Washington Post refused to let the story die and continued to investigate the break-in.

The Post reported that the break-in was part of a widespread spying effort by the Nixon campaign, but this did not seem to affect voters.

On election day Nixon won one of the most overwhelming victories in U.S. history.

Watergate Scandal – 3:20Watergate Scandal – 3:20

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jit9V519h74&feature=relatedjit9V519h74&feature=related

How did the Watergate scandal How did the Watergate scandal unfold?unfold?

After the Election Several men associated with

the break-in were officials who worked for the White House or Nixon’s re-election team.

People wondered if Nixon knew about the wrongdoing and if he helped to cover it up.

Nixon ordered an investigation into the Watergate scandal

Several men resigned from their White House jobs as a result of the investigation and the Republicans were satisfied.

Still Democrats demanded an independent investigator—Archibald Cox.

The Senate Investigation The Senate committee The Senate committee

began its own investigation began its own investigation to find out what the to find out what the president knew and when president knew and when did he know it.did he know it.

Former attorney general Former attorney general John Dean reported that he John Dean reported that he had talked with Nixon about had talked with Nixon about Watergate and its cover-up Watergate and its cover-up many times.many times.

The bombshell came when The bombshell came when a former presidential aide a former presidential aide named Alexander named Alexander Butterfield said that Nixon Butterfield said that Nixon had tape-recorded all had tape-recorded all conversations in his office conversations in his office since 1971.since 1971.

Nixon did not want to give Nixon did not want to give up the tapes.up the tapes.

The Secret Tapes and Nixon's Resignation The Secret Tapes and Nixon's Resignation

(03:43)(03:43)

The Saturday Night MassacreThe Saturday Night Massacre Nixon argued that executive privilege gave him the right to

withhold the tapes.

Investigators rejected Nixon’s claim of executive privilege and Special Prosecutor Cox and the Senate Watergate committee issued subpoenas demanding the tapes.

In response, Nixon executed the so-called Saturday night massacre.

• Nixon directed attorney general Elliot Richardson to fire Cox. He refused and quit.

• Nixon then ordered Richardson’s assistant to fire Cox. He refused and resigned.

• Finally, the third-ranking official in the Justice Department fired Cox.

• The president’s actions shocked the public.

The Watergate ScandalThe Watergate ScandalThe Crisis ContinuesThe Crisis Continues

Nixon continued to deny Nixon continued to deny his involvement in the his involvement in the break-in or a cover-up.break-in or a cover-up.

Public confidence in Nixon Public confidence in Nixon was very low. was very low.

The White House revealed The White House revealed that an 18-minute portion that an 18-minute portion of the tape had been of the tape had been erased. erased.

There were calls for There were calls for impeachment.impeachment.

Nixon released some Nixon released some transcriptstranscripts of the tapes of the tapes in the spring of 1974.in the spring of 1974.

Nixon ResignsNixon Resigns The Supreme Court ruled The Supreme Court ruled

that Nixon must hand over that Nixon must hand over the tapes.the tapes.

At the same time, the At the same time, the House Judiciary Committee House Judiciary Committee voted to recommend voted to recommend impeachment. impeachment.

On August 8, 1974, Nixon On August 8, 1974, Nixon resigned the presidency.resigned the presidency.

He must have known that He must have known that the tapes would reveal the tapes would reveal clear evidence of his clear evidence of his wrongdoings.wrongdoings.

Nixon And Ford (01:26) Nixon And Ford (01:26)

The Scandal UnfoldsThe Scandal Unfolds

How did the Watergate scandal unfold?How did the Watergate scandal unfold? Explain – Why did questions arise – Why did questions arise

about White House officials’ about White House officials’ involvement in illegal Watergate affairs?involvement in illegal Watergate affairs?

Analyze – Why do you think President – Why do you think President Nixon fired John Dean?Nixon fired John Dean?

Evaluate- Was Gerald Ford correct in Was Gerald Ford correct in his judgment about President Nixon’s his judgment about President Nixon’s action as “cleaning house”?action as “cleaning house”?

The Scandal UnfoldsThe Scandal Unfolds

Explain – What is executive – What is executive privilege?privilege?

Make Inferences – What was so – What was so significant about the Saturday significant about the Saturday Night Massacre?Night Massacre?

Elaborate- Why was the Why was the revelation of the White House revelation of the White House tapes so significant?tapes so significant?

Gerald FordGerald Ford Vice President Spiro T. Agnew resigned after

being charged with cheating on his taxes and taking payments in return for political favors.

Nixon choose Gerald R. Ford to replace Agnew.

Ford was the Republican leader in the House of Representatives.

When Nixon resigned, Ford became president.

He was the first person ever to become president without having been elected either president or vice-president.

President Gerald R. President Gerald R. FordFord 38th President - 1974-1977 - Republican - 38th President - 1974-1977 - Republican -

"Ford, not a Lincoln". Who was he + how did he become president?Who was he + how did he become president? Nelson Rockefeller- Vice PresidentNelson Rockefeller- Vice President Nixon PardonNixon Pardon Clemency Program for Vietnam deserters and Clemency Program for Vietnam deserters and

draft evaders.draft evaders. Control of the FBI and the CIAControl of the FBI and the CIA Freedom of Information and Privacy Act 1974Freedom of Information and Privacy Act 1974 Federal Campaign-funding Reform Act 1974Federal Campaign-funding Reform Act 1974 War Powers Act 1973War Powers Act 1973 Budget and Impoundment Act 1974Budget and Impoundment Act 1974 1973 inflation- increased from 8.5% to 12 %1973 inflation- increased from 8.5% to 12 %

• Oil Price- major factor in inflation.Oil Price- major factor in inflation.• Yom Kippur WarYom Kippur War• Libya and O.P.E.C.Libya and O.P.E.C.

Gerald Ford’s PresidencyGerald Ford’s Presidency

Ford tried to cut government spending to curb inflation but the Democratic Congress passed many spending bills against his wishes.

In foreign affairs, Ford continued the policy of détente and kept Kissinger as secretary of state.

Congress refused to allow Ford to take part in Vietnam or Cuba, but he did recover the cargo ship—the Mayaguez—from the Cambodian navy.

FordFordPardonsPardonsNixonNixon

President Ford granted a full pardon to Richard Nixon for any crime he may have committed.

Ford as

President

Ford won his party’s nomination after a close struggle with former California governor Ronald Reagan.

ElectionChallenge

Fall of SiagonFall of Siagon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mfndf1fQe8&feature=relatedmfndf1fQe8&feature=related

Helsinki Agreements - Helsinki Agreements - 19751975

Each nation agrees not to intervene in the affairs of the Each nation agrees not to intervene in the affairs of the other nations.other nations.

Each nation agree to refrain from aiding terrorist activities, Each nation agree to refrain from aiding terrorist activities, or to subversive actions designed to overthrow the or to subversive actions designed to overthrow the government of another participating Stategovernment of another participating State

Participating state also agreed- to respect Participating state also agreed- to respect human rights and human rights and fundamental freedomsfundamental freedoms- including the freedom of thought, - including the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief. (However the USSR did not conscience, religion or belief. (However the USSR did not share this democratic belief)share this democratic belief)

States agreed to respect equal rights and self-determination States agreed to respect equal rights and self-determination of peoples.of peoples.

The Pardon (05:03) The Pardon (05:03)

Election of 1976Election of 1976 Election of 1976Election of 1976

• Candidates:Candidates:– Republican- FordRepublican- Ford– Democrat- Jimmy CarterDemocrat- Jimmy Carter

• IssuesIssues– InflationInflation– Cut in gov’t spendingCut in gov’t spending– unemploymentunemployment– energy problemenergy problem– honesty in governmenthonesty in government

• Problems in CampaignProblems in Campaign– Nixon pardonNixon pardon– Carter-Ford DebatesCarter-Ford Debates

• Outcome- Carter wins close one.Outcome- Carter wins close one.– 50% of popular vote to 48%50% of popular vote to 48%– 297 electoral votes to 240297 electoral votes to 240– only 53% of votes bothered to only 53% of votes bothered to

votevote

Gerald Ford’s PresidencyGerald Ford’s Presidency

Who was Gerald Ford, and what were the Who was Gerald Ford, and what were the highlights of his presidency?highlights of his presidency?

Recall – Why did President Agnew resign? – Why did President Agnew resign? Identify Cause and Effect – What was – What was

the effect of the presidential pardon the effect of the presidential pardon granted to Nixon?granted to Nixon?

Identify – Who served as secretary of – Who served as secretary of state during the Ford administration?state during the Ford administration?

Summarize – What difficulties did – What difficulties did President Ford face?President Ford face?