AMERICAN POLITICS: REALISTIC IDEALISM OR POLITICAL IDEALISM? THE WATERGATE CRISIS Discuss the...
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AMERICAN POLITICS: REALISTIC IDEALISM OR POLITICAL IDEALISM? THE WATERGATE CRISIS Discuss the principles of realistic idealism and political idealism and
AMERICAN POLITICS: REALISTIC IDEALISM OR POLITICAL IDEALISM?
THE WATERGATE CRISIS Discuss the principles of realistic idealism
and political idealism and the concerns of the Framers. How did the
concerns of the Framers apply to the Watergate crisis? In your
discussion address the following: 1. The historical context in
which Watergate occurred 2. The background that led to the
"Watergate Crisis". 3. How specifically was President Nixon
involved in this crisis 4. What crime was he specifically charged
with? 5. Provide at least three examples of how Nixon further
complicated the investigation. 6. What ultimately led to Nixon's
resignation?.
Slide 2
Discuss the concerns of our Framers about political parties and
the human condition. The Founding Fathers and the Intension of the
Constitution of 1787 Factions Human Folly Loyalties It was
acknowledgement "wealth tends to corrupt the mind," and the
rich.men, as well as. poor, would use power to their own advantage
if given the opportunity.
Slide 3
Need for Centralized Power v. the Concerns of its Power James
Madison "...ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The
interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional
rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature that
such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of
government. But what is government itself but the greatest of all
reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government
would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external
nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing
a government, which is to be administered by men over men, the
great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable t e government
to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control
itself...."
Slide 4
Important Question Does a republican form of government depend
on the virtue of its people or on the formal political institutions
that control the people and their rulers? In other words, is it the
character of the people who are in office that will determine
whether a representative form of government will continue in this
country, or is it the nature of the political institutions (with
the checks and balances and shared powers) themselves that protects
us from our own human nature? The Founding Fathers placed their
faith in the institutions they created; where do you place your
faith?
Slide 5
Discuss and explain the difference between REALISTIC IDEALISM
and POLITICAL IDEALISM and use the personality and political
philosophy of Richard Nixon to illustrate the differences.
Realistic Idealism A term used to define political morality or
explains political action. It is a term that describes both
domestic and foreign politics. Political Idealism A term used to
define personal morality in politics, and is the bases for
establishing domestic and foreign policy. However, there is also a
tendency for some to use political idealism as there guiding
principle in domestic and foreign politics. As will be discussed,
when political idealism is used as the guiding principle in foreign
or domestic politics, it is usually ineffective.
Slide 6
There are a number of characteristics about Richard Nixon that
must be taken into account in order to understand him and his
politics. ( 1) his deep personal pride and his tremendously
competitive nature, (2) his struggle between the politics of
realistic idealism and idealistic realism, (3) his belief in blind
loyalty, to family, country and the institution, of the presidency.
"There are times when unpleasant means are justified in the service
of a great goal. But despite the protests of the process-lovers, a
proper means NEVER justifies an unsatisfactory end. No matter how
democratic. And meticulously correct it may be, a political process
that.cannot produce progress for a nation has gone seriously
awry... "There is no magic in democracy. The Constitution,
extraordinary document that it is, cannot by itself produce a
moment of peace or an instant of prosperity. Only the will and the
vision of leaders, exercised through the democratic system,
sometimes restrained by it, occasionally even exceeding it, can
bring about these goals. Idealism without pragmatism is impotent.
Pragmatism without idealism is meaningless. The key to effective
leadership is pragmatic idealism.
Slide 7
In 1861, Abraham Lincoln, responding to the secession of the
southern states from the Union ordered southern ports to be
blockaded seized several newspapers, increased the size of the
army, and spent unappropriated funds, all on his own authority. "My
oath to preserve the Constitution to the best of my ability imposed
on me the duty of preserving, by every indispensable means, that
government --that nation, of which the Constitution was the organic
law. Was it possible to lose the nation and yet preserve the
Constitution? By general law, life and limb must be protected, yet
often a limb must be amputated to save a life; but a life is never
wisely given to protect a limb. I felt that measures otherwise
unconstitutional might become lawful by becoming indispensable to
the preservation of the Constitution through the preserving of the
nation. Right or wrong, I assume this ground, and now avow
it."
Slide 8
Realistic Idealism Examples Wilsons League of Nations Carter
FDR Nixons Vietnam Idealism Cambodia
Slide 9
Discuss the events surrounding the Watergate break-in and
cover-up as an example of realistic idealism. 1968 presidential
victory Tom Huston Henry Kissinger best summarized all these
activities when he jokingly said, "The illegal we do immediately;
the unconstitutional takes a little longer. Committee to Re-elect
the President (CREEP) The Watergate building in Washington, D. C.,
was the headquarters for the Democratic Party in 1972. The break-in
occurred on June 17, 1972. Archibald Cox War Powers Act 1073 Gerald
R. Ford, VP