Decline in Confidence

Question 1

In 1970’s, how did the access to media reports change?

Answer 1

There was wider access to media and reporters to change their views

Question 2

How did reports roles change during the 1970’s?

Answer 2

Went from explaining policies under Roosevelt to uncover government deception

Question 3

Did the government present the media as open and truthful?

Answer 3

No; government and president only telling part of story and kept things

Question 4

How did Walter Cronkite affect the opinion of Vietnam?

Answer 4

1968 Tet Offensive documentary which confirmed peoples worst fears and was a wasteful war; war already unpopular so made it worst

Question 5

How did CBS affect the opinion of Vietnam?

Answer 5

1965: a special broadcast of the burning of the village Cam Ne as US army feared rebels stayed there (there were no rebels)

Question 6

When were the Watergate hearings and how did it change the political opinion?

Answer 6

In 1973 and began a political realignment to allow a Democratic victory

Question 7

How did the Watergate hearings unfold in the media?

Answer 7

250 hours broadcasted live along with dramatically edited reports so people could hear officials testifying about Nixon lying and being involved in the burglaries and allowed people to form their own opinions

Question 8

How did the media originally react to Carter’s election?

Answer 8

Positive reaction which reflected his 60-70% approval rating

Question 9

Why did the media’s opinion shift on Carter?

Answer 9

Apparent his administration couldn’t handle policy making and Congress so media withdrew support

Question 10

How was Carter presented as weak (morally and physically)?

Answer 10

October 1979 - Collapsed at a marathon and seemed physically weak (didn’t want a president who wouldn’t be fit enough to serve in office)
1979 - “attacked” by a rabbit which he hit with a paddle and seemed morally weak
November 1979 - 52 US Diplomats taken hostage in Tehran in Iran and Carter was unable to sort it out and hostages held for 444 days

Question 11

What was the most significant impact on government scandals?

Answer 11

People couldn’t trust the government

Question 12

What was the Watergate scandal and who did it involve?

Answer 12

President Richard Nixon bugged the White House to spy on all senior officials and sent a group to steal Democratic Party’s documents and policies. He was found guilty of burglary and spying on opponents.

Question 13

How did Watergate affect Nixon as President?

Answer 13

Portrayed him as suspicious and happy to lie to the American people and his administration

Question 14

What was one major event in the early 1970’s which no President could avoid?

Answer 14

The Vietnam War

Question 15

How did the role of the President change since Roosevelt which made him more responsible for events?

Answer 15

The president now more involved in domestic and international decisions after Roosevelt and meant that every president became swamped with admin

Question 16

What occurred when public opposition grew?

Answer 16

There was a greater lack of trust in the presidency

Question 17

What happened to the amount of White House Staff when Roosevelt became president which had a long lasting effect until 1980?

Answer 17

The amount of staff in the White House rose

Question 18

What did a lot of White House staff do which tampered with the presidents image?

Answer 18

Made decisions in presidents name without consulting him and took bribes and made dodgy deals

Question 19

How did social factors concerning the police effect the presidents image?

Answer 19

Violent reactions from the police when protests occurred escalated matters, such as the riots after MLK’s death and student groups (4 killed + 9 wounded at Kent State University in 1970 about Vietnam)

Question 20

How did the social views of middle-class Americans bring around a decline in confidence?

Answer 20

White middle-class Americans mad with disillusioned liberals for distracting the government and doing too much for the poor and not them

Question 21

How did Johnson as a president bring around a decline in confidence?

Answer 21

Put troops in Vietnam without Congress’s permission + had poor communication with media and public

Question 22

How did Nixon as a president bring around a decline in confidence?

Answer 22

Communication style was forced + Watergate management shocked the public

Question 23

How did Ford as a president bring around a decline in confidence?

Answer 23

Effects of Watergate haunted him + pardoned Nixon + wasn’t elected by the public

Question 24

How did Carter as a president bring around a decline in confidence?

Answer 24

Politically inexperienced + couldn’t manage Congress + poor decisions and lack of flexibility + humiliated by the media