Nixon and Watergate

Question 1

cause

Answer 1

Nixon’s character and image)

• tricky dicky (insecure + paranoid)
• Feeling that people were always against him.
• Nov 1970 ordered aids to develop intelligence programme on opponents

Leaks and Plumbers +pentagon papers)

• leaks on Vietnam war
• made him feel suspicious of everyone
• set up white house plumbers
• went into Els burg psychiatrist
• showed he was prepared to make them do anything

wasn’t sure he was going to win)

• it was certain he would win
• but he was insecure and wanted to be 100%

Question 2

events

Answer 2

• 1972 wasn’t sure he was going to win
• sent plumbers to bug democratic(watergate building)
• 5 ex CIA caught on second break in (repairing)
• 1 plumber said white house said to lie
• Nixon tried covering up (denied several times)
• CREP (committee to re elect president)
• money came from there
• Washington post reporter Woodward given tips
• Recording 1973 (Nixon recorded oval office)
• congress requested
• found large cut outs (deleted bits)
• Aug 1974 he resigned to avoid impeachment
• Gerald Ford pardoned him (vice president)

Question 3

impacts

Answer 3

Political careers ended)

• Nixon forced to resign (first president to do so)
• reputation lost
• never apologised or admitted to wrong
• recordings revealed bad behaviour and language
• towards jews and Italians
• 30 other gov officials imprisoned

Republican Party)

• caused loss of seats in house of rep + senate
• next election won by democrats (Jimmy Carter)

Less trust)

• people thought politicians were corrupt + criminals
• Politicians publicly shared financial records
• Federal Election Campaign Act 1974

Acts)

• –War Powers Act 1973—
• stopped president going to war without congress approval
• restore balance and faith in gov
• –Election Campaign Act 1974—
• set limits on election campaign spending + contributions
• result of CREP funding plumbers
• –Privacy Act 1974—
• set rules on how gov could collect info on people
• result of the bugging + Els Burg break in + intel on opps
• –Ryan-Hughes Amendment 1974—
• President tell congress about CIA covert operations
• Made President more accountable to congress
• –Congressional Budget Control Act 1974—
• set rules on how president could use gov money