Nixon Scandal Flashcards
What was the Watergate Scandal?
- Involved a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters, followed by a cover-up by President Nixon’s administration.
- Nixon resigned in 1974 to avoid impeachment, marking the first time a U.S. president resigned from office.
What were the events that caused the scandal?
-June 17, 1972: Burglars linked to Nixon’s Committee to Re-Elect the President (CREEP) were caught breaking into Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex.
- Nixon denied involvement, but a cover-up was exposed:
Tapes from the Oval Office revealed he had ordered a cover-up.
Saturday Night Massacre (1973): Nixon fired the special prosecutor investigating Watergate.
- August 8, 1974: Nixon resigned to avoid impeachment.
- Gerald Ford succeeded him and granted him a full pardon (1974), sparking public outrage.
What were Nixon’s successes?
✅ Foreign policy achievements (China, USSR, ending Vietnam War).
✅ Pragmatic economic policies (e.g., wage & price controls).
✅ Environmental & social reforms (EPA, Clean Air Act).
What were Nixon’s failures?
❌ Watergate destroyed trust in government (the first president to resign).
❌ Vietnam escalation & secret bombings damaged U.S. credibility.
❌ Economic downturn & stagflation worsened under his policies.
Nixon and the American Dream:
- Nixon embodied the American Dream as a self-made man from a modest background.
- However, his presidency ended in disgrace, contradicting the ideals of integrity and democracy.
- His foreign policy was groundbreaking, but domestic scandals overshadowed his legacy.
