Political Corruption and Loss of national self confidence Flashcards
what did watergate create
The Watergate scandal generated public disillusionment and disrespect for politicians. A series of scandals, beginning with Ford’s pardon of Nixon which convinced many that American politics were irredeemably corrupt.
what did ford’s pardon of Nixon damage
Ford’s pardon of Nixon irreparably damaged relations with Congress, the public and the media
what did Republicans blame the pardon on
Republican congressmen blamed the pardon for the loss of 43 House seats in 1974 and right-wing Republicans openly criticised Ford.
how did Republicans mock Ford
A conservative New Hampshire newspaper called him ‘Jerry the Jerk’.
who damaged Ford
Reagan
how did Reagan damage Ford
By late 1974, Republican Governor Ronald Reagan of California was privately asserting that Ford was a ‘caretaker’ who had been ‘in congress too long’. Backed by other Republican right-wingers, Reagan challenged Ford for the republican presidential nomination in 1976. Reagan ran as an outsider untainted by the corruption of Washington DC. Ford won the nomination but Reagan humiliated him and weakened him for the fight against the Democrat presidential candidate - Jimmy Carter
turnout in the 1976 election
The lowest presidential turnout since 1948, only 54% voted.
vote margin between Ford and Carter
Carter won 49.9% of the vote, to Ford’s 47.9%
Why was the voting turnout so low?
Neither candidate excited the electorate, when polled on whether the candidates had presidential quality, three-quarters of Americans thought both lacked it. Ford staffers told the president that ‘vast numbers’ of voters saw ‘no practical difference’ between him and Carter. The low turnout and public opinion polls demonstrated the electorates disillusionment.
voting during Carters years
In the Carter years, around half of the electorate never bothered to vote, clearly feeling alienated from the political process. Polls illustrated Americans loss of confidence in politicians and the government
percentage of Americans who felt that the government will ‘do what is right most of the time’ in 1969
56%
percentage of Americans who felt that the government will ‘do what is right most of the time’ in 1979
29%
% of people who believed that government officials were ‘smart people who know what they are doing’ in 1969
69%
% of people who believed that government officials were ‘smart people who know what they are doing’ in 1979
29%
why carter won
- Reagan’s divisive and exhausting challenge to Ford
- The perception that Ford was a weak and indecisive leader who had lost ground to the soviets
- Economic problems - inflation was in double figures and Americans were worries about oil shortages and gasoline prices
- Corruption under Ford