Topic 3 - C1 - The Crisis of Political Leadership

Question 1

How did presidential power increase during the 20th century?

Answer 1

Due to US involvement in international affairs. President’s role as commander in chief increased his importance during the wars, particularly in cold war which caused jealousy in congress as they wanted to limit presidential power.

Question 2

What was the Watergate scandal that Nixon was involved in?

Answer 2

Created Committee to Re elect the President in 1972 (CREEP) - used CREEP to acquire Democrat party secrets. Organised two illegal break ins into Democratic National Committee HQ to install surveillance but they were caught.

Question 3

What did Nixon do to try and cover up the Watergate scandal?

Answer 3

Wanted to use CIA to stop FBI investigating CREEP. CIA refused to cooperate so RN tried to pay burglars to keep quiet.

Question 4

What happened to the Watergate burglars and what impact did it have on Nixon?

Answer 4

Watergate burglars convicted 1973 and president’s approval rating sank to 17%, Nixon’s vice president forced to resign over tax evasion.

Question 5

How did the SC, Congress and the FBI respond to Nixon’s involvement in Watergate?

Answer 5

RN had tape recordings of convos in the WH. He was forced to release these and 1974 SC forced release of all of them. Tapes revealed that RN ordered the cover up and House of Representatives moved to impeach him

Question 6

What happened to Nixon after the scandal?

Answer 6

Nixon resigned in 1974 and Gerald Ford took over. 25 of his associates were jailed. RN charged for due to obstruction of justice, abuse of power, GF pardoned RN.

Question 7

What was the significance of Watergate?

Answer 7

RN and his policies discredited by WG. More RW republicans like RR dominated the party after moderate RN resigned. Limited presidential power as Congress took action.

Question 8

How did Congress limit presidential power after Watergate?

Answer 8

• War Powers Act (1973) limited ability to take country into war
• Ethics in Government Act (1978) made it easier for a prosecutor to investigate wrong doings
• Privacy Act (1975) had to report on undercover activities

Question 9

How did Ford and Carter represent a new style of leadership?

Answer 9

Both played down ceremonial aspects to show new style. Ford seen as a ‘regular guy’ - picked up his own newspaper of the porch and waved to the press. Carter also rejected excessive formality.

Question 10

Why was Ford vulnerable to media attacks?

Answer 10

• He pardonned RN
• Informal
• Unelected

Question 11

What did LBJ joke about Ford?

Answer 11

LBJ joked that he had played football too many times without a helmet

Question 12

How did the media criticise Ford?

Answer 12

Ford was broadcasted falling down ski slopes and stumbling down a plane ramp. New Yorker magazine showed him as Bozo the clown

Question 13

How did the public react to Ford and Carter?

Answer 13

Polls showed that 76% believed that Ford lacked presidential quality. 80% said the same of Carter.

Question 14

What helped Carter’s victory?

Answer 14

Carter’s emphasis on being an outsider - not part of corrupt Washington helped his victory

Question 15

What did polls show about opinions towards the leadership of Ford and Carter?

Answer 15

Polls showed that 76% believed that Ford lacked presidential quality. 80% said the same of Carter.

Question 16

What crises did Carter’s micromanagement and inability to have a productive relationship with congress lead to?

Answer 16

• 1977 Only 18% had a lot of confidence in Carter - often asked ‘Can Carter Cope?’
• 1979 Iranian Hostage Crisis
• 1980 lowest ever approval rating of any president

Question 17

How was Carter a micro manager?

Answer 17

He had reviewed all requests for people to use White House tennis courts in 1979

Question 18

What was the 1979 Iranian Hostage Crisis?

Answer 18

Iranian militants stormed the US embassy in Tehran and took 60 US hostage in protest against Carter allowing the Shah to receive cancer treatment in the USA.

Question 19

How was the USA humiliated by the Iranian Hostage Crisis?

Answer 19

Carter tried to negotiate the hostage’s release and sent helicopters to an unsuccessful rescue mission in 1980. One broke down and one got caught in a sandstorm and a third developed hydraulic problems

Question 20

When did Carter finally agree to abort the mission during the Iranian Hostage Crisis?

Answer 20

Carter agreed to abort the mission but then one helicopter crashed into a US transport aircraft. Eventually the hostages were released but after a new president took over.

Question 21

What evidence is there of growing political disillusionment by 1980?

Answer 21

1969 - 28% thought gov was run in the interests of a minority rather than for all the people, rose to 65% in 1979

Question 22

In 1969, 56% of people thought that the government did what was right most of the time, what figure did this fall to?

Answer 22

Fell to 29% in 1979

Question 23

How did the Vietnam War lead to a credibility gap?

Answer 23

Tet Offensive

Question 24

How did the Gerald Ford enhance the credibility gap?

Answer 24

Gave Nixon a pardon

Question 25

How was there a growing disrespect for presidents?

Answer 25

Media coverage of GF’s falls showed a growing disrespect. This disillusionment grew under Carter when nearly half didn’t bother to vote.

Question 26

How was there an increased awareness of environmentalism?

Answer 26

1969 - 1% felt the environment was the biggest domestic problem, 1971 - 25% thought it was. Publicity of environmental disasters.

Question 27

How did membership for environmental organisations grow between 1960-1990?

Answer 27

Grew from 125,000 in 1960, to 6.3 million by 1990

Question 28

What strengthened environmentalism?

Answer 28

Environmentalism strengthened by the revelation that the Love Canal near Niagara Falls was fall of waste leading to miscarriages and birth defects in local population.

Question 29

What were the political implications of environmentalism?

Answer 29

• Politicians were encouraged to pass environmental legislation
• Industry and econ growth provided employment but could damage environment

Question 30

What was the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (1970)?

Answer 30

Asked car manufacturers to cut down emissions - car manufacturers introduced catalytic converters and unleaded gas in 1975 which cut car pollution by 75%

Question 31

What other acts besides the EPA 1970 were passed due to increased environmental awareness?

Answer 31

• 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act - prevented chemicals polluting the environment
• Alaska Lands Act 1980 - set aside ⅓ of the state as wilderness
• Clean Air and Water Acts sought alternative sources of energy

Question 32

What impact did environmentalism have?

Answer 32

• Intra party conflict - Dem party contained MC liberals who favoured environmentalism and blue collar workers who did not
• Inter party conflict - Reps were the party of big businesses and didn’t care so much about the environment whereas the Dems did
• Conservative backlash
• Unanimity in states that depended on manufacturing - made them feel threatened
• Tension between federal gov and several states