The Watergate Scandal Flashcards
(17 cards)
What does the ‘Watergate Scandal’ mean?
- Umbrella term
- Series of events between 1971-1974
- Exposed by ‘drip-feed’ (SLOW) in newspapers and Congressional hearings
- Led to resignation in disgrace of President Richard Nixon
What event initiated the Watergate Scandal?
- Burglary at the Democratic Party Headquarters in the Watergate Complex in Washington DC
- Ordered by key members of the CREEP
- Nixon did not know specifically about this
- Ordered similar burglaries before (so this was done in the spirit of the culture he had created)
- Incompetent (got caught)
What was the context of the Watergate scandal? (Nixon’s motive)
- Re-election in 1972
- During the Vietnam War he promised to end
- Intensifying a win-at-all costs (victory prioritised over integrity and ethics) political culture
What was CREEP?
The Committee to Re-elect the President
What did Nixon do early 1971?
- Ordered break-in at Brookings Institute
- To find ‘dirt’ to blackmail LBJ
- Created a culture
How was Nixon ‘connected’ in the scandal after the burglary? How did Nixon respond?
- Washington Post reporters (Woodward and Bernstein) linked the burglars and CREEP
- Nixon denied the link
- Prevented an FBI investigation
How did the 1972 re-election go for Nixon?
- Fought a ruthless campaign against John McGovern
- Won by a landslide
What role did the tapes play in Nixon’s donwfall?
- Senate created a committee to investigate Nixon’s campaign
- Uncovered Nixon’s White House tapes
- Revealed his involvement in the cover-up
- Led to his resignation
Why did Nixon resign in 1974?
- Could face possible impeachment
- Historic blow (only US president to resign from office)
- Destroyed reputation
How did the scandal impact American trust in the presidency?
- Damaged public trust
- Changed how Americans viewed president prestige
- Lasting climate of mistrust
How did the scandal influence the midterm elections and presidential election?
- Democratic victories
- Republicans lost control of Congress
Why were new laws introduced?
- To prevent scandals
- To clean up US politics
What key laws emerged in response to Watergate? (4)
- War Powers Act: Limited presidential power to commit troops abroad (prevent US from being drawn into another Vietnam War)
- Federal Election Campaign Act Amendments: Established Federal Election Commission to regulate campaign finance (secret ‘slush funds’ from donors which funded CREEP)
- Privacy Act: Limited federal data storage on citizens, allowed them to review and correct information (direct response to scandal - illegal surveillance of political opponents)
- Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act 1974: Restricted presidential control over congressional funds (abuse of power of presidency to prevent funds allocated by Congress to be spent)
How did Watergate affect investigative journalism?
Reporters (Woodward and Bernstein) were heroes
How did the scandal impact the relationship between politicians and the press?
- More hostile
- Each saw the lengths the other would go to reveal/cover up things
Why did Ford pardon Nixon?
- To begin the process of healing America’s body politics and move the country forward
- Before the approach of the coming Bicentennial
How did the public react to Ford pardoning Nixon?
- Criticised
- Over time, acknowledged the wisdom of Ford’s decision to move the country forward
