■Essential Question: –What was the Watergate scandal & how did it change American politics in the 1970s? ■Warm-Up Question: –What was Nixon’s greatest

■ Essential Question:

–What was the Watergate scandal & how did it change American politics in the 1970s?

■ Warm-Up Question:

–What was Nixon’s greatest feat in foreign policy: Vietnam, China, or the Soviet Union? Explain

Quick Review: Why was Nixon overwhelmingly re-elected as

president in 1972? Why was Nixon so popular?

Conservative domestic policy:•Lowered gov’t spending•Reduced social programs

Active foreign policy:•Ended the war in Vietnam•“Opened” China •Détente with the USSR

Nixon was insecure & paranoid about power:• He kept an “enemies list” of people he

suspected were out to undermine his policies• “Tricky Dick” used his position as president

to spy on, infiltrate, & sabotage his “enemies” • These tactics & fears were the reasons for the

Watergate scandal that ended his presidency

In what ways might Nixon have been

“his own worst enemy”?

What do you see in this image?

Watergate Inquiry Activity■ Student Handout A: THE BREAK-IN

–Read the background information–With your partners, discuss

“Critical Thinking Question A”–After a brief class discussion, fill in the

missing information on your cartoon from the image on the next slide

The Watergate Scandal: A Visual Review

Gordon Liddy & Gordon Liddy & the “Plumbers” the “Plumbers”

Watergate Inquiry Activity■ Student Handout B: INVESTIGATION


“Critical Thinking Question B”–After a brief class discussion, fill in the



Watergate Inquiry Activity■ Student Handout C: CONGRESSIONAL

HEARINGS –Read the background information–With your partners, discuss

“Critical Thinking Question C”–After a brief class discussion, fill in the



Watergate Inquiry Activity■ Student Handout D: THE SECRET TAPES


“Critical Thinking Question D”–After a brief class discussion, fill in the



Watergate Inquiry Activity■ Student Handout E: NIXON RESIGNS


“Critical Thinking Question E”–After a brief class discussion, fill in the



Why is Watergate such an important event in

U.S. history?

How did Watergate change the way

Americans perceive their political leaders?

Do you think Nixon’s actions were different from most politicians?

Should Nixon’s presidency be judged more in his foreign

policy successes or the Watergate scandal? Why?

Effects of Watergate ■ The Watergate scandal changed America:

–The scandal eroded public trust in their political leaders; Added to the distrust created by the Vietnam War

–Revealed the importance of the media in serving as a “watchdog” of the gov’t

–Congress assumed more leadership–Uncertainty whether prosecutors

would charge Nixon with crimes

Documents

■Essential Question: –What was the Watergate scandal & how did it change American politics in the 1970s? ■Warm-Up Question: –What was Nixon’s greatest