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8/2/2019 PC 2 Impeachment Nixon Student Program
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/pc-2-impeachment-nixon-student-program 1/14
Educating Young People about the Constitution
www.BillofRightsInstitute.org
Presidents and the Constitution,
Vol. 2Impeachment and the Constitution:
Richard Nixon and the Watergate
Scandal
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Presidents and the Constitution Resources
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In order to impeach a President of the UnitedStates members of Congress must try him for“high crimes and misdemeanors”
The Constitution, however, does not define
“high crimes and misdemeanors”. What doesthat phrase mean to you? What does it meanto your friends?
Directions: Read Dr. Stuart Leibiger’s essay.Underline or highlight the facts you think areimportant.
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Constitutional Connection Activity
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Impeachment and the Constitution
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Background/Homework
Read Handout A: Richard Nixon and the WatergateScandal and answer the following questions.
Nixon and the Watergate Scandal
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Critical Thinking Questions
1. What were the Watergate burglaries and what was theirpurpose?
2. What was the Watergate Scandal?
3. Why was the disclosure thatNixon recorded all hisconversations so important to theinvestigation?
Nixon and the Watergate Scandal
4. What is executive privilege? How did the Supreme Courtrule concerning Nixon’s assertions of executive privilege?
5. To what extent did the Constitutional systems of separationof powers and checks and balances function appropriately inthe case of Richard Nixon?
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Nixon’s resignation speech in the White House
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• Share your “rule for executive privilege”.
• Vote for the best one.
Nixon and the Watergate Scandal
Warm-Up
• Complete Handout B: A Brief History ofExecutive Privilege in the United States
• Discuss your answers; ignoring question 5for now.
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• Review U.S. v. Nixon from Handout A.
• Do you agree with the court’s ruling? Why
or why not?
Nixon and the Watergate Scandal
Activity • Summarize the facts of the Watergate
Scandal and Nixon’s claim of executiveprivilege on Handout B.
•
Debate whether Nixon’s claim forexecutive privilege was consistent with theclass rule everyone voted on.
Nixon and his advisors inthe Oval Office, 1970
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Nixon and the Watergate ScandalWrap-Up
•
Review Handout C: HerblockWatergate Cartoons.• For each cartoon, answer the
following questions:
1. What is the date of the cartoon and
why is that significant?2. What symbolism do you note in the
cartoon
3. Do you think this cartoon helped
people in 1974 to understand theWatergate scandal and itsconstitutional issues?
4. To what extent does the cartoonhelp you understand the scandal
and its constitutional issues. 9May 31, 1974
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Evaluate
Was Nixon’s claim regarding executive privilegeconsistent with precedent and with the Constitution?
Nixon and the Watergate Scandal
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Nixon’s Letter ofResignation.August 9, 1974
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Homework
• Play a recording of Representative Barbara Jordan’s 1974 speech—available by Googling “Barbara Jordan’s 1974 speech” (or read the transcript belowthe video).
• Make a list of the quotations Jordan cites from the ConstitutionalConvention and Ratifying Conventions of various states, as well as fromlater individuals.
• Summarize each quotation and explain how it applies or does not apply tothe accusations against Nixon.
Nixon and the Watergate Scandal
Barbara Jordan 197611
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The Issues Endure
•
Write five questions to interview family or faculty memberswho remember the events of the Watergate scandal.
• Record the interview and share what you learned.
Nixon and the Watergate Scandal
Rose MaryWoods
(Nixon’sSecretary)
President Ford at the House Judiciary subcommitteehearing regarding thepardon of Nixon
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Extensions
• One month after Nixon’sresignation, President Fordissued a complete pardon for
any crimes that Nixon may havecommitted as President.
• See the lesson on Nixon andFord in this volume’s Transfer of
Power unit to learn more aboutthat episode in our nation’shistory.
Nixon and the Watergate Scandal
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