3. Social and political change 1973-80
❖ The crisis of political leadership
❖The impact of economic change on society
❖ Changing popular culture
❖ The extent of progress in individual and civil rights
The crisis of political leadership
The impact of Watergate on politics and the presidency
Watergate building was an office block in Washington DC.
The break in→ Several men who were trying to get President Richard Nixon re-elected as
president decided they wanted to spy on the Democratic Party. They planned to break in the
Democratic party. offices in the Watergate building.they broke into the offices, took photographs
of secret documents, and placed wire taps on the phone. At first, they got away with it. However,
they tried to break in again, they were caught and arrested.
The cover-up→ President Nixon and his staff tried desperately to cover-up the break-in. Nixon
denied any knowledge of the activities and said his staff was not involved. He managed to keep
his name out of the scandal through the election and was re-elected president in November of
1972.
Woodward and Bernstein→ Two reporters for the Washington Post newspaper, Bob
Woodward and Carl Bernstein, were investigating the burglary. It turned out that several
members of the White House staff knew about the break-in. President Nixon had been involved
in the cover-up as well. He had provided "hush money" to the burglars to keep them quiet. He
had also used the CIA to try and stop the FBI from investigating the case.
The tapes→ Despite the mounting suspicion that President Nixon was involved, there wasn't
any real proof. The Congress needed hard evidence in order to impeach the president.
Investigators soon discovered that Nixon kept tapes of all his conversations in the Oval Office.
Investigators asked for the tapes. When Nixon refused, the Supreme Court got involved and
ordered him to turn the tapes over. They clearly showed that Nixon had at least been involved in
the cover-up.
Resignation→ With the release of the "smoking gun" tapes, Nixon's political career was over.
The Congress was going to impeach him. Rather than be impeached, Nixon chose to resign.
On August 9, 1974, President Richard Nixon became the first President of the United
States to resign from office.
, The significance of Watergate
Destroyed Nixon’s position as president and his reputation.
Watergate scandal impacted upon US politics:
● Nixon’s presidency affected the power of the presidency. Congress passed many laws
to limit presidential power and avoid another Watergate
→ War Powers Act 1973 which limited presidential power to take the nation into war and use
military force abroad
→ Privacy Act 1974 required the president to report to Congress on all undercover operations
by intelligence agencies
Ford, Carter and a new style of leadership
Ford→ was a respected congressman. When Nixon resigned, Americans were desperate for a
‘regular guy’ in the White house, they thought of Ford.1
● When Nixon resigned, Ford became president. He’s the only person in American
history to become president without winning an election.
● He faced many problems: fall of South Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos to communist
forces and economic problems.
Ford had to restore the reputation of the presidency.
● A month after Nixon resigned. Ford gave Nixon a full pardon which prevented him
going to prison and was a further setback to the presidency reputation
Carter→ Carter too, rejected formality. He offered the USA a new style of leadership. Instead of
traveling in a limousine, he and his family walked, he wore casual clothing on tv etc. In his early
years of presidency, he was called Jimmy suggesting he’s an ordinary guy, this decreased
formality.
Ford v. Congress and the media
Ford wanted to demonstrate to Congress that this was a new style of leadership that he
wanted partnership with them. The media enjoyed making fun of him, Ford was shown falling
on ski slopes etc.
Carter in 1976
Ford lost to Carter in the presidential election. He was seen as an outsider, not corrupted by
any politics.
● Carter’s lack of experience became a liability. He surrounded himself with advisors
from his own state.
● There was a lot of criticism of Carter’s leadership style. He was unable to develop
a relationship with Congress
● Polls revealed that only 18% of Americans had confidence in Carter
Carter faced many economic problems:
● USA was hit with high fuel prices
❖ The crisis of political leadership
❖The impact of economic change on society
❖ Changing popular culture
❖ The extent of progress in individual and civil rights
The crisis of political leadership
The impact of Watergate on politics and the presidency
Watergate building was an office block in Washington DC.
The break in→ Several men who were trying to get President Richard Nixon re-elected as
president decided they wanted to spy on the Democratic Party. They planned to break in the
Democratic party. offices in the Watergate building.they broke into the offices, took photographs
of secret documents, and placed wire taps on the phone. At first, they got away with it. However,
they tried to break in again, they were caught and arrested.
The cover-up→ President Nixon and his staff tried desperately to cover-up the break-in. Nixon
denied any knowledge of the activities and said his staff was not involved. He managed to keep
his name out of the scandal through the election and was re-elected president in November of
1972.
Woodward and Bernstein→ Two reporters for the Washington Post newspaper, Bob
Woodward and Carl Bernstein, were investigating the burglary. It turned out that several
members of the White House staff knew about the break-in. President Nixon had been involved
in the cover-up as well. He had provided "hush money" to the burglars to keep them quiet. He
had also used the CIA to try and stop the FBI from investigating the case.
The tapes→ Despite the mounting suspicion that President Nixon was involved, there wasn't
any real proof. The Congress needed hard evidence in order to impeach the president.
Investigators soon discovered that Nixon kept tapes of all his conversations in the Oval Office.
Investigators asked for the tapes. When Nixon refused, the Supreme Court got involved and
ordered him to turn the tapes over. They clearly showed that Nixon had at least been involved in
the cover-up.
Resignation→ With the release of the "smoking gun" tapes, Nixon's political career was over.
The Congress was going to impeach him. Rather than be impeached, Nixon chose to resign.
On August 9, 1974, President Richard Nixon became the first President of the United
States to resign from office.
, The significance of Watergate
Destroyed Nixon’s position as president and his reputation.
Watergate scandal impacted upon US politics:
● Nixon’s presidency affected the power of the presidency. Congress passed many laws
to limit presidential power and avoid another Watergate
→ War Powers Act 1973 which limited presidential power to take the nation into war and use
military force abroad
→ Privacy Act 1974 required the president to report to Congress on all undercover operations
by intelligence agencies
Ford, Carter and a new style of leadership
Ford→ was a respected congressman. When Nixon resigned, Americans were desperate for a
‘regular guy’ in the White house, they thought of Ford.1
● When Nixon resigned, Ford became president. He’s the only person in American
history to become president without winning an election.
● He faced many problems: fall of South Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos to communist
forces and economic problems.
Ford had to restore the reputation of the presidency.
● A month after Nixon resigned. Ford gave Nixon a full pardon which prevented him
going to prison and was a further setback to the presidency reputation
Carter→ Carter too, rejected formality. He offered the USA a new style of leadership. Instead of
traveling in a limousine, he and his family walked, he wore casual clothing on tv etc. In his early
years of presidency, he was called Jimmy suggesting he’s an ordinary guy, this decreased
formality.
Ford v. Congress and the media
Ford wanted to demonstrate to Congress that this was a new style of leadership that he
wanted partnership with them. The media enjoyed making fun of him, Ford was shown falling
on ski slopes etc.
Carter in 1976
Ford lost to Carter in the presidential election. He was seen as an outsider, not corrupted by
any politics.
● Carter’s lack of experience became a liability. He surrounded himself with advisors
from his own state.
● There was a lot of criticism of Carter’s leadership style. He was unable to develop
a relationship with Congress
● Polls revealed that only 18% of Americans had confidence in Carter
Carter faced many economic problems:
● USA was hit with high fuel prices
