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Divided Union - Watergate Scandal (Impacts on US (Election Campaign Act…
Divided Union - Watergate Scandal
Presidential Pardon
A few hours after Nixon resigned, Gerald Ford (VP) became president.
1 month after becoming president, he announced that he pardoned Nixon for all crimes.
This was extremely controversial as the public wanted to see Nixon face justice for his actions
Impacts on US
Election Campaign Act 1974
Limits were set on spending for campaigns
War powers Act 1973
A president could not go to war without the congress' approval
Privacy Act 1974
Rules on collecting information from individuals
Congressional Budget Act 1974
Rules on how the president spent the governmental money
Media
Many journalists focused on trying to find out other scandals for years.
This was dangerous as they were quick to publish 'scandals' with no evidence to support.
Trials
Many government officials were tried and over 30 received prison sentences. There was a massive change in staff
Loss of Trust
Americans lost trust in the government. D + R were seen as corrupt and possibly criminals.
In the years after, presidents broadcasted their meetings and published their financial records to seem more trustworthy!
Reasons
For the 'scandal'
The Washington posts' journalists' did not stop. They did not give up until they had concrete info // they were sure
The recordings existed, were edited + were withheld...
Burglars + John Dean betrayed Nixon
Constant denial
Nixon lied on live tv // the fireside chats (his show)
Nixon's reasoning
By knowing information about the Democrats, Nixon had an advantage as he knew what was going to be said and done by the opposing team.
The Scandal
June 1972: Nixon
ran for re-election as president. CREEP was his organisation.
5 men were arrested for breaking in to Democratic offices (the opposer of Nixon).
2 reporters investigated the break in and found connections to CREEP
The FBI also investigated and found that Hunt and Liddy - 2 members of CREEP planned the break in.
Dean - white house lawyer - claimed the White house was not involved.
Nixon won the election in 1972
Hunt, Liddy and the burglars stated they were ordered to lie under oath by the White house
Nixon fired some members of his team - as they were 'part' of the cover up ... including Dean
Democrats persuaded the senate to set up a broadcasted investigation
Dean the lawyer stated Nixon's involvement.
Nixon was asked for tapes. He refused. Did not want to hand them over
Eventually Nixon handed the tapes over
The senate found out they were edited // there was a piece missing
Nixon hands over the real tapes, The supreme court decide they are going to impeach him
Nixon resigns and avoids impeachment
Impacts on Nixon
The ending of his political career. He said he resigned for the 'good' of the country but it was really to avoid impeachment.
The tapes revealed his true personality -- He swore a lot, made very racist comments...
He never apologised or admitted being in the wrong.
The scandal completely destroyed his reputation, he was known as '
Tricky Dicky'