The watergate scandal began early in the morning of june 17, 1972, when several burglars were arrested in the office of the democratic national. President richard nixon and the watergate scandal dummies. Watergate road map chief judge john sirica then provided it to the house judiciary. The presidential scandal that shook america with a. The watergate scandal former president richard nixon has had a long and successful political career. Students will analyze primary source documents related to watergate and place them in the correct stage of the scandal after reading information about each stage. The word specifically refers to the watergate hotel in washington d.
Like the washington posts coverage of watergate, this book is the result of a collaborative effort with our colleaguesexecutives, editors, reporters, librarians, telephone operators, news aides. After learning about richard nixon and the watergate scandal, students will participate in a mock trial where they must decide if nixon is guilty of burglary and blackmail. Powerful new evidence reveals that in the most consequential scandal in american history, virtually nothing worked as intended. Watergate book the real watergate scandal geoff shepard. The watergate scandal was a scandal during and after the 1972 presidential election. A june 1972 breakin at the headquarters of the democratic national committee at the watergate office complex begins the chain of events that convulsed washington for two years, lead to the first. The believe it started back in 1972 when the executive. When richard nixon resigned in 1974 in the wake of the watergate scandal, it was only the second time in our history that impeachment of a president had been considered. The watergate scandal was one of the worst political scandals in american history. Nearly every action taken with regard to the case had some constitutional significance.
From ajr, augustseptember 2004 thirty years after president nixons resignation, theres little agreement over just how. The watergate scandal and its aftermath longdom publishing sl. These tapes prove that he ordered a coverup of the watergate burglary. Arguably the greatest political scandal of twentiethcentury america, the watergate affair rocked an already divided nation. Watergate background the watergate scandal was one of the worst political scandals in american history.
It was written for the watergate special prosecutor in august of 1974 after nixon resigned, but before president ford pardoned him. The watergate scandal began early in the morning of june 17, 1972, when several burglars were arrested in the office of the democratic national committee, located in the watergate complex of. Watergate has entered the political lexicon as a term synonymous with corruption and scandal, yet the watergate hotel is one of washingtons plushest hotels. Acknowledgments like the washington posts coverage of watergate, this book is the result of a collaborative effort with our colleaguesexecutives, editors, reporters, librarians, telephone. In this story the reporters stated that five men had been. Discuss the reasons why nixons leadership was known as an imperial presidency. The june 23 tape becomes known as the smoking gun because it reveals that nixon ordered the fbi to abandon its investigation of the breakin. Patrick gray testified before the senate judiciary committee regarding his nomination to replace j. Begin your research with the washington post online watergate archive. The watergate scandal was a scandal during and after the 1972 presidential election united states president and republican richard nixon was running for election against democrat george mcgovern. Nixon releases transcripts of three conversations he had with haldeman six days after the watergate breakin. The scandal stemmed from the nixon administrations continuous attempts to cover up its involvement in the june 17, 1972 failed breakin of the democratic national. Watergate scandal simple english wikipedia, the free.
Notes on scandal and the watergate legacy sage journals journals. The watergate scandal page 5 of 25 strategy by conducting a literature research, i learned about the backgrounds of the watergate scandal. Watergate was a major political scandal that occurred in the united states in the 1970s, following a breakin at the democratic national committee dnc headquarters at the watergate office complex in washington, d. This lesson features an excellent primary source document to have your students analyze. He was a duke university of law attorney, and a navy reserve commander in world war two. Watergate scandal, interlocking political scandals of the administration of u. The scandal stemmed from the nixon administrations continuous attempts to cover up its involvement in the june 17, 1972 failed breakin of the democratic national committee headquarters at the washington, d. The watergate affair was over, but its influence was not. A new afterword by max holland details developments since the original 2003 publication, including the revelation of mark felt as the infamous deep throat, the medias role in the scandal, both during and afterwards, including bob woodwardssecond man. By the summer of 1973, the watergate affair was a fullblown national scandal and the subject of two.
His political career started as a house of representative from 1947 to 1950 and then became a. From ajr, augustseptember 2004 stanford university. As important as watergate was in political history, it was perhaps equally so in journalism. Yet by 1974 the scandal caused president richard nixon to resign his office rather than face impeachment. White house linked to coverup on february 28, 1973, acting fbi director l. The road map, along with related documents that analyze the evidence collected by the special prosecutor, is located in three boxes in record group 460. Lessons from watergate center for american progress. United states president and republican richard nixon was running for election against democrat george mcgovern. I will be told that it was due to seymour hershs blowing the whistle on chaos and other programs in the new york times in 1974, but it turns out that was misdirection itself. Watergate scandal at first, few people took the watergate burglary seriously, and it had no impact on the presidential election of 1972. It occurred in the 1970s and changed the way the general public perceived politicians.
The watergate scandal writing seminar cc115b s2a9 professor daniel silliman linwood house 112 2194646041. The condensed version melanie harden, traviss career center grade 11 american history objective. The watergate scandal essay 546 words 3 pages the watergate scandal watergate is the popular name for the political scandal and constitutional crisis that began with the arrest of five burglars who broke into the democratic national committee headquarters at the watergate office in washington d. Nixon that were revealed following the arrest of five burglars at democratic national committee dnc headquarters in the watergate officeapartmenthotel complex in washington, d. The inspector general act was put in place in the wake of the watergate scandal, as a means of ensuring integrity and accountability in the executive branch. Beginning in june 1972 and continuing to august 1974, the affair aroused increasing public interest and eventually dominated the national news. January 21, 1969 nixon is inaugurated as the 37th president of the united states. The watergate scandal was a major political scandal that occurred in the united states in the 1970s as a result of the june 17, 1972, breakin at the democratic national committee dnc headquarters at the watergate office complex in washington, d. An important source is the washington post, the leading newspaper in the united states investigating the watergate affair. The watergate scandal was one of the biggest scandals to rock the us. More than four decades ago, five men broke into democratic national committee headquarters in washington, setting off a series of actions that brought down president richard nixon.
The watergate scandal created a constitutional crisis second only to the civil war of more than a century earlier and resulted in the first presidential resignation in u. On june 17, 1972, the washington post published a small story. What was the watergate scandal, why did richard nixon resign. A mustread watergate book the system worked, carl bernsteins famous assessment of watergate, turns out to be completely wrong. The men were found to be bugging the buildings telephones, including the phone of democratic chairman larry obrien. Timeline for watergate scandal november 5, 1968 richard milhouse nixon, the 55yearold former vice president who lost the presidency for the republicans in 1960, reclaims it by defeating hubert humphrey in one of the closest elections in u. Jun 07, 2019 the watergate scandal intensifies as nixon announces that white house aides john ehrlichman and h.
In particular, the postreporters carl bernstein and bob. The watergate scandal constitutional rights foundation. What was the watergate scandal, why did richard nixon. Sep 06, 2018 the scandal began early in the morning of june 17, 1972, when several burglars were arrested in the office of the democratic national committee, located in the watergate complex of buildings in. Records of the watergate special prosecution force.
Watergate the presidential scandal that shook america. Frank wills, a security guard, discovered clues that former fbi and cia agents broke into the offices of the democratic party and george mcgovern months before the election. The watergate scandal was a political scandal in the united states involving the administration of u. It resulted in the resignation of the president, richard m. The watergate was an office building and apartment complex in. The watergate scandal reading with questionssecondary source reading on the watergate scandal with a focus on the impact washington post reporters bob woodward and carl bernstein had on the scandal. When the conspiracy was discovered and investigated by the u. But even as new legislation is passed, this scandal had a deep impact on how citizens viewed their politicians, and it greatly affected how our future presidents abused their powers. Watergate road map chief judge john sirica then provided it to the house judiciary committee. Frank wills, a security guard, discovered clues that former fbi and cia agents broke into the offices of the democratic party and george mcgovern.
Watergate scandal primary source lesson thank you so much for your support. Sep 07, 2017 watergate and the constitution background. In the early 1970s, the watergate scandal involving president richard nixon made headlines nationwide, but did he have anything to do with. Watergate is a general term used to describe a complex web of political scandals between 1972 and 1974. May 17, 2017 more than four decades ago, five men broke into democratic national committee headquarters in washington, setting off a series of actions that brought down president richard nixon. Create a timeline of the major events in the watergate scandal, including a short description of each events importance. The watergate story nixon resigns the washington post. The watergate scandal essay written by unknown the watergate scandal was a series of crimes committed by the president and his staff, who were found to spied on and harassed political opponents, accepted illegal campaign contributions, and covered up their own misdeeds. Jun 01, 2019 learn about the watergate scandal of 19721974 and the events that led to nixons resignation. Deep throat, watergate, and the bureaucratic politics of the fbi. Watergate scandal project gutenberg selfpublishing.
When richard nixon resigned in 1974 in the wake of the watergate scandal, it was only the second time in our. Afirst, few people took the watergate burglary seriously, and. The reading is followed by 7 reading comprehension and critical thinking questions perfect for clas. The interlinked scandals generated a new and enduring skepticism about the federal government in american public opinion. Th is article argues that felts actions and, by extension, watergate itselfmust be understood in the context of a longstanding institutional confl ict between the nixon administration and j. Deep throat, watergate, and the bureaucratic politics of.