1970s/80s Conservative Backlash

Full Answer Section

             

• The scandal unfolded through a series of revelations, including the existence of secret White House tape recordings that implicated Nixon. The Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Nixon (1974) forced the president to release these tapes. The House of Representatives initiated impeachment proceedings against Nixon. Facing impeachment and conviction, Nixon resigned from office in August 1974, the only U.S. president to do so.
  Watergate significantly eroded public trust in the government for several reasons:
  • Perceived Corruption at the Highest Levels: The scandal exposed a pattern of illegal and unethical behavior by top government officials, including the President, suggesting a systemic abuse of power.
  • Deception and Cover-up: The extensive efforts to hide the truth from the American public, involving lying to the press, Congress, and the justice system, fostered a deep sense of betrayal.
  • Media's Role: The investigative journalism of reporters like Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, which brought the truth to light, highlighted the government's attempts to suppress information, further damaging its credibility.
  • Impact on the Presidency: Nixon's resignation, unprecedented in U.S. history, demonstrated the vulnerability of even the highest office to accountability but also left a lasting scar on the institution of the presidency.
  • Post-Vietnam Skepticism: Watergate followed the Vietnam War, another period that had already generated significant public distrust in government narratives. The two events combined to create a pervasive cynicism about political leadership and institutions.
• Significance of the ERA and Why it Didn't Pass in the 1970s: The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. It seeks to end legal distinctions between men and women in matters of divorce, property, employment, and other areas. The core text states: "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."

Sample Answer

            Watergate and Public Trust: Watergate was a major political scandal in the United States involving the administration of President Richard Nixon from 1972 to 1974. It began with the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Office Building in Washington, D.C., in June 1972. The subsequent investigation revealed that the Nixon administration engaged in extensive efforts to cover up its involvement in the break-in and other illegal activities, including political espionage, sabotage, and obstruction of justice