pc 2 impeachment nixon student program

8/2/2019 PC 2 Impeachment Nixon Student Program

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Educating Young People about the Constitution

www.BillofRightsInstitute.org

Presidents and the Constitution,

Vol. 2Impeachment and the Constitution:

Richard Nixon and the Watergate

Scandal



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.



Constitutional Connection Activity

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Impeachment and the Constitution



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?


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



• Share your “rule for executive privilege”.

• Vote for the best one.


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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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/47/Warren_e_burger_photo.jpeg



• Review U.S. v. Nixon from Handout A.

• Do you agree with the court’s ruling? Why

or why not?


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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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/47/Warren_e_burger_photo.jpeg



Nixon and the Watergate ScandalWrap-Up

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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



Evaluate

Was Nixon’s claim regarding executive privilegeconsistent with precedent and with the Constitution?


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Nixon’s Letter ofResignation.August 9, 1974



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.


Barbara Jordan 197611



The Issues Endure

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Write five questions to interview family or faculty memberswho remember the events of the Watergate scandal.

• Record the interview and share what you learned.


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.


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Richard Nixon’s Departure

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pc 2 impeachment nixon student program

Documents