To what extent was growing political disillusionment in the years 1973-80 due to Watergate?

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  • To what extent was growing political disillusionment in the years 1973-80 due to Watergate?
    • The impact of Watergate
      • Nixon had sacrificed power/ prestige of commander-in-chief
        • War Powers Act (1973) - limit power in entering war
        • Ethics in Government Act (1978) - easier to prosecute presidents in wrongdoings
      • Corruption, illegality and abuse of power
        • Exacerbated by attempts to cover it up/ obstruct justice
          • 17% approval rating
          • Release of tapes (1974)
        • Agnew (VP) resigned over tax evasion/ accepting bribes
          • 25% of aides and associated were jailed
      • Rise of more radical Republicanism (Reagan) - public lost faith in moderacy
    • Other causes of political disallusionment
      • Gerald Ford
        • Pardon exacerbated disallusionment
        • Public image
          • His falls created disrespect
            • Johnson's joke of Ford being hit too much with a football
            • Bozo the Clown/ Jerry the Jerk
          • Self depricating - 'a Ford not a Lincoln'
        • Never elected
        • Indecisive - disagreed on taxation policy
      • Jimmy Carter
        • Iranian Hostage Crisis (1979)
        • Complete rejection of formality - sold the presidential yacht etc.
        • Micromanagement/ relationship with Congress - Can Carter Cope?
      • Vietnam War
        • Caused a 'credibility gap', damaging faith in Johnson
    • Introduction
      • Nothing new - Eisenhower was 'the blind leading the blind'
      • 53% voted in 1980
      • Caused some to focus on single-issue politics e.g. environmentalism
  • Failure to cope with economic problems

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