Chapter 30: Reform and Conflict at Home: A Turbulent Era, 1961-1974





The following activities accompany the Legacy for a People and a Nation on "Watergate and Political Reforms" in Chapter 30. Refer to page 880 of Norton, A People and a Nation, Sixth Edition for the complete text of this Legacy. There are three parts to this web page: Questions to Consider, Investigation, and Further Exploration.




Questions to Consider
1. An assumption of democracy is that we have an open society in which all citizens have access to the actions of government. What has that meant for politics from the presidential to the local level?

2. Should we separate a politician’s personal and public life? Has that changed during the last few decades? Why?

3. Have Political Action Committees (PACs) kept us better informed about politicians? What is the nature of their influence on the political process?

4. To what do you contribute voter apathy in the U.S.? How does voting participation in the U.S. compare to that in other democracies?


Investigation
Organize a PAC. What interest would you represent? Where would you get funding and how would you budget the monies allocated to you? Draw up a brief program to promote your views on an interest you choose. Use a site maintained by The Center for Responsive Politics. You can gather extensive information on PAC activities, including dollar amounts offered to federal candidates of various political parties and a break down by industry and other special interests.




Further Exploration
1. This site by the Washington Post provides a 25 year retrospective on Watergate. Be sure to look at the link on reforms as well.

2. View original memorandum (page 1 and page 2) by the Special Prosecutor leading to his decision whether to prosecute Nixon.

3. For a concise history on the origins and influence of PACs, read this article in Common Cause.