Watergate and the Crisis of the 1970s

Watergate and Its Aftermath

  • Questions about Watergate:

    • Inquiry regarding the fate of those involved in the Watergate break-in.
    • Confirmation that some individuals did indeed serve prison time.
    • Clarification on the number of people imprisoned and their roles (e.g., burglars, White House plumbers like Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy).
    • Prison terms were relatively light.
    • Ford's pardon prevented further escalation of penalties, although it sparked controversy as many felt it was a traumatic event that people didn't want to move on from.

  • Paradox of Ford's Pardon:

    • Intended to allow the nation to move past the scandal.
    • Instead, it highlighted the trauma and the breach of trust.

  • The Watergate Scandal:

    • Began with a break-in at the Watergate complex to bug the Democratic Party's headquarters.
    • Led to questions about the identities and funding sources of the perpetrators.
    • Investigation traced funds to the Committee to Re-elect the President (CREEP).
    • CREEP's trail led back to the White House and the "plumbers."
    • Cover-up attempts exacerbated the situation.

  • Congressional Inquiries:

    • Following Ford's pardon, Congress investigated the CIA and FBI's activities, reminiscent of the Doolittle Commission.

  • Nixon's Tapes:

    • Nixon initially took the tapes with him after resigning.
    • The tapes were eventually housed in the National Archives, but access was restricted.
    • The tapes were later released.
    • Release of tapes didn't reveal much new information, primarily confirming existing knowledge of Nixon's actions (e.g., paying people off, the existence of plumbers and an enemies list).
    • The tapes mainly revealed Nixon's vulgarity and racial slurs.

The Broader Crisis of the 1970s

  • Erosion of Faith and Trust:

    • Watergate occurred during a period of declining faith in various institutions and ideologies.
    • Including the American consensus, the Cold War, the military, the government (FBI and CIA), the economy, and American culture.

  • Contributing Factors:

    • Withdrawal and defeat in Vietnam.
    • Economic collapse.
    • Collapsing social movements.
    • Urban crises.

  • Sense of Malaise:

    • A pervasive feeling that "nothing's working anymore."
    • Loss of a sense of broader purpose.
    • Cynicism replaced the possibilities of the 1960s.

  • Carter's "Malaise" Speech:

    • President Carter later characterized the national mood as a "malaise."

Music as a Reflection of American Culture

  • American Music as a Reflection of Politics and Culture:

    • American music served as a space for debate and discussion from the 1950s through the 1970s.
    • Music reflected themes of panic, frustration, and cynicism.

  • Examples in Music:

    • Jackson Browne's "Running on Empty":
      • Reflects a sense of being out of fuel, hope, and optimism.
      • Explores the question of how things deteriorated from the optimism of the 1960s.
    • Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive":
      • Suggests settling for just getting by or surviving.
      • Disco music, through lyrics and repetitive beats, conveyed a sense of just trying to stay alive.
    • Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive":
      • Conveys cultural themes of survival and resilience.
    • Queen's "We Are the Champions/We Will Rock You":
      • Combines themes of survival and staying alive with a sense of terror.
      • Explores the terror of knowing what the world is about and the inadequacy of love as a solution.

The Illusion of the Future and Economic Policies

  • Futurama at the 1939 New York World's Fair:

    • General Motors exhibit depicting the city of 1960, filled with freeways and cars.
    • Promoted the idea of a future shaped by the auto industry.

  • American Economic Policy of Countervailing Power:

    • The idea that various sectors of the economy, including the steel, auto, and consumer industries, would balance each other.
    • Theory suggested that consumers held the ultimate power.

  • Charles Wilson and General Motors:

    • Charles Wilson, chairman of General Motors and later Secretary of Defense, famously said, "What's good for General Motors is good for America."
    • Symbolized the consensus view that the interests of corporations and the nation were aligned.

  • The Reality of the 1970s:

    • By the 1970s, the consensus began to fall apart due to events like Watergate, COINTELPRO, and revelations about the FBI and CIA.
    • The Vietnam War's outcome challenged the entire structure of Cold War policy.

Urban Crisis and Suburban Decay

  • Urban Crisis:

    • Cities experienced disinvestment, suburbanization, riots, plant closures, job loss, decay, and bankruptcy.
    • Arson was rampant, particularly in areas like The Bronx in New York City.

  • The Cycle of Crisis:

    • A cycle of disinvestment leading to riots and plant closures creating bankruptcy.

  • Housing Projects:

    • Cheaply built, poorly maintained housing projects exacerbated urban decay.
    • Lack of maintenance, redlining, and inadequate services contributed to the problem.

  • Challenges to the Suburban Ideal:

    • Ralph Nader's "Unsafe at Any Speed" challenged the safety of American cars.
    • Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" highlighted the dangers of pesticides like DDT which poisoned the environment.

Cultural Reflections in Television

  • Shifting Cultural Landscape:

    • The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961) represented the suburban family ideal.
    • The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970s) depicted a single, working woman in the city, focused on survival and making it on her own.

  • Other Television Shows Reflecting Survival:

    • Good Times (set in Cabrini Green housing project in Chicago).
    • Sanford and Sons.
    • Chico and the Man.
    • WKRP in Cincinnati (workplace comedy about misfits getting by).

Ford Administration and Economic Policies

  • Gerald Ford's Presidency:

    • Ford became president after Nixon's resignation and faced numerous crises, including Watergate, urban decay, defeat in Vietnam, and rising inflation.
    • Served a short term and was not re-elected.

  • "Whip Inflation Now" (WIN):

    • Ford's campaign to combat inflation by encouraging people to save and spend less.
    • Economists believed it would be ineffective.
    • Pizza Hut ad mocked Ford's efforts.

  • Bankruptcy in New York City:

    • New York City went bankrupt and was denied federal loans by Ford.

  • Inflation and the Economy:

    • Rising prices outpacing value lead to inflation.
    • Keynesian economics suggested pumping money into the economy during a recession, but the primary issue was rising oil prices, which requires taking money out.

Oil Crisis and OPEC

  • OPEC and Oil Prices:

    • Political chaos in oil-producing regions and decolonization led to the formation of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
    • OPEC aimed to create stability in oil prices but faced challenges due to political instability in the Middle East.

  • Collapse of Bretton Woods:

    • In 1971, the Bretton Woods system collapsed, leading to economic instability.
    • In 1973, OPEC cut off oil supplies, leading to a gas shortage in the US.

  • Dependence on Cheap Gas:

    • The American economy was predicated on cheap gas, which fueled sprawling suburbs and the auto industry.

  • Stagflation:

    • The 1970s economy faced stagflation, with rising prices and a collapsing economy.
    • Keynesian policies were ineffective in addressing this issue.

Cultural Shift in Horror

  • Changes in Horror Films:

    • 1960: Psycho reflected fears of individual killers.
    • 1968: Night of the Living Dead reflected social tensions and the breakdown of order.
    • 1978: Dawn of the Dead depicted sheer survival in a decaying consumer culture.

  • The "Final Girl" Trope:

    • Horror films in the 1970s introduced the "final girl" trope, with a young woman surviving against all odds.
    • Difference between Janet Leigh, the huge star that dies, to Jamie Lee Curtis, relative unknown, surviving.
    • Rocky one (spoiler): The character loses; winning isn't an option anymore, but survival is.

  • Themes of Dystopia and Disaster:

    • Dystopian futures, disasters, and corruption became prevalent in film.

  • Loss of Optimism:

    • Vietnam veterans are not okay.
    • Bad News Bears, they lose.
    • Winning is no longer an option; survival is the best one can do.