Was Gerald Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon an attempt to move the country forward or the final corruption of the Watergate scandal? A collection of videos includes Ford's speech to the nation, as well as interviews with Watergate prosecutors, journalists, and historians. Clips offer a great way to stimulate debate and discussion on whether Ford should have pardoned the scandal-ridden president.

Concepts

richard nixon, the presidency of richard nixon, impeachment, primary source analysis, primary sources, the watergate scandal

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Use Ford's speech to the nation to discuss whether he should have pardoned Nixon
• After viewing the various perspectives on the pardon, conduct a four-corners debate on whether the pardon was the right decision

Classroom Considerations

• Videos require a free C-SPAN Classroom account, or teachers may use of the following login credentials: Username: students, Password: C-SPANCLASSROOM
  

Pros

• Resource includes a variety of primary sources, firsthand accounts, and historians
• Clips are well-curated and easy to use in instruction

Cons

• None

Common Core

RH.9-10.1 RH.9-10.2 RH.9-10.4 RH.9-10.6 RH.9-10.10 RH.11-12.1 RH.11-12.2 RH.11-12.4 RH.11-12.6 RH.11-12.10